Gaines Township, Genesee County, Michigan
| Township of Gaines | |
|---|---|
| Township | |
 Township of Gaines
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| Coordinates: 42°54′58″N 83°52′48″W / 42.91611°N 83.88000°WCoordinates: 42°54′58″N 83°52′48″W / 42.91611°N 83.88000°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Genesee |
| settled | 1836 |
| Government Organized | 1842 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Supervisor-board |
| • Supervisor | Chuck Melki |
| • Clerk | Michael Dowler |
| • Treasurer | Diane M. Hyrman |
| • Trustee | Lee Purdy, Chuck Timmons |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.3 sq mi (91.4 km2) |
| • Land | 35.2 sq mi (91.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) 0.20% |
| Elevation | 810 ft (247 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 6,820 |
| • Density | 184.4/sq mi (71.2/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 48473, 48436 |
| Area code(s) | 989, 810 |
| FIPS code | 26-31220 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626328 |
Gaines Township is a civil township of Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,820 at the 2010 census.
The first settler, Hartford Cargill, moved into the township section 36. Other early settlers settled in an area called Fletcher's Corners. Philander McLain's family settled in what is now the City of Swartz Creek. Ephraim Fletcher came to Gaines from New York in 1836 and settled on Van Vleet Road (section 16).
Mundy Township was organized in 1837 and included Gaines Township, which was organized in 1842. A school was started around 1845 by the Van Vleet and Cargill areas.
Gaines Township which was organized in 1842 from Mundy Township. Joshua Dart, the oldest male resident, was given the hour of naming the township. He then named it after General Gaines, an acquaintance who fought in the War of 1812.
On October 4, 1852, the Gaines Post Office was opened. With two Gaines Post Offices, this post office was renamed to Covert on January 2, 1863. On April 13, 1865, Covert was closed.
The Village of Gaines area did not see a settler until 1856. The first passenger train passed through the future village site on July 4, 1856. A post office was established that same year as the Gaines Station office.
Crapo Farm was built by Henry H. Crapo in 1860. The original land was a drained swamp. The farm was at its peak 1,100 acres. The location was considered a hamlet and had a depot called Crapo. Henry M. Flagler was worker on the farm during its early years.
Henry died in 1869 leaving his farm to his only son William W. Crapo. With the railroad coming through the farm in 1876, William negotiated for of the railroad ditches for drainage plus its own private side track. The side track was for visitors and produce including cattle. Thus, the farm was the only one with a private depot on the railroad timetables. Land was donated for a new school, Mary Crapo, which was finished in 1928. In the early 1950s, depot usage was discontinued. Crapo Farm was sold in the 1955 after donating a part for St. Mary's Cemetery. A subdivision was built on part of the farm called Winchester Village followed by another, Winchester Woods. Both were incorporated into the City of Swartz Creek in 1959.
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