Frontier, Michigan
| Woodbridge Township, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| Township | |
 Woodbridge Township, Michigan
|
|
| Coordinates: 41°46′51″N 84°39′4″W / 41.78083°N 84.65111°WCoordinates: 41°46′51″N 84°39′4″W / 41.78083°N 84.65111°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Hillsdale |
| Area | |
| • Total | 30.1 sq mi (77.9 km2) |
| • Land | 30.1 sq mi (77.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,010 ft (308 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,337 |
| • Density | 44.5/sq mi (17.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| FIPS code | 26-88300 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1627286 |
Woodbridge Township is a civil township of Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It comprises thirty sections and is located in south-central area of Hillsdale County.
The current Woodbridge Township Hall was built in 1855 after the Woodbridge Township board voted and approved $250 for the construction of a town hall. They also appropriated $10 to purchase a suitable site located in Section 16 of Woodbridge Township. The building committee eventually selected the building site at the corner of Woodbridge and Montgomery roads, just west, and above the St. Joseph River. The original structure was constructed using popular, or tulip wood and completed in 1856. Approximately twenty years later an addition was built onto the original structure and soon after, in 1890, polling booths and a dividing fence were completed.
Other than maintaining the exterior with new paint, the township hall remains much the way it was from its humble, yet practical beginning.
In 1975 the township clerk responded to an inquiry by the Michigan Township Association, who was attempting to validate the oldest town hall still in operation in the state of Michigan and on November 1, 1975, it was verified that the Woodbridge Township Hall was the oldest operational structure. The population was 1,337 at the 2000 census.
Woodbridge Township was formed by act of the Legislature of the state of Michigan approved on January 28, 1840 from a portion of Fayette Township. Its original limits and the place designated for holding the first township meeting, were by that act as follows: "All that portion of the county of Hillsdale, designated by the United States survey of townships numbered 7, 8 and fractional township 9 south, of range 3 west, be set off into a separate township, and organized by the name of Woodbridge, and the first township meeting therein shall be held at the house formerly occupied by John McDermaid, in said township." "This act shall not in any wise affect the collection of taxes assessed in the county of Hillsdale for the year 1839, or in any township thereof; but the same shall be collected as if the act had not be passed. This act shall take effect, and be in force, on and after the first Monday of April next."
The first permanent settlement within the present bounds of Woodbridge Township was made by William Saxton, who came from Raisin Township, Lenawee County, Michigan, and settled on the northeast quarter of Section 12, in the winter of 1834-35. He purchased this 160 acres of land from the United States government in 1834 and during the fall of that same year built a log cabin on this site. He was accompanied by his wife and four young sons: Wallace, James, Stephen and John. In order to reach his land it required him to cut his own road in order for his team of oxen and sled to pass. Prior to his move to Woodbridge Township, Mr. Saxon was a veteran of the Black Hawk War and he later settled in Iowa.
...
Wikipedia