247:, explorers, and missionaries to travel into the frontier. The roads were improved and widened for pack horses and settlers. Initially, branches and bushes were cleared, making the trails two to three feet wide to allow room for pack horses. Then, the trails were further widened for oxen-drawn wagons. Federal funds were appropriated to improve the roads, which involved cutting down trees and filling in swampy and low areas. Traveling by wagon was slow, particularly after the roads developed ruts. Later improvements were gravel and then paved roads.
103:
201:
275:
217:. The trails were narrow paths, about 12 to 18 inches (300 to 460 mm) wide, located on high, dry ground along streams and watersheds. Native Americans used dog sleds to move their cargo, a tradition that was followed in Michigan's territorial days, when dogs pulled sleds with mail and cargo on the trails.
292:
from 1823 to 1825, helped garner support for the road that would facilitate settlement in the state and provide a means for travel between
Chicago and Detroit. The federal government provided $ 20,000 (equivalent to $ 652,000 in 2023) to upgrade and complete the road, to accommodate the weight of
301:. Inns and taverns were built along the territorial road for travelers' convenience, and the road helped form communities in Wayne, Washtenaw, Jackson, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, and Berrien counties. Michigan Territory's population grew 250% from 1830 to 1840.
574:
That there shall be a territorial road laid out and established commencing in the
Chicago Road, at or near the Inn of Timothy S. Sheldon, in the township of Plymouth, in the county of Wayne, thence west on the most direct and eligible route, through the village of
297:. It was declared a public highway on May 3, 1831, and soon after began to be called Territorial Road. On May 30, 1834, the road was first used by a stagecoach line. In 1836, it would take three days to travel 80 miles (130 km) from Detroit to
212:
Generally, Michigan's main highways followed trails used by Native
Americans for centuries to travel between their villages and hunting and fishing grounds. Native Americans are believed to have lived in Michigan since 11,000
579:, by Samuel Clements' to Grand River, where the St. Joseph Trail crosses the same, and also through the Coghwagiac and Grand praries, thence westerly on the most eligible route to, or near the Paw Paw, to the mouth of the
887:
872:
867:
263:
at the corner of what is now
Michigan Avenue and Geddes Road (named for Washtenaw County settlers Robert and John Geddes) and ended at its western-most point at the mouth of the
255:
Along the route, local and state historical markers tell of its historical significance. It was initially a path used by Native
Americans. It then became a muddy wagon trail.
882:
877:
862:
259:'s legislative council voted to survey land for a route from the east to the west side of the territory in 1829, following the St. Joseph Indian Trail. The road began at
892:
897:
373:
427:
204:
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284:
Construction of the road began in 1830, when settlers of
Eastern Michigan began to use the road. The survey was completed by 1831. Father
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342:, on Michigan Avenue just southeast of the intersection of Geddes Road and Michigan Avenue in Canton
576:
150:
694:
256:
186:
158:
130:
368:
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236:
to the west. The Great Trail connected with
Michigan trails from Toledo to Detroit, and up to
229:
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166:
107:
346:
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745:"Peek through time: St. Joseph Trail played an important part in the settlement of Jackson"
721:
361:
285:
657:
549:
221:
856:
364:
for his negotiation of federal funds for the Sauk Trail, part of the
Territorial Road
294:
278:
268:
233:
214:
95:"Chicago Road" redirects here. For the historic road farther south in Michigan, see
815:
Tracking the
Territorial Road: The Original Pioneer Trail - Battle Creek, Michigan
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572:
Be it enacted by the
Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan,
455:
769:
394:
332:
Geddes Road, just east of the intersection with Michigan Avenue in
320:, it was designated a military route called the Red Arrow Highway.
312:
to travel between Indiana and Detroit to attack the British in the
273:
101:
722:"Construction Project Unearths Oldest Road in Southwest Michigan"
220:
The St. Joseph Indian Trail connected with the Great Trail, from
795:"Historical Marker - S163 - Territorial Road (Marker ID#:S163)"
145:) in downtown Detroit, it generally parallels the present-day
173:. In some areas, it is still known as Territorial Road, like
534:"Sled dogs earned their keep in Michigan's earliest years"
149:. The 200-mile (320 km) route runs from Detroit to
125:, Illinois. In the 19th century, it led people from the
428:"Biker finds Territorial's a long and winding road"
193:
81:
69:
61:
56:
34:
569:. Vol. 2. W.S. George & Co. p. 744.
519:– via Michigan Department of Transportation.
367:Territorial Road and the Dodge Tavern, Old US 12,
328:Historical markers were located east to west at:
85:populating Michigan Territory in the 19th century
688:
686:
684:
651:Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023).
495:"Indians started roads: from paths to freeways"
271:. It was initially called the St. Joseph Road.
117:was the first main road through Michigan, from
8:
888:Transportation in Washtenaw County, Michigan
873:Transportation in Kalamazoo County, Michigan
868:Transportation in Van Buren County, Michigan
293:settler's wagons. It was built of logs in a
106:Territorial Road Informational Designation,
800:. Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
528:
526:
883:Transportation in Jackson County, Michigan
878:Transportation in Calhoun County, Michigan
863:Transportation in Berrien County, Michigan
345:Old Territorial Road historical plaque at
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893:Transportation in Wayne County, Michigan
349:, installed by the local chapter of the
141:Starting at Michigan Avenue (modern-day
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133:. It was also called the Chicago Road.
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31:
898:Historic trails and roads in Michigan
493:Mason, Philip P. (January 12, 1987).
456:"Sheldon's Corners Historical Marker"
304:Territorial Road was used by General
7:
605:"Territorial Road Historical Marker"
599:
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595:
593:
591:
395:"Territorial Road Historical Marker"
351:Daughters of the American Revolution
205:Native American trails in Michigan
25:
566:Laws of the Territory of Michigan
504:. Ionia, Michigan. Archived from
376:, also installed by the local DAR
426:Carlson, Chuck (June 27, 2015).
199:
743:Wyatt, Ken (October 23, 2010).
709:– via www.albionmich.com.
693:Passic, Frank (June 24, 2007).
672:Gross Domestic Product deflator
540:. February 22, 1987. p. 8D
774:The Historical Marker Database
110:42° 13.079′ N, 85° 53.679′ W
65:200 mi (320 km)
1:
653:"What Was the U.S. GDP Then?"
632:. Detroit Historical Society
338:Sheldon's Corner, including
35:Territorial Road of Michigan
914:
609:Historical Marker Database
563:State of Michigan (1874).
460:Historical Marker Database
308:and his troops during the
184:
94:
630:"Richard, Father Gabriel"
198:
89:
77:
39:
27:Road in the United States
770:"Father Gabriel Richard"
243:The trails were used by
749:Jackson Citizen Patriot
360:, commemorating Father
43:St. Joseph Indian Trail
306:William Henry Harrison
290:United States Congress
281:
111:
839:42.27472°N 83.47472°W
538:Lansing State Journal
432:Battle Creek Enquirer
277:
185:Further information:
127:Eastern United States
105:
358:Jonesville, Michigan
288:, a delegate to the
844:42.27472; -83.47472
835: /
674:figures follow the
583:of Lake Michigan...
758:– via MLive.
695:"Territorial Road"
324:Historical markers
282:
257:Michigan Territory
187:Michigan Territory
147:Interstate 94
143:US Highway 12
131:Michigan Territory
112:
511:on April 22, 2022
502:Sentinel-Standard
230:Mississippi River
226:Atlantic Seaboard
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108:Paw Paw, Michigan
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57:Route information
16:(Redirected from
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347:Albion, Michigan
314:Siege of Detroit
295:corduroy pattern
265:St. Joseph River
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670:United States
658:MeasuringWorth
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269:Lake Michigan
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777:. Retrieved
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703:. Retrieved
699:Morning Star
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664:November 30,
662:. Retrieved
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634:. Retrieved
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612:. Retrieved
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548:– via
542:. Retrieved
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513:. Retrieved
506:the original
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463:. Retrieved
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435:. Retrieved
431:
402:. Retrieved
399:www.hmdb.org
398:
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163:Battle Creek
140:
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49:Chicago Road
29:
18:Chicago Road
842: /
701:. p. 3
340:Sheldon Inn
318:World War I
310:War of 1812
261:Sheldon Inn
245:fur traders
857:Categories
830:83°28′29″W
827:42°16′29″N
404:August 10,
381:References
238:Lake Huron
181:Background
97:Sauk Trail
577:Ann Arbor
374:In Keeler
316:. During
151:Ann Arbor
82:Known for
779:March 5,
754:March 5,
728:March 4,
705:March 4,
678:series.
636:March 5,
614:March 4,
544:March 5,
515:March 5,
465:March 4,
437:March 4,
232:and the
159:Marshall
129:through
369:Paw Paw
299:Jackson
251:History
228:to the
224:on the
167:Paw Paw
123:Chicago
119:Detroit
70:Existed
724:. WRKR
334:Canton
169:, and
155:Albion
62:Length
798:(PDF)
509:(PDF)
498:(PDF)
353:(DAR)
137:Route
781:2022
756:2022
730:2022
707:2022
666:2023
638:2022
616:2022
546:2022
517:2022
467:2022
439:2022
406:2023
356:In
267:at
121:to
859::
772:.
747:.
697:.
683:^
655:.
607:.
590:^
536:.
525:^
500:.
475:^
458:.
447:^
430:.
414:^
397:.
240:.
215:BC
177:.
165:,
161:,
157:,
153:,
783:.
732:.
668:.
640:.
618:.
552:.
469:.
441:.
408:.
99:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
