Dearborn
The French were the first Europeans to come to Dearborn in the late 18th century. The first settlers of the area were the family of Pierre Dumais in 1786. Word began to spread of the vastness of the unexplored Northwest Territory, and with it brought an influx of Americans and English, Scottish and Irish immigrants. The first roads to be constructed in Dearborn followed old Indian trails. Michigan Avenue, considered Dearborn’s “Main Street”, became on of the principle roads. After the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, settlement of the area began to grow later in the decade. The people primarily traveled to the area by water, coming up the Hudson River to Albany, over to the Erie Canal to Buffalo, across Lake Erie by steamboat and up the Detroit River.
The city of Dearborn was named after General Henry Dearborn, a patriot who played an integral role as a Minuteman – an officer in George Washington’s army during the American Revolution.
In the beginning, Old Dearbornville had few inhabitants. However, the vast countryside was well settled and the area began to see prosperity. The town was a major stagecoach stop along Chicago Road. As the railroad began to expand in popularity, stagecoach travel began to taper off. As a sign of the times, Dearbornville erected a railroad wood yard where wood-burning locomotives were kept.
Dearborn Township was established in 1833, and was previously part of Bucklin Township. Bucklin was later broken into four separate territories – Dearborn, Redford, Nankin and Livonia Townships.
Henry Ford moved his residence from Detroit to Dearborn, and passed away in 1947. The next 25 years saw a great expansion of Ford Facilities in Dearborn. The new Ford World Headquarters Building was constructed in 1956, and other Ford buildings began to spring up all over town. The development of “Middle” Dearborn began in the 1970’s with the creation of the Ford Motor Company’s Land Development Corporation.
In the 90′s, Dearborn saw its population expanded to include a large Middle Eastern community. Mosques, Arabic eateries and grocery stores now dot the Ford-influenced landscape.
Today the area is best known for Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum – recently combined and renamed The Henry Ford – and the Henry Ford Estate/Fairlane Mansion. With its proximity to downtown Detroit and abundance of watering holes and tasty ethnic eateries, Dearborn is becoming an increasingly trendy place for young professional types to set up shop.