Durand

History

Durand was originally called Vernon Center, and under the latter name was platted in 1836 and named from its location in Vernon Township. The present name is for congressman George H. Durand of Flint, Michigan. Durand was incorporated as a village in 1887 and as a city in 1932. In a 1967 National Educational Radio Network radio series, local seniors discussed the early 20th Century history of the town; there were at one point over 10 bars in town where locals could get alcohol and there were often fights, with men coming from other towns to fight the tough men of Durand. Residents also recalled the Ku Klux Klan burning crosses downtown and organizing rallies against local Catholic residents. The railroad was a fascination with the local children, who often got too close to the tracks and about "once a generation" a child would lose their life playing along the railroad tracks.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.47%) is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Corunna High School
  High · CORUNNA · 666 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• Corunna Middle School
  Middle · CORUNNA · 452 students · 18.8:1 ratio
• Durand Area High School
  High · DURAND · 425 students · 18.5:1 ratio
• Robert Kerr School
  Elementary · DURAND · 348 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Elsa Meyer Elementary School
  Elementary · CORUNNA · 337 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Byron Area Elementary School
  Elementary · BYRON · 314 students · 20.9:1 ratio
• Durand Middle School
  Middle · DURAND · 276 students · 19.7:1 ratio
• Byron Area High School
  High · BYRON · 236 students · 21.5:1 ratio