Willow, Michigan Explained

Willow, Michigan should not be confused with Willow Run.

Official Name:Willow, Michigan
Pushpin Map:Michigan#USA
Pushpin Label:Willow
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Michigan
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Wayne
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Huron
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:627
Coordinates:42.1156°N -83.3956°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code(s)
Postal Code:48164 (New Boston)
Area Code:734
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1616527

Willow is an unincorporated community in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is located within Huron Charter Township. As an unincorporated community, Willow has no legally defined boundaries or population statistics of its own.

Geography

The community sits at an elevation of 627feet above sea level.

According to road signage, the community is centered along Willow Road between Waltz Road on the west and a double set of railroad tracks to the east. Willow is located close to three divisions of the Huron–Clinton Metroparks system: Lower Huron, Oakwoods, and Willow. The Huron River flows near the community, and Interstate 275 is slightly east but has no access from Willow Road. The community of Waltz is to the south, and New Boston is to the north.

The community is served by Huron School District.[1]

History

Huron Charter Township, where the community of Willow is located, was established in 1827.[2]

The area presently known as Willow received its first post office named Woodville in 1852. The name of the post office was changed to Smithville from 1858 to 1872, when it was changed to Waltz briefly from 1872 to 1873. The Waltz post office was moved to another location from 1874 to 1954, and the former post office served under the name Belden from 1873 to 1892. The post office was finally renamed as Willow in 1892 until it was discontinued in 1915. The Pere Marquette Railway built a line through the area around 1872.[3] Willow once contained a railroad station. The railway line is currently used by CSX Transportation but contains no stations within the area.[4]

The community of Willow currently uses the New Boston post office with the 48164 ZIP Code. The name Willow is no longer accepted or used for mailing purposes.[5] Willow is informally defined as a village within the township, although it has no legal recognition as an incorporated municipality.[2] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michigan Geographic Framework. Wayne County School Districts. 15 November 2013. March 15, 2021.
  2. Web site: Huron Township. Huron Charter Township. 2020. October 3, 2020.
  3. Book: Walter . Romig . Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities . Great Lakes Books Series . Paperback . 1973 . October 1, 1986 . . 978-0-8143-1838-6 . Detroit, Michigan. 606.
  4. Web site: Michigan Department of Transportation. Michigan Department of Transportation. Michigan's Railroad System: Railroads Operating in Michigan. March 2017. October 3, 2022.
  5. Web site: UnitedStatesZipCodes.org. ZIP Code 48164. 2020. October 3, 2020.
  6. Web site: State of Michigan. Alpha Listing of City, Village & Township Web Sites. 2020. October 3, 2020.