Time Line - 1837

Last Year | Next Year

• January 26: President Andrew Jackson signs the bill making Michigan the nation's twenty-sixth state. [BOM]

• March 20: Michigan passed the Public Improvement Act - allows state to borrow $5 million to finance railroads. [MDOT]

• July 4: First steam locomotive, the "Adrian" placed in service on the E&K. [MDOT]

  Late: The Central line reaches Dearborn. [DPG/AAD]

• SNAPSHOT: Detroit had four banks (capital totaling $2,250,000), 27 drygoods stores, 25 grocery and provision stores, 10 commission houses; 14 hardware stores, 8 drug stores, 4 hotels, 8 jewelry shops, 2 daily newspapers and 4 weekly newspapers, 37 lawyers and 22 physicians. [HGD-p206]

• SHAPSHOT: thirty-nine counties in Michigan had been organized, as well as two chartered cities and 23 incorporated villages. [HGD-p212]

• The Central Railroad terminal in Detroit is a wooden building at Michigan and Griswold, also known as "Campus Martis". Conflict Note: See February 3, 1838.[DWS/RWC]

• The first Ypsilanti depot is built, a wooden structure on the west side of the tracks near the current freight house location. It was removed in the 1850's. [IT-4/1975]

• Michigan becomes a state.

• The first locomotive whistle is placed in service. [SAM]

• Detroit & Pontiac Railroad reaches Royal Oak. [DWS]

• The "southern" railroad begins construction this year under State ownership, but three years elapse before any portion is open for business. [MCR-75]

• Panic of 1837. [DWS] 

Time line Key:

• Railroad event in Michigan
• Event relating to mining
• Event related to car ferries
• Event outside of Michigan
• Improvement in Technology
• Railroad built or extended
• Railroad abandoned and/or removed
• Economic panic or depression