SMALLTOWN MICHIGAN: Applegate, in the Thumb

The village of Applegate lies in the southeast corner of Washington Township, Sanilac County, in Michigan's thumb. It originated in 1856 when George Pack decided to build a business by constructing a sawmill. The town could have been called "Packville", but the name "Applegate" was chosen, named after General Jesse Applegate, who led other pioneers through to Oregon in 1845.

At Applegate's late 1800's peak, it had a bank, barber shop, blacksmith, cattle pen, churches, city hall, coal & lumber company, creamery, depot, elevator, foundry, hardware store, hotel, meat market, post office, sawmill, stockyards, and a wide variety of shops & stores.

Get our free mobile app

These days, Applegate retains many of it's old buildings, homes and storefronts, much to the delight of roadtrippers and travelers. There are many antique shops you can check out to find out more town history or buy some treasures for yourself. The town currently has a bank, bar & grill, party store, and post office.

It's a good-sized village and it's time well-spent, when you visit. Take a drive-thru soon. Michigan small towns are especially cool to visit during the holiday season!

APPLEGATE GALLERY

MORE: Some Fun Photos From Michigan's Past

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Michigan

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Michigan using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.