The historic village of Clinton, located on the River Raisin, was settled in 1829 and incorporated in 1837. The past is well preserved, providing an attractive setting for the pleasant lifestyle residents enjoy.
Within the village are homes built by the early settlers and modern housing communities, nicely laid out in curving residential streets. Whether old or new, the homes display a well-cared-for appearance, revealing the pride Clinton residents have in their community.
The earliest churches built in Clinton are still in use after more than a century. The United Church of Christ Congregational was built in 1844. A portion of St. John’s Episcopal Church goes back to 1835, making it older than the State of Michigan, and perhaps the oldest Episcopal Church west of the Alleghenies.
The Atlas Feed Mill, built on the river in 1836, remains one of the oldest businesses in the state. Just up the river is the famous old Clinton Woolen Mills, a major employer from 1866-1957. One of the village’s unique companies is Hardwoods of Michigan. The firm cuts the area’s native hardwood trees, and then ships kiln-dried oak and other fine hardwoods to all parts of the United States, Europe, and Japan.
The village’s site on the River Raisin offers ample recreational opportunities. Within the village is an impressive riverfront park, with athletic fields, picnic areas, a jogging course, and a walking bridge that leads to an eight-acre island of marked riding trails.
Clinton is proud of its restored antique railroad. The Southern Michigan Railroad Society offers scenic summer rides and fall color tours. The Fall Festival is one of the major annual events, attracting thousands to enjoy a large parade, entertainment, and sidewalk displays of old-time arts and crafts.