Kensington, Michigan
Kensington was a former village in Oakland County, Michigan that suffered population loss when the railroad diverted the Detroit to Lansing traffic southward to South Lyon, Michigan. It was later entirely wiped out by the building of I-96 and Kensington Metropark.[1] The State of Michigan still recognizes the location as an unincorporated community at Grand River Avenue on Kent Lake (42°30′42″N 83°39′33″W / 42.51167°N 83.65917°W).[2]
History
Kensington was settled in 1831 and platted in 1836.[1] On June 9, 1834 a U.S. Post Office opened with the name of Lyon on Kent Lake Road between Grand River Avenue and Silver Lake Road (42°30′42″N 83°39′33″W / 42.51167°N 83.65917°W). On September 5, 1836, the Lyon Post Office was renamed Kensington.[3] By 1854 it had over 300 residents. With the building of the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan Railroad in 1871 it suffered a significant loss of population that was further accelerated by the building of the Michigan Air Line Railroad in 1882 that went through New Hudson.[1] On July 31, 1902, the Kensington Post Office was closed.[3] By 1905 there were only four families left in the village. Most of its buildings were leveled when Kensington Metropark and I-96 were built in the 1950s.[1]
Sources
- 1 2 3 4 Hagman, Arthur A., ed. Oakland County Book of History. 1970. p. 34.
- ↑ "Oakland County Map" (PDF). Michigan County Map Series. Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kensington Post Office (historical), Michigan & GNIS in Google Maps Citation: Ellis, David M. Michigan Postal History, The Post Offices 1805-1986. 12-Dec-1993.