Overview
Chelsea ·
Dexter ·
Saline
Indian trails converged on valuable salt springs here, and French explorers named the local river Saline in the 18th century. Surveyor Orange Risdon, who arrived in 1824, loved the area so much he made his home here while mapping the route from Detroit to Chicago that became Michigan Avenue.
The village Risdon founded became the city of Saline in 1931. Long a center for local farmers, Saline has also been tied to the automobile industry and, in the late 20th century, to its neighbor to the north, Pittsfield Township.
Next Section: Saline Dance