HISTORY

The political government of Raisin Charter Township was organized in 1826.  Earlier, Raisin township was a creation of the Northwest Land Ordinance of 1787.  The geographic features of the Township were forests of large trees, pockets of very rich soil and the River Raisin.  The River Raisin being the dominate geographic and economical feature to the early settlers.  The first Township settlers were hardy, God fearing farmers who came West from the States of New York, Pennsylvania and several other New England states.  The two major early churches organized by the settlers were the Raisin Valley Friends Church and the Presbyterian church of Raisin.  These settlers were politically and social active members of their community, county and state.  Several residents of the Township provided safe hiding places in the Underground Railroad system of assisting runaway slaves reach freedom in Canada.  Shortly after the first settlers built their homes, public schools were built and a system of formal education began.

 From the Township's sound beginning, it has progressed under the laws of the State of Michigan to the status of being Chartered in 1978 by resident voters.  The population has grown to officially 6705 as of the 2000 Census.  The good farm land in the southern part of the Township has stayed in the hands of descendants of the first families and the northern part of the Township has taken on a more settled, urbanization.  The two areas complement one another.  The River Raisin remains a reminder of the Township's rich heritage.