Hazelton Township is a civil township of Shiawassee County, Michigan, United States. The population was 2,054 at the 2020 census.
Communities
- Hazelton is a small, historical settlement originally known as "Ratville" located near the center of the township at the junction of New Lothrop Road and Henderson Road at . By 1863, Hazelton had 400 residents supported by an agricultural economy, with a post office, general store and three churches. The village lost its post office as its population declined in 1902.
- Juddville is a small, historical settlement in the southern part of the township, at the junction of Durand and Juddville Roads at . The community is named for the family of Connecticut native John Judd, who bought of land here in 1853 from the Hazelton brothers. After moving here with his wife Matilda, they cleared land and in 1854 built a log schoolhouse in which their eldest daughter Jane was the first teacher. In June 1879, a post office named "Judd's Corners" was established for the community. By 1881, there was a sawmill, blacksmith shop, general store, a creamery, and two churches. Population peaked in the 1880s at approximately 175 people and began to decline and the post office was closed in September 1902. A schoolhouse built in 1903 is commemorated with a historical marker.
- New Lothrop is a village in the northeast part of the township.
History
Relatives Stanton Latham and E.E. Fowls arrived in the township in 1848.
Hazelton and the settlement were named after brothers George, Edgar and Porter Hazelton, who, with Ezekial Ewing constructed a bridge across the Flint River for the State of Michigan. With no money to pay them in 1849, they received most of the current township land, which they proceeded to sell to settlers.
Misteguay Creek flows northward through the eastern part of the township.
Demographics
At the 2000 census,