White Pigeon in St. Joseph County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Conveying Michigan
Michigan Legal Milestone
White Pigeon was a frontier boom town in the 1830s, thanks to the Land Office and its position along the Sauk Trail (now U.S. 12), the only road then available for travel southwest from Detroit. The federal government offered the lands in southwest Michigan for $1.25 per acre, and demand was great, fueled by settlers and speculators entering Michigan after the opening of the Erie Canal.
The legal record of the chain of title to property conveyed out of the state's little land offices was critical to the rapid but orderly growth of Michigan, which achieved statehood in 1837.
The oldest building in southwest Michigan and one of the oldest in the state, the White Pigeon Land Office is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Erected 1996 by State Bar of Michigan and St. Joseph County Bar Association. (Marker Number 23.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Legal Milestones series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.
Location. 41° 47.879′ N, 85° 38.634′ W. Marker is in White Pigeon, Michigan, in St. Joseph County. Marker is at the intersection of West Chicago Road and South Washington Street, on the right when traveling east on West Chicago Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 113 W Chicago Rd, White Pigeon MI 49099, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. U.S. Land Survey Office (here, next to this marker); Chief Wahbememe Burial Site (approx. one mile away); In Memory of Wahbememe (approx. one mile away); White Pigeon Fallen Soldiers Memorial (approx. one mile away); Constantine Tribute to Veterans of All Wars (approx. 3 miles away); Constantine Civil War Monument (approx. 3 miles away); Heywood House (approx. 3.2 miles away); Constantine United Methodist Church (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in White Pigeon.
More about this marker. The Michigan Legal Milestone program of the State Bar of Michigan recognizes significant legal cases and personalities in the state's history, and places bronze plaques at featured sites to document the historical significance.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2012, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 378 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2012, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 2. submitted on May 5, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 3, 4. submitted on December 10, 2012, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.