Frenchtown Township near Monroe in Monroe County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Sandy Creek Settlement

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, February 6, 2010

1. Sandy Creek Settlement Marker

Inscription. Joseph Porlier Benac, Sandy Creek's first settler, was granted a tract of land here by the Potawatomi Indians Aug. 3, 1780. By the time of the War of 1812, sixteen homes lined the banks of the creek.

Retreating Indians swept through the settlement after the defeat of the British and Indians at the first Battle of the River Raisin, Jan. 18, 1813. Angered by the pro-American remarks of Jean Solo and Rene LaBeau, these Indians shot them. LaBeau's frightened young children ran two and a half miles to the River Raisin, seeking the protection of the American army. The Americans ordered the Sandy Creek settlement abandoned and it never was completely rebuilt.

Erected by Monroe County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Military • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. A significant historical date for this entry is January 18, 1839.

Location. 41° 55.19′ N, 83° 20.101′ W. Marker is near Monroe, Michigan, in Monroe County. It is in Frenchtown Township. It is on State Park Road 1½ miles east of North Dixie Highway, on the right when traveling south. This historical marker is located in Sterling State Park, at the site of the park's boat launch. The state park

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is located just east of I-75, on North Dixie Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2800 State Park Road, Monroe MI 48162, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jerry C. Bartnik (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Monroe Piers (approx. 0.7 miles away); Wm. C. Sterling State Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Monroe (approx. 0.7 miles away); Famous Waterfront (approx. ¾ mile away); Capt. Norman W. Heck Jr (approx. 1.7 miles away); Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Tree (approx. 1.7 miles away); POW-MIA Chained Eagle (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monroe.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Lake Erie (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, February 6, 2010

2. Sandy Creek Settlement Marker

View of historical marker in the right foreground with the Sterling State Park boat launch area in the background.

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, February 6, 2010

3. Sandy Creek Settlement Marker

View of historic marker situated just to the left of the Sterling State Park fish cleaning area (located at the park's boat launch site).

Photographed by Dale K. Benington, February 6, 2010

4. Sandy Creek Settlement Marker

View of historical marker in the left foreground, with the parking lot for the park's boat launch in the background.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 31, 2024

5. Sandy Creek Settlement Marker

Photographed by Joel Seewald, May 31, 2024

6. Sandy Creek Settlement Marker

The marker was replaced and moved from the parking lot to the edge of the parking lot, about 250 feet to the north.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,200 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 7, 2010, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on August 28, 2024, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.