Flat Rock

History

Flat Rock began as a Wyandot settlement. It was later designated as a reservation for the Wyandot, and still functioned as such in 1830. The first European-American settlers in Flat Rock were Michael Vreeland and his five grown sons between 1811 and 1820. Vreeland had been captured by British Rangers during the Revolutionary War and released after American independence. The family purchased . The town was called the "Village of Vreeland" until 1838, when the Vreeland family sold off most of the land and relinquished control of the area. The Vreeland families built the first grain and lumber mill, having brought the grinding stones from New York. Descendants of Michael Vreeland still live in the town and attend Flat Rock public schools, being the seventh generation to reside in the town their family founded. The first mention of any settlers in the area later to become Flat Rock was made by a French priest, Father Jean Dilhet. In describing his parish in 1798 he included "Grosse Roche", referring to a settlement named after the outcropping of limestone rock on the south side of the Huron River. In 1818, a land office opened in Detroit, and Soloman Sibley purchased of land. In 1824 it was sold to Michael and Jacob Vreeland. Vreeland and Smooth Rock villages were platted on part of this acreage. At this time there were Huron, Seneca, and Wyandot Indian villages in the area. With the Erie Canal opening in 1825, many people, especially from New York, came to Michigan to settle. By 1828 the village had four stores, two saw mills, a wool carding mill, a flour mill, and 250 inhabitants - serving as a center mainly for farmers who lived in the area immediately surrounding the settlement. The village of Flat Rock was platted and recorded in 1838 by the Gibraltar and Flat…

Geography

Flat Rock is in southern Wayne County, but a very small portion of the city lies to the south in Monroe County, because the border along the Huron River follows the course of the river in 1923, the year Flat Rock was incorporated as a village. At the time, the river had two meanders, but they have since been filled in. The city is bordered to the northeast by Woodhaven, to the southeast by Rockwood, and to the south, across the Huron River in Monroe County, by South Rockwood. U.S. Route 24 (Telegraph Road) passes through the center of Flat Rock, leading north to the western part of Dearborn and southwest the same distance to Monroe. Interstate 75 runs along the eastern border of Flat Rock, with direct access from Exit 29 (Gibraltar Road). I-75 leads northeast to Detroit and southwest to Toledo, Ohio. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Flat Rock has a total area of , of which are land and , or 2.06%, are water. The city is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as belonging to both Wayne County and Monroe County. In the 2010 census, the city is listed as having a total land area of , while mentioning no measurable land area or population statistics within Monroe County. However, the city is still listed in several categories as being part of Monroe County. The official Flat Rock city website also mentions the city's boundaries extending into Monroe County. Flat Rock has a higher overall tornado average than the state of Michigan as a whole, and a 40% greater average than the United States as a whole. Two F4 tornadoes have hit Flat Rock—one in 1956 and another in 1965 resulting in 23 deaths and over 300 injuries.

Most-observed species

• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  19,891
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  18,978
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  18,818
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  17,910
• Ring-billed Gull

  Larus delawarensis Ord, 1815 · Aves
  16,102
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  16,022
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  15,163
• Great Blue/Cocoi Heron

  Ardea herodias Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  15,020

Most recent

• M 2.7 — 2026-05-04
  8 km N of Maybee, Michigan
• M 3 — 2026-04-26
  7 km SSE of Amherstburg, Canada
• M 2.5 — 2024-03-18
  4 km WSW of Millbury, Ohio
• M 2.6 — 2023-05-20
  3 km SSE of Walbridge, Ohio
• M 3.2 — 2020-08-21
  2 km SSE of Detroit Beach, Michigan
• M 3.4 — 2018-04-20
  Michigan