Spring Arbor is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Michigan. It is the home of Spring Arbor University, a liberal arts university affiliated with the Free Methodist Church. An unincorporated community is one general term for a geographic area having a common social identity without benefit of municipal organization or official political designation (i. ... Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... State nickname: Wolverine State or Great Lakes State Other U.S. States Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Governor Jennifer Granholm Official languages English Area 250,941 km² (11th)  - Land 147,255 km²  - Water 103,687 km² (41. ... Spring Arbor University, located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, is an evangelical Protestant university affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, with professional, and graduate studies for about 2,500 students. ... The Free Methodist Church is a denomination of Methodism, which is a branch of Protestantism. ...

North is the village of Parma, Michigan. West is the village of Concord, Michigan. East is the city of Jackson,Michigan. South is the village of Hanover, Michigan. Parma is a village located in Jackson County, Michigan. ... Concord is a village in Jackson County, Michigan, located at latitude 42°11 North, longitude 84°39 West, west of Spring Arbor, Michigan. ... Hanover is a village located in Jackson County, Michigan. ...

Demographics

For township demographics, please visit the Spring Arbor Township article. Spring Arbor Township is located Jackson County in the southern portion of Michigan. ...

For statistical purposes, the Census bureau has designated a Census-designated place (CDP) for the area immediately surrounding the University. The Demographics for the Spring Arbor CDP (Census-designated place) are listed in the Spring Arbor CDP article. A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... Spring Arbor is a Census-designated place (CDP) used for statistical purposes. ...

Geography

For township geographical information, please visit the Spring Arbor Township article. Spring Arbor Township is located Jackson County in the southern portion of Michigan. ...

For statistical purposes, the Census bureau has designated a Census-designated place (CDP) for the area immediately surrounding the University. The geographical information for the Spring Arbor CDP (Census-designated place) is listed in the Spring Arbor CDP article. A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... Spring Arbor is a Census-designated place (CDP) used for statistical purposes. ...

Spring Arbor is well known for its artesian water springs which form several small lakes, creeks and rivers.

Education

Three K-12 school districts cover the township:

• Western School District (http://www.westernschools.org/)
• Concord Community Schools (http://www.ccs.k12.mi.us/)
• Hanover-Horton School District (http://www.hhcomets.org/)

Trinity Lutheran School serves grades K-8 and is located in the northeast quarter of the township. It is affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Official cross symbol of the Missouri Synod The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) is the second-largest Lutheran body in the United States. ...

Spring Arbor University is located in Spring Arbor. Established in 1873 as a seminary of the Free Methodist Church, it later became a high school, followed by a junior college, then a college and finally a university on April 30, 2001. Spring Arbor University, located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, is an evangelical Protestant university affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, with professional, and graduate studies for about 2,500 students. ...

The Jackson Community College District also serves the township. Jackson Community College (also known as JCC) is a community college located in Jackson County, Michigan. ...

Government

Spring Arbor is organized as a Township for municipal purposes. The township is governed by a Township Board consisting of a Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer and four trustees. All members of the board are elected at-large to four-year terms during the November presidential election. The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. ...

The members of the Township Board are currently:

• Supervisor: Willard DeGraff (Republican)
• Clerk: Randi DeVries (Republican)
• Treasurer: Gloria Melchiori (Republican)
• Trustees: Marston Fortress, Patricia Short, Kevin Ganton, and John Williams (all Republican)

Michael Dane Karazim is also involved in the local government in the area. The Republican Party of Michigan is the Michigan affiliate of the Republican National Committee. ... The Republican Party of Michigan is the Michigan affiliate of the Republican National Committee. ... The Republican Party of Michigan is the Michigan affiliate of the Republican National Committee. ... The Republican Party of Michigan is the Michigan affiliate of the Republican National Committee. ...

The courts serving Spring Arbor are:

• 12th District Court (http://www.d12.com/)
• 4th Circuit Court (http://www.co.jackson.mi.us/cnp.asp/)
• Jackson County Probate Court (http://www.co.jackson.mi.us/cnp.asp/)
• Spring Arbor has no municipal courts

History

Potawatomi resided in present-day Spring Arbor in three known aboriginal villages until their removal to reservations near Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay is the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... One of the periods of glaciation was also termed the Wisconsin glaciation. ...

Organized by Territorial Council in 1832, the township has continued to exist with its present boundaries since 1837. Spring Arbor was first spelled Spring Arbour on all early maps.

During the mid-1800s a Village of Spring Arbour had been planned along what is now the intersection of Cross and Hammond Roads in the southwest portion of the township. The development of such village began but stopped with the departure of the Free Will Baptists' seminary to what is now Hillsdale College. Remnants of this plot are clearly visible on an aerial view of the area: a portion of Matthews Rd continues along a street directed at the intersections of Cross & Hammond. Falling Waters Park can be found at this former establishment with historical information about the area. Hillsdale College is an independent, co-educational, nonsectarian, post-secondary liberal arts institution located on the north side of the city of Hillsdale, Michigan in central southern Michigan. ...

Commerce and industry

There are several nursing homes, retirement centres and assisted living centres in the community. Many of these are owned by members of the Ganton family.

Spring Arbor University employs approximately 275 staff and faculty on its Main Campus as of September 2004, which is by far the largest employer located in the community.

CMS Energy (http://www.consumersenergy.com/) employs a large number of Spring Arbor residents, but is located in Jackson.

Churches

• Free Methodist
  • Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, the largest Free Methodist Church in Michigan and headquarters of the Southern Michigan Conference.
• Nazarene
  • Spring Arbor Church of the Nazarene, merged with the King's Chapel in 1992.
• Baptist
  • Spring Arbor Missionary Baptist Church
• Apostolic
  • Calvary Apostolic Church

The Free Methodist Church is a denomination of Methodism, which is a branch of Protestantism. ...

External links

• Official Township Website (http://www.springarbor.org/)
• Spring Arbor University Website (http://www.arbor.edu/)