DeWitt

Clinton County, DeWitt Township and the city of DeWitt take their names from the same individual, DeWitt Clinton - the New York State governor whose construction of the Erie Canal in 1825 helped ease the rigorous journey of settlers heading toward the 'western' states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and the territory of Michigan.

In the beginning, DeWitt Township, which was established March 23, 1836 by the state legislature, included all of Clinton County. The township, or county, seat was located at the home of Capt. David Scott, who with his family were the first settlers in the south half of the county, arriving Oct. 4, 1833 from Ann Arbor at an Indian camp on the north side of the Looking Glass River.

In the years that followed other pioneers traveling the Pontiac-Grand River Trail would stop at "Scotts" - many remained, and by 1850 DeWitt was well established. The settlement enjoyed a boom in that decade, but underwent a setback in 1860 when the county seat was moved to St. Johns - prompting various professionals and business people with their families to relocate to that fledgling village.

Population continued to decrease through the balance of the 1800s. The 20th century brought with it two events that changed the path of DeWitt's development - the opening of the Interurban Railroad from Lansing through DeWitt to St. Johns, and a surge of "well-to-do" farmers retiring to new homes in DeWitt.

The business district enjoyed a similar surge in the first decade of 1900 with the addition of a bank, real estate and insurance offices, lumber and coal yard, hardware store and other retail and professional establishments.

DeWitt was finally incorporated as a village Oct. 14, 1927 and maintained its prosperity until 1930 when the demise of the Interurban, Great Depression and a major fire destroyed much of the business district.

DeWitt experienced another rebirth after World War II when Kessler's Subdivision south of the river became its first platted addition. Other subdivisions quickly followed from the open farm lands east and south of the village, and in the early 1960s a tract of land southwest of the village was developed into a large subdivision - Lake Geneva was excavated from a marshy area and in the late '60s it was annexed into the city.

The village of DeWitt became a city in 1965, and numerous residential and business developments have been the norm to the present day. DeWitt residents are proud of their school system, many fine residential housing developments, local community parks and recreational facilities and all the other amenities that create an outstanding quality of life.

Commercial and retail business continues to boom in and around DeWitt, evidenced by growth in the downtown area, shopping centers on BR-127 and the business and professional office space on Schavey Road near the high school and middle school complex.

Historical information taken from the 1980 Clinton County History; compiled by Ken Coin.