History
Township Profile
Howell Township is a General Law Township with a board of trustees made up of the Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer, and four Trustees. Howell Township Hall is located at 3525 Byron Road, Howell, MI 48855. The phone number is (517) 546-2817. The building is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., CLOSED on Fridays and all federal holidays, and the day before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve.
Howell Township was founded in 1836 and was originally included in what are now the Townships of Oceola and Marion and the City of Howell. In 1960, the population was 1,540 residents. The 2020 census reported a population of 7,893 which is a 17.8% growth since 2010.
The mixture of single- and multiple-family residential housing, commercial and industrial properties, and farming creates a comfortable environment to raise a family or conduct business. Students in Howell Township attend Howell or Fowlerville Schools.
Howell Township’s infrastructure includes a wastewater treatment plant. Public water is supplied through the Marion, Howell, Oceola, Genoa Water Authority (MHOG). A master plan for sewer and water has been formulated by the Township as a tool for future growth. Properties not on public sewer and water are serviced by private septic and wells.
Livingston County Spencer Hardy Airport is part of our transportation infrastructure and serves a broad range of community needs. Though general aviation is generally perceived to be an important means of transport for people and goods, few people recognize that it does much more than this. Livingston County Airport serves a a broad range of needs including transportation of people and goods, transportation of critical care patients, search and rescue operations, tourism, law enforcement activity, flight instruction, and others in a broad range of services. The location of the airport allows county residents, visitors, and commercial interests a high level of utility with easy highway access to I-96, M-59 and US 23. Livingston County Airport is considered valuable to the competitive position of a number of local business organizations. If the facility were not present, it is possible that these firms would choose or be forced to locate elsewhere. These organizations use air charter and general aviation services made possible by the existence of the airport.
Howell Township is the home of the EMS Headquarters. The 65,000 square foot facility will include a 20,000 square foot state of the art training center. This training center will be providing initial and continuing education for all disciplines of emergency responders including EMS, police, fire, 911, emergency management, CPR, and hospital personnel. Included in the training center will be a comprehensive high-tech simulation lab for infant, child, and adult patient care scenarios. LCEMS will lease space to the University of Michigan Survival Flight helicopter. LCEMS and Survival Flight will utilize this location as primary emergency response for Livingston County and — in Survival Flight’s case — neighboring counties and beyond. This facility is located at 1911 N. Tooley Road.
Howell Township is a member of the Howell Area Fire Authority, supplying fire protection to the entire Township. Howell Township is under the protection of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police.
With M-59, Grand River, I-96, the airport, and railroad, Howell Township has the advantage of a good industrial, commercial, residential, and agricultural mix. Residents have a wide range of housing options, including high-density, acreage or small lot subdivisions, country estates, or farms. All are afforded the close proximity of a variety of shopping and other necessary services. Plus, there is still ample property available in the industrial and commercial areas for further development.
Township History
Howell Township was settled in 1834 by pioneers coming from the New York State area. At that time, the inhabitants were Native Americans, living in log huts and wigwams. The Native Americans were very helpful to the settlers. (History of Howell Michigan by Elisha H. Smith, 1868).
The township was officially formed in 1836 and was made up of the territories now known as Marion Township, Oceola Township, and the City of Howell. The Township and the Village were both named after Thomas Howell, a son of Judge Howell of Canadaigua, N.Y. Many of the roads and streets in the area are named after the first settlers.
In 1835, Mr. Rial Lake acquired 900 acres of land from the United States. This property is located in Howell and Marion Townships. Ferdinand Munson married Mr. Lake’s daughter, who inherited 240 acres of land from her father. This land was later sold to the Berry Family. The Berry family farmed for many years; Fred Berry and his son, Glen Berry, both served as Howell Township Supervisor for over fifty years.
Both the Shiawassee River and the Red Cedar River run through Howell Township. The Native Americans used the rivers to transport and barter their goods. For many years, local residents regularly found arrowheads and pieces of Indian utensils while working the fields.
In 1836, the first bridge was built over the Shiawassee River, allowing Grand River Avenue to become a plank road. A Pony Express stop was at Fleming and Grand River. A stagecoach stopped at Burkhart and Grand River at the location of the current Wrangler Lounge.
Seymour and Phoebe Howe settled in Howell Township in 1856 on land owned by David Blackman, and they lived in a log house for their first winter. Three years later, Blackman sold his 80 acres to Howe, reserving a lot at the corner for the schoolhouse. The property for the schoolhouse was donated by David Blackman in 1859 to School District #2 in Howell Township, as shown on the 1859 plat map. The Howe School, as the building was named, is now the Howell Township Hall. The Howe School was used for well over 100 years, until the Howell Public Schools consolidated and the Howe School was donated to Howell Township for use as a Township hall. The Township Board, in their need for more space, considered the historical value of the Howe School and incorporated it into the plan to preserve the past and provide for the future with an addition and renovation to the Township hall. Renovation was completed in 2001, and staff moved into the new offices, with the renovation of the old school house completed in 2002.
At one time, there were thirteen school districts in Howell Township. Each district contained one country school which went through the eighth grade. Howell Township children now attend either Howell Public Schools or Fowlerville Public Schools.
Howell Township has been largely an agricultural and residential area. Over the past 20 years, updated infrastructure has allowed for increased industry, commercial, and multiple family uses along with the single family and agricultural uses. The population grew due to the enjoyment of country atmosphere. With Grand River Avenue, M-59, and I-96, access to Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, and the Detroit metropolitan areas is easy. Population in the township has increased from 900 in 1950 to over 7,893 in 2020.