| Official Name: | Deford, Michigan |
| Settlement Type: | unincorporated community |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Michigan |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Tuscola |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name3: | Novesta Township |
| Government Type: | None |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1884 |
| Established Title2: | Platted |
| Established Date2: | 1885 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 226 |
| Elevation Ft: | 741 |
| Coordinates: | 43.5133°N -83.1925°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 48729 |
| Area Code: | 989 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-21360[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 624510 |
Deford is an unincorporated community in Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located along Bruce/Deckerville Road[2] west of the intersection with Kingston Road (Section 32, North East quarter[2]), north of Kingston and south of Cass City[3] in the southeast corner of Novesta Township. The Deford Post Office with ZIP code 48729 serves the southern portion of the township as well as the northern portion of Kingston Township and areas in the northeast corner of Wells Township.[4]
When the Grand Trunk Western Railroad was built through Deford in 1883, the station was named Bruce after local land owner Elmer Bruce. The community was founded in 1884 by Arthur Newton and named for his friend, Mr. Deford. A post office was also established in 1884.[5] A plat for Deford was filed on July 10, 1885.[2]
Deford's climate is much like that of Flint, approximately 30 or 40 miles to the southwest. During the winter, Deford faces heavy precipitation due to its location on the snow belt that comes through Michigan. The community is also located in a tornado prone region of the thumb area. The average amount of precipitation that falls over the community is 30.6 inches.[6]
Deford has no government of its own and is governed by Novesta Township.
| District | Number | Officeholder | |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Representative | 10 [7] | Lisa McClain | |
| State Senate | 31 [8] | Kevin Daley | |
| State Representative | 84 [9] | Phil Green | |
| County Commissioner | 3 | Thomas Bardwell | |
| School District | Cass City | Multiple; see article |
Public education is provided by Cass City Public Schools.[10] The Deford Christian Academy is a private school that had a 2007-08 year enrollment of 23.[11]