Frenchtown Charter Township is a charter township within Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,609 as per the 2020 census. The United States acquired this area, which had been considered part of British Canadian territory after the Treaty of Paris (1783) settling the American Revolutionary War. It was specifically part of state claims (from 1783); the Northwest Territory (1787); Indiana Territory (1803); Michigan Territory (1805); and, finally, the State of Michigan (1837).

During the War of 1812, the area was the site of the Battle of Frenchtown, in which 397 Americans were killed by the coalition of British Army and Native Americans; this was the highest number of American fatalities of any battle during the war. The battlefield site today is within the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, which was designated in 2009 and falls within the present-day city limits of Monroe.

In 1817, that portion of Frenchtown was renamed and incorporated as the village of Monroe, named in honor of President James Monroe's planned visit to the Michigan Territory later that year. In the same year, the village of Monroe was named as the county seat of the newly created Monroe County. Monroe was incorporated as a city in 1837. At that time, the remaining area known as Frenchtown was reorganized as a township, encompassing much of the northern portion of the county which was the area from the River Raisin to the Huron River at Wayne County's southern border. Shortly afterwards, the northern portion of the township was broken off to form Ash Township. Later, by 1867, Berlin Charter Township was formed from another territory of the township. Additionally, the city of Monroe annexed pieces of the southern portion of Frenchtown several times. As a result, the boundary between the current Frenchtown Charter Township and the city limits of Monroe is jagged.

Communities

  • Brest is a former settlement located along the shores of Lake Erie. It was settled as a port by the French as early as 1810 and named after Brest, France. In 1836, the Gibralter & Flat Rock Company developed the area of Brest and Gibralter to the north. The community of Brest had its own post office from July 15, 1836, to July 8, 1863, and again from February 28, 1890, to August 15, 1903. Gibralter succeeded and later became the city of Gibraltar, but the Brest port failed. Brest can be seen on a 1911 map of Monroe County in what is now the community of Stony Point.
  • Detroit Beach is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located at .
  • Golfcrest is an unincorporated community at .
  • Loranger is a former settlement within the township. Settled in 1832, it centered around the Loranger gristmill along Stony Creek. The community never really developed but did have its own post office briefly from January 16, 1865 to April 26, 1869. The gristmill was saved and relocated to The Henry Ford in 1928. The Edward Loranger House, which was built in 1825, remains in its original location along Stony Creek.
  • Newport is an unincorporated community centered at mostly in Berlin Township. The Newport 48166 ZIP Code serves the northern portion of Frenchtown Township.
  • Pointe aux Peaux is an unincorporated community located near Stony Point along the shores of Lake Erie at .
  • Steiner is an unincorporated community at . Steiner had its own post office from September 7, 1886 to July 31, 1925.
  • Stony Creek is a historic community located along a railway line at . Stony Creek had its own post office very briefly from July 6, 1840 to January 18, 1841.
  • Stony Point is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located at .
  • Woodland Beach is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located at .

Geography

thumb|right|250px|[[Sterling State Park is mostly located within Frenchtown Township.]]

The township is in eastern Monroe County and is bordered to the southeast by Lake Erie. Many of the township's communities are located near the lake. Sterling State Park is located along the southern edge of the township and is the only Michigan state park on Lake Erie. Small pieces of the township are organized into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Frenchtown Township is bordered on the south by the city of Monroe, but a small portion of the southern border touches Monroe Charter Township. Raisinville Township is to the west, and Ash and Berlin Township border on the north. A very small portion of the northwest corner of Frenchtown Township touches Exeter Township. The River Raisin serves as the boundary between Frenchtown and the city of Monroe for a short length near Lake Erie and then again further upstream for a small portion near the Custer Airport. Sandy Creek also runs through the township. The southeast border of Frenchtown Township, as well as the rest of the county's Lake Erie shoreline, is at the lowest elevation in the state of Michigan at above sea level.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which are land and , or 3.19%, are water.

As per the census

Triumph Academy is a charter school located within the township.

Images

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File:Vivian Library and former town hall Frenchtown Township Michigan.JPG|

File:Bluebush Road Library & Fire Station No.3 Frenchtown Township Michigan.JPG|

File:LorangerHouse.jpg|

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File:Monroe Golf & Country Club Frenchtown Township Michigan.JPG|

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References

Sources