The Huron River is a 130-mile-long (210 km) river in southeastern Michigan , rising out of the Huron Swamp in Springfield Township in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie , as it forms the boundary between present-day Wayne and Monroe counties. Thirteen parks, game areas, and recreation areas are associated with the river, which passes through the cities of Dexter , Ann Arbor , Ypsilanti , Belleville , Flat Rock and Rockwood that were developed along its banks.
17-550: The Ypsilanti Historic District is a historic district located along several blocks on each side of the Huron River in the center of Ypsilanti, Michigan . The original portion of the district was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978; additions to the district were nationally listed in 1989. The Ypsilanti Historic District covers most of
34-543: A commercial district sprang up on the Detroit-Chicago Road (now Michigan Avenue). In the late 1840s, a second commercial district (now known as Depot Town ) grew up a few blocks to the northeast, near the railroad depot. In 1851, a substantial fire destroyed a sizable portion of the Michigan Avenue business district. The structures were quickly rebuilt, and many of the 1850s buildings still exist in
51-557: A few feet high, built to slightly increase and maintain water levels in existing lakes to provide drought protection and flood control, a use that is now environmentally controversial. However, at least a dozen dams were built for mill or hydroelectric power and several formed large new lakes behind them. Some of these on the Huron River mainstream are Kent Lake , Barton Pond, Argo Pond, Ford Lake , Belleville Lake , and Flat Rock Pond. The Huron River flows through numerous parks and
68-471: A low gradient define this river. It runs through the following counties, in order from the headwaters to its mouth: Oakland, Livingston , Washtenaw , Wayne, and Monroe. There are 24 major tributaries totaling about 370 miles (600 km) in addition to the mainstream. The Huron River watershed drains 908 square miles (2,350 km ). It is the only state-designated Country-Scenic Natural River in southeast Michigan. This includes 27.5 miles (44.3 km) of
85-422: A southern addition running along South Adams between Ferris and Catherine Streets, and a western addition roughly extending the district west to Summit Street between Forest Street and Michigan Avenue. The district is the third largest historic district in the state. The city of Ypsilanti was founded in 1823, and became an important railroad stop when the line was built through the city in 1838. As Ypsilanti grew,
102-606: Is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) reservoir lake formed by damming the Huron River near its headwaters. Kent Lake is mostly located in Oakland County, Michigan in Milford and Lyon Townships, with a small portion including its dam located in Green Oak Township , Livingston County, Michigan . Conceived as a large recreational lake (it was a 70-acre (28 ha) natural lake prior to impoundment ), Kent Lake
119-550: Is a prime canoeing river with a generally slow current and only a few minor rapids or obstructions, except for the short Delhi rapids which is runnable by experienced canoeists and kayakers except during low water. The river is heavily fished by sportsmen for rock bass , sunfish , bluegill , black crappie , white bass , smallmouth bass , largemouth bass , northern pike , walleye , catfish , trout , muskie , and below Belleville Dam, Coho salmon , Chinook salmon , and Steelhead . Suckers and carp are also common fish in
136-408: Is residential in character, containing primarily frame Greek Revival , Queen Anne, and Tudor Revival houses constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The addition has 63 contributing structures, including both modest single family residences and grander homes that once housed elite citizens of the community. The south addition contains another 12 contributing residential structures, for
153-531: The 20th century began, the Detroit Edison Company and Ford Motor Company began acquiring and developing dams along the river for electric power. Notable floods have occurred in 1904, 1918, 1968 and 1982. Significant tributaries of the Huron River are listed below, in order of progression upstream. Sub-tributaries are indented below their parent watercourse. The river flows through the following parks and cities in this order starting from
170-699: The headwaters: Download coordinates as: The Clinton River was also known as the Huron River until 1824. The Clinton River, which drains into Lake St. Clair north of Detroit , shares about 10 miles (16 km) of watershed boundary with the Huron River system. It was renamed in 1824 by the Michigan Territorial Council to avoid confusion between the two rivers. [REDACTED] Media related to Huron River (Michigan) at Wikimedia Commons 42°1′47″N 83°11′15″W / 42.02972°N 83.18750°W / 42.02972; -83.18750 Kent Lake (Michigan) Kent Lake
187-729: The heart of the historic district. The core of the Ypsilanti Historic District contains approximately 400 contributing structures in two main areas. These are the commercial cores along Michigan Avenue and near the railroad depot on Cross Street (Depot Town). Huron Street, paralleling the river, links the two areas, and the structures around Huron Street are primarily residential in character. The residential structures include multiple examples of vernacular Greek Revival , Queen Anne , and brick Italianate houses. The commercial structures are substantially original two- and three-story brick structures. The northeast addition
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#1732780902492204-459: The mainstream, plus an additional 10.5 miles (16.9 km) of three tributaries. The river was named after the Huron band of Native Americans who lived in the area. In Native languages, it was called cos-scut-e-nong sebee or Giwitatigweiasibi . It was part of a Native American trade route. The river has many dams, 19 on the main stream and at least 96 in the entire system. Most dams are only
221-406: The most part modest frame houses. The western addition to the district includes a little over 300 contributing structures, most of them single family homes. Many of these have been converted to apartments or fraternity houses due to the proximity of Eastern Michigan University . Huron River (Michigan) The Huron River is a typical Southeast Michigan stream; mud banks, slow stream flow and
238-478: The older commercial sections of the city, as well as surrounding residential areas. The original, and largest, portion of the district extends roughly between Grove Street on the east, Hamilton Street on the west, Forest Avenue on the north, and Buffalo Street south. Three sections were added to the NRHP district in 1989: a northeast addition running along Forest, Oak, and Maple Streets extending east to Prospect Street,
255-567: The river. In 2009, faculty and students from the University of Michigan produced "Mapping the River," a multimedia presentation combining dance, poetry, music, and projected images which explored the role of the Huron in communities along it. The Huron River was declared navigable by Congress in the 19th century, and for a time, there was flat-boat traffic from Ypsilanti to Lake Erie . This
272-682: Was dammed in 1946 by the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority . The current lake lies entirely within Kensington Metropark and Island Lake State Recreation Area . It has a maximum speed limit of 10 mph. Fish which may be found in Kent Lake include Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch. Historically black crappie and bluegill were reported, but notable declines were reported in
289-434: Was discontinued as the railroads penetrated the region and milling developed along the river. By the 1880s, the Huron River was considered peculiar among the rivers in the region because it was intensely exploited for water-powered manufacturing. The census reported a total of 17 developed mill dams on the river, many providing power to multiple mills. Flour milling dominated, but there were also sawmills and woolen mills. As
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