Center Line, Michigan, has been celebrating its 90th anniversary this year (2026). This small city of only 8,534 residents was not always a city. Until the early 19th century, the area was quiet and difficult to reach. The land was mostly swamp and dense forest, which made travel slow and uncertain. Still, people moved through it using narrow trails that connected Detroit to northern trading routes.
Over time, those same paths began to shape something more permanent. Because travelers kept returning, small gatherings turned into an early settlement. Then families started to stay, build, and form a real sense of community.
In the sections ahead, we’ll walk through how that change happened. From early trails and Kunrod’s Corner to St. Clement Church and the rise of a small city, each step tells part of the story. And when you follow it closely, you start to see how Center Line became what it is today.
