Bridgewater Township is a civil township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,615 at the 2020 census.

History

Bridgewater Township was organized in 1832. It was originally known as Hixon Township after one of it first settlers, Colonel Daniel Hixon. In 1833, it was renamed Bridgewater Township after Bridgewater, New York.

Originally, the township occupied the southwest corner of the county as well until Manchester Township was set aside from the western half of the Bridgewater Township in 1837. The first township hall was built in Bridgewater Township in 1856. The current township hall was rebuilt on the same site and it now a designated. By 1850, there were 2 towns, Bridgewater and River Raisin. River Raisin was located in section 20. It had a few mills, a train station, a post office, a store, and a few other businesses. The river raisin community no longer exists. Michigan State Historic Site.

Communities

  • Bridgewater is an unincorporated community located within the township at . The community was first settled in 1829 by Col. Daniel Hixon. It was given a post office under the name Columbia Lake on April 3, 1833. The post office was renamed Bridgewater on May 8, 1843 after the township. It closed briefly from March 1, 1869 until it was restored on January 19, 1871 and has remained operating since.
  • River Raisin is an unincorporated community located along the River Raisin within the township at . The community was established with a post office on May 7, 1864 and was named after river, which is the French word for grape. The post office operated until February 28, 1902.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (1.15%) is water.

The River Raisin runs through the western part of the township, while the Saline River has its headwaters in Joslin Lake in the northeast of the township.

Major highways

  • runs briefly through the southeast corner of the township.

Demographics

As of the census

Images

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References

Sources

  • Bridgewater Township official website