Addison is a village in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, the village had a population of 573. The community lies on the boundary between Rollin Township to the south and Woodstock Township to the north.
History
The first permanent settler, John Talbot, arrived in the area in 1834 and erected a grist mill along Bean Creek in late 1835, establishing the settlement originally known as “Manetue.” After relocating the mill to a more suitable site in 1836, the community was briefly called “Peru” by 1838 and underwent several name changes before being formally platted as Addison in 1851, a name derived from Addison J. Comstock, a banker from nearby Adrian who acquired a large tract of land there. The village was incorporated in 1893.
Railroad service reached Addison in 1883, prompting economic growth that included the construction of a three‑story hotel and the launch of the Addison Courier newspaper in 1884. The mill built in 1848 remained a landmark until its removal in 1980. Celebrations marking the village’s sesquicentennial (150 years) were held in 1984, and a one‑day 175th‑anniversary event occurred on August 8, 2009. In the 2010s, the medical cannabis industry established several facilities in the village.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Addison occupies a total area of 1.00 square mile (2.59 km²), of which 0.96 square mile (2.49 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.10 km²) is water. The village sits at an elevation of approximately 1,066 feet (325 m) above sea level. Major transportation routes include U.S. Route 127, which intersects Main Street in the village center.
Demographics
The 2020 census recorded 573 residents, yielding a population density of about 600 persons per square mile (232 persons per km²). Historical census data show a gradual decline from a peak of 627 residents in 2000. In the 2010 census, the racial composition was 97.0 % White, 0.5 % African American, 0.3 % other races, and 2.1 % two or more races; 1.0 % of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. The median age was 35.1 years, with a gender distribution of 46.8 % male and 53.2 % female.
Education
Addison Community Schools operates a K‑12 campus serving the village and surrounding area. The district, organized in 1887, enrolls approximately 800 students. School colors are red and black, and the athletic teams are known as the Panthers; the mascot is a black panther. The district’s radio station, WQAR‑LP “Q95 the Panther,” began broadcasting in August 2014 and is programmed by students.
Notable people
- Maxine Kline – Professional baseball player in the All‑American Girls Professional Baseball League, raised in Addison.
- Joseph H. Steere – Former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, associated with the village.
References
Information summarized from the Wikipedia article “Addison, Michigan” (accessed April 2026).