Michigan Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Raisinville Township, Michigan

Population: 5,000

Located in Monroe County

Life and work here are tied to the land - verdant and full of potential. 48.3 square miles: 4,634 residents.

History: "Remember the River Raisin" became a national battle cry in the War of 1812 after settlers and Kentucky soldiers were massacred by Indians on the river's banks in violation of protection promised by the British. The stream here was the center of a sturdy French-American settlement which took form 1760-86. In the period of controversy after the War of Independence and until 1794 British-Canadian authorities sought to establish the River Raisin as the international boundary and thus to retain possession of Michigan and control of the Great Lakes. Indians called the stream "Numasepp," or River of Sturgeon. French settlers changes the name to "Riviere aux Raisins" which means river of grapes. Early records tell of great masses of wild grapes which festooned the trees along its banks.

Pioneer settlers of Raisinville Township, Monroe County, Michigan, were the first citizens in Michigan to fully organized a school district and provide a building and financial support for basic education. On April 7, 1828, a township meeting and election was held at the residence of George Sortor in Raisinville Township. Following this election, a special meeting was held with those present, for the purpose of dividing and organizing the township into school districts. George Sortor deeded parcel of land to Raisinville Township on April 23, 1828 for the purpose of building a school. The pioneers then built a log school house on the western boundary of the George Sortor farm. They named it after the nearby Bruckner Bridge, newly completed across othe Rivier Raisin. A larger structure, built entirely of walnut replaced the log house in 1832. The present brick building was erected in 1868 and added to in 1910. It served as a school continuously until 1950 after its consolidation with Dundee Community Schools. This school satisfied the basic education needs for the Sortor children and their neighbors for well over a hundred years. 1, 2

George Sortor and Elmer Charles Sortor served as members of the school board.