A Quiet Community with Everything to Offer

It is a blending of the old and the new, the country and the city, the traditional with the future. What weaves these elements together is a rich tapestry of people who call Lapeer County home. Scattered among lush farmland, rolling hills and 159 lakes are pockets of people who strive to preserve the quality of life here.

Nestled at the base of Michigan's Thumb Region, Lapeer County is located 10 miles east of Flint, 30 miles west of Port Huron and 50 miles north of Detroit, Michigan. I-69 provides interstate linkage, while M-24 and M-53 get folks to neighboring towns quickly.

Situated north of high-density metropolitan areas, Lapeer County has attracted many people who work in the southern counties to reside in Lapeer County's peaceful countryside. Northern areas of the county are home to the Amish community while the southern portion is known as horse country with stables, a hunt club and a game reserve.

Planned Growth

Almont, Attica, Columbiaville, Dryden, Imlay City, Lapeer, Metamora and North Branch comprise the towns and villages of Lapeer County.

A cooperative countywide initiative for planned growth has become a major focus. Keeping the peaceful atmosphere of Lapeer is at the heart of planning. Community leaders carefully research and balance solutions to manage the influx of progress. Traffic flow, classroom sizes and zoning are carefully planned to create a harmonious balance for the coexistence of commerce, industry, agriculture and residential developments.

Growth requires accommodation. Traffic lights have been installed where once a stop sign sufficed. Zoning ordinances are carefully amended to give all factions of the community the ability to grow without creating disharmony among residents. A vast array of community members convene and act as a steering committee to represent all the villages and towns in the county. Planning commissioners, township officials, individuals from the private sector, farmland preservation groups, professional planners and the Michigan State University extension service are tending to the needs of the growing community.

The Chamber Connections publication recently stated: "There is a deliberate effort in all of Lapeer County to cooperate in achieving a comprehensive framework for the growth we will experience. It means that one township won't permit an industry to move in across the street from another township's residential neighborhoods. It means that commercial development will have reasonable, not prohibitive parameters and "greenspace" can be given a high priority by all."

The combined efforts of these countywide leaders will result in a vibrant and well-planned community. Not just one city or town, but all towns and villages in Lapeer County share this vision and are working together to plan a community that will successfully integrate all the needs of the population, both on a business and personal level.

Pleasant Progress

Growth is not new to the area. Not that long ago, there were no mega-stores, such as Home Depot, Wal-Mart or Meijer. Today, residents enjoy big-town convenience in a small-town atmosphere.

Unlike many cities, the downtown continues to bustle retaining its charm, shops and historic buildings. It is alive and well through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Business Association.

According to the latest statistics, manufacturing, construction and retail jobs have steadily increased since 1990. New industrial parks and housing developments are steadily increasing.

Focus: Education & Lifetime Learning

Education opportunities abound in the county with the Lapeer Intermediate School District's five public school systems, five parochial schools and one charter school. The Lapeer County Educational & Technology Center in Attica provides more than 20 programs for students. Higher education is all around as well, with local campuses and nearby universities offering a wealth of undergraduate and some graduate courses at satellite campuses.