River Raisin

---

title: "River Raisin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-michigan", "rivers-of-monroe-county,-michigan", "monroe,-michigan", "rivers-of-lenawee-county,-michigan", "rivers-of-washtenaw-county,-michigan", "rivers-of-jackson-county,-michigan", "tributaries-of-lake-erie", "michigan-in-the-war-of-1812", "rivers-of-hillsdale-county,-michigan"] description: "River in southeastern Michigan, United States" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Raisin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary River in southeastern Michigan, United States ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]

Field	Value
name	River Raisin
name_other	Rivière Aux Raisins
image	Raisinriver.jpg
image_size	275
image_caption	The River Raisin flowing through Monroe
map	RiverRaisinMap.jpg
map_size	250
map_caption	Location of the River Raisin in Michigan
subdivision_type1	Country
subdivision_name1	United States
subdivision_type2	State
subdivision_name2	Michigan
subdivision_type3	Counties
subdivision_name3	Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw
subdivision_type5	Settlements
subdivision_name5	Blissfield, Brooklyn, Clinton, Deerfield, Dundee, Manchester, Monroe, Petersburg, Tecumseh
length	139 mi
discharge1_avg	741 cuft/s
source1_location	Rollin Township, Michigan
source1_coordinates
source1_elevation	1043 ft
mouth	Lake Erie
mouth_location	Monroe, Michigan
mouth_coordinates
mouth_elevation	571 ft
basin_size	1072 sqmi
::

| name = River Raisin | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = Rivière Aux Raisins | name_etymology = | image = Raisinriver.jpg | image_size = 275 | image_caption = The River Raisin flowing through Monroe | map = RiverRaisinMap.jpg | map_size = 250 | map_caption = Location of the River Raisin in Michigan | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Michigan | subdivision_type3 = Counties | subdivision_name3 = Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = Settlements | subdivision_name5 = Blissfield, Brooklyn, Clinton, Deerfield, Dundee, Manchester, Monroe, Petersburg, Tecumseh | length = 139 mi | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 741 cuft/s | discharge1_max = | source1 = | source1_location = Rollin Township, Michigan | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = 1043 ft | mouth = Lake Erie | mouth_location = Monroe, Michigan | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = 571 ft | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = 1072 sqmi | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = The River Raisin (, 'River of Sturgeon') is a 135 mi river in southeast Michigan, United States, that flows in a generally easterly direction through glacial sediments before emptying into Lake Erie. The River Raisin drainage basin covers approximately 1072 sqmi in the Michigan counties of Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Jackson, and Hillsdale, along with Fulton County in northwest Ohio.

Today, the land within its bounds is primarily used for agriculture, and light industry. Historically, the river served as a canoe transportation route for various Native American tribes, and for French Canadian Voyageurs. The river's English name comes from the French Rivière aux Raisins (translated as "River of Grapes"), in reference to the wild grapes growing along its banks.

History and geography

The River Raisin was used by local Potawatomi and Wyandot peoples, who had established portages between the upper river and the Grand and Kalamazoo rivers that flowed west toward Lake Michigan. The river is still classified as canoeable throughout its length, however, a low gradient, access issues, frequent logjams in the upper reaches, and 22 dams limit its recreational use.

The first European settlers along the river were French Canadians, who in the 1780s developed their traditional ribbon farms along the river and established a settlement known as Frenchtown. The farms had narrow fronts on the river so that farmers would have access, with deep rectangular lots reaching back from the river. Now part of Monroe, Michigan, this area is still the most populous area along the river. The resort area of Irish Hills lies in the uppermost region of the watershed, which includes 429 lakes and ponds. The largest of these is the 800 acre Lake Columbia.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Sharon_Township_River_Raisin.JPG" caption="Sharon Township"] ::

During the winter of 1813 as part of the War of 1812, the Battle of Frenchtown occurred on the banks of the river. British and Indigenous forces under the command of Henry Procter and the Wyandot war leader Roundhead fought against a division of ill-trained Kentucky regulars and militia under the command of Brigadier General James Winchester. After he was captured Winchester ordered his men to surrender after receiving British assurances of safety for the prisoners. The British escorted those who could walk to Amherstburg in Upper Canada.

The next day, however, many of the severely wounded prisoners left behind in Frenchtown were murdered by some of Britain's Indigenous allies. The River Raisin Massacre triggered a rallying cry ("Remember the Raisin") for Americans in the war, particularly for Kentuckians. American troops returned in September to drive the British from Michigan.

The original battlefield was preserved for years as a county park in Monroe, Michigan and had several monuments erected to the Kentucky soldiers who died there. On October 12, 2010, the land was transferred from the state to the federal government. By Congressional authorization, it is the only National Battlefield Park designating a battlefield of the War of 1812 - the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.

Since industrialization and intensified agriculture, the river has been polluted by industrial wastes and agricultural runoff. While cleanup efforts have mitigated some of the pollution, difficult-to-remove PCBs continue to constitute a hazardous waste. An established Area of Concern covers only 2 sqmi of the watershed at the mouth of the river, much of which is devoted to industrial and harbor use, including the Ford Motor Company plant, Detroit Edison Monroe powerplant, and the Port of Monroe. Environmental authorities advise people not to eat some species of fish from the river, if taken below the outlet of the Monroe Dam.

The river has many small dams to control water flow. These were erected to power the many paper mills constructed along it in the mid-1800s during the lumber boom. They are also products of Henry Ford's rural industry program. While most of the dams are in Monroe, the most significant one is located in Dundee, Michigan. The Port of Monroe was constructed near the mouth of the river in the 1930s, as a needed infrastructure project sponsored by the President Franklin D. Roosevelt administration during the Great Depression.

Flooding along the river has three causes: heavy rains, ice dams developing during spring break-up, and on-shore winds pushing Lake Erie waters upstream. The worst flood was recorded on March 16, 1982, at 15300 cuft/s, compared to an average mean flow of 741 cuft/s. Flooding affects mostly the lowest portions of the river. By contrast on July 13, 1988, during a severe drought, a measuring station found 0 cuft/s of water flow.

Most of the flow of the river is diverted through the Detroit Edison plant and discharged into Plum Creek. Previously it was discharged into the river, but it is now diverted to limit additional pollution of the river mouth area. The power plant's peak use of 3000 cuft/s of water exceeds the river's average flow of 741 cuft/s, so on some occasions, water is drawn upstream from Lake Erie into the plant. The high level of industrial water use is thought to kill large numbers of fish in the intake screens and to make fish migration from the river into the Great Lakes almost impossible.

In 2013 U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, along with the entire Michigan delegation, introduced a resolution (H. Res. 37, 113th Congress) to honor the 200th anniversary of the battles at the River Raisin.

Tributaries

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/River_Raisin_near_Monroe.jpg" caption="Boats docked near the mouth of River Raisin"] ::

In addition to the river forming from the Upper River Raisin and the South Branch River Raisin, the following streams flow into the River Raisin:

• Goose Creek
• Black Creek
• Evans Creek
• Iron Creek
• Little River Raisin
• Macon Creek
• Saline River

Islands

• Sisters Island (Michigan)
• Sterling Island
• Strong Island (Michigan)

The Eagle Island Marsh is part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

Flora and fauna

The River Raisin is home to "warm-water" fish including bluegill, white sucker, channel catfish, walleye, carp, white bass, black buffalo, freshwater drum and smallmouth bass. Very few fish migrate between the river and the Great Lakes because they are blocked by the seven dams in Monroe, as well as the power plant intakes. Bird species use the area as part of the migratory flyway along eastern Lake Erie; they include bald eagles, sandhill cranes, ducks and seagulls. Invasive fauna include zebra mussels and rusty crayfish. The threatened American lotus is present in Eagle Island Marsh, but it must compete with several invasive plant species in the watershed, including flowering rush, Eurasian milfoil, curlyleaf pondweed, Phragmites and purple loosestrife.

Communities

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Red_Millpond_River_Raisin_Tecumseh_Michigan.JPG" caption="Red Millpond, Tecumseh"] ::

Cities and villages along the river include:

• Monroe, Michigan
• Dundee, Michigan
• Petersburg, Michigan
• Deerfield, Michigan
• Blissfield, Michigan
• Adrian, Michigan
• Tecumseh, Michigan
• Clinton, Michigan
• Manchester, Michigan
• Brooklyn, Michigan

Crossings

River Raisin crossings are located in communities within four counties of Michigan.

::data[format=table title="List of crossings"]

Name	Type	Location	County	Source:
	Interstate Highway	Monroe	Monroe
Winchester Parkway	Local road
Macomb Street	Local road
	Michigan highway
Roessler Street	Local road
	U.S. Route
Raisinville Road	Local road	Monroe Twp./
Frenchtown Twp.
Ida–Maybee Road	Local road	Raisinville Twp.
	Michigan highway	Dundee
	U.S. Route
Petersburg Road	Local road	Petersburg/
Summerfield Twp.
Railroad Street/Deerfield Road	Local road
Rodesiler Highway	Local road	Deerfield Twp.	Lenawee
	U.S. Route	Blissfield
Crockett Highway	Local road	Palmyra Twp.
	U.S. Route
Deerfield Road	Local road
Academy Road	Local road
Laberdee Road	Local road	Raisin Twp.
Wilmoth Highway	Local road
Raisin Center Highway	Local road
Sutton Road	Local road
Russell Road	Local road	Tecumseh
	Michigan highway
Evans Street	Local road
Staib Road	Local road	Clinton Twp.
	U.S. Route	Clinton
Allen Road	Local road	Bridgewater Twp.	Washtenaw
Wilbur Road	Local road
Austin Road	Local road	Manchester Twp.
	Michigan highway	Manchester
Duncan Street	Local road
Main Street	Local road
Sharon Valley Road	Local road	Sharon Twp.
Sharon Hollow Road	Local road
Sharon Valley Road	Local road
Pierce Road	Local road	Norvell Twp.	Jackson
Mill Road	Local road
Austin Road	Local road
Palmer Road/Wolf Lake Road	Local road	Columbia Twp.
Mill Street	Local road	Brooklyn
	Michigan highway	Columbia Twp.
Daugherty Road	Local road
Monroe Pike Road	Local road
	Michigan highway
	U.S. Route	Cambridge Twp.	Lenawee
Miller Highway	Local road	Woodstock Twp.
::

References

References

1. [http://riverraisin.org/features/river_raisin_watershed_info River Raisin Watershed Information] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-07-27 , River Raisin Watershed Council, 2010)
2. A.C. Quisenberry, "A Hundred Years Ago: the River Raisin", ''Register of the Kentucky Historical Society,'' Sept 1913, p.18
3. [http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/ifr/ifrlibra/special/reports/sr23/sr23Text.pdf River Raisin Assessment], Kenneth E. Dodge, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, October 1998
4. "Battle of Frenchtown: Also Known as the Battle of the River Raisin".
5. Salzano, James. (2023). "A National Calamity: How the Horrors at the River Raisin Became a Rallying Cry".
6. Anderson, Elisha. "Monroe hands over battlefield land for national park". Detroit Free Press.
7. [https://www.scribd.com/doc/31809365/Raisin-River-Area-of-Concern-s-Fish-and-Wildlife-Habitat-Population-Beneficial-Use-Impairments-Delisting-Targets Delisting Targets for Fish/Wildlife Habitat & Population Related Beneficial Use Impairments for the River Raisin Area of Concern], Environmental Consulting and Technology, November 20, 2008
8. [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/FishAdvisory03_67354_7.pdf 2010 MICHIGAN FISH ADVISORY], MDCH Division of Environmental Health, 2010 - River Raisin, below Monroe Dam: no consumption of carp, channel cat, larger white bass; limited consumption of black buffalo, freshwater drum, smallmouth bass, smaller white bass.
9. [https://web.archive.org/web/20081204050845/http://epa.gov/greatlakes/aoc/rvraisn/2007_RaisinUpdateRap.pdf ''The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Biennial Remedial Action Plan Update for the River Raisin Area of Concern''], Michelle D. Selzer, Water Bureau, Aquatic Nuisance Control & Remedial Action Unit, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, December 19, 2006
10. "RESOLUTION Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the Battles at the River Raisin and the significance of these battles during the War of 1812".
11. [http://riverraisin.org/reports/raisin_projects/319grant/mdeqhydrostudy.pdf River Raisin Watershed Hydrologic Study] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-07-27 , Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, February 17, 2006)
12. "Items of Interest: A listing of maps/forms that are of public interest". River Raisin Watershed Council.

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