Blissfield is a slice of small-town Americana in southeastern Michigan
The village of Blissfield, Michigan, is a classic example of a Midwestern Main-Street town. It’s surrounded by farm fields for miles around, but buyers seek out its historic homes and small-community setting. “Blissfield is like the best small-town community you can dream of. It’s still the number one place I tell my clients to look,” says Jeanee Gilson, owner of Michigan Living Real Estate, who grew up in Blissfield. “It started as a sugar beet farming community,” Gilson says. “They called the farms around the community the Fields of Bliss, which is where the name comes from.” The village’s downtown streets are still lined with late-1800s homes and mature trees from its early days. At the same time, new homes are being built outside downtown, and new coffee shops and boutiques thrive on Lane Street. Blissfield’s openness to growth while maintaining its community dynamic is what draws new residents.
Late-1800s farmhouses stand proud while new options grow
Downtown is the historic heart of the village. The residential streets around Lane Street feature farmhouses, foursquares, bungalows and prairie-style cottages from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Newer streets were developed outside of the downtown core in later decades. The median single-family home price is about $220,000, which is in the range for historic downtown homes and 1960s ranch-style homes outside downtown. However, 1970s manufactured homes can start around $50,000. Large late-1800s homes on spacious lawns downtown and newer 2010s homes can cost $300,000 to $550,000.
Thriving new restaurants and boutiques on Lane Street
U.S. Route 223 may be the village’s central thoroughfare, but Lane Street is the heart of its downtown. Its historic buildings, connected by twinkling string lights, now house new local businesses. “All the businesses are new,” Gilson says. “The old drug store ice cream parlor is now a new brewery and coffee shop, and it’s amazing.” Blissfield residents proudly support these newer spots like Starling Lounge and Four Keys Brewing — the combo coffee shop and brewery. B Town Bar & Grill and Blissfield Coney Island are another pair of popular eateries. There are also multiple antique stores and boutiques like The Blue Onion, Her Daughter’s Boutique and Blissfield Antique Mall. Lane Street is also the community gathering place. “They do all kinds of events,” Gilson says. “They have concerts and plays on the street, and festivals throughout the year.” The only thing that downtown doesn’t have is a supermarket. The closest big-box stores — including a Walmart and a Meijer — are in Adrian, just over 10 miles northwest.
Blissfield has three schools in town
Students are served by Blissfield Community Schools, which earns a B-minus overall grade from Niche. The community’s three schools sit next to each other on the south end of town. Between the buildings, there are shared athletic fields. Kids begin at Blissfield Elementary and continue to Blissfield Middle, which both get a C-plus. The journey finishes at Blissfield High, rated a B.
Athletic facilities and recreation space at Ellis Park
Ellis Park is the community’s space for sports and outdoor activity. It’s just a block from Lane Street, along the River Raisin, which meanders through the village. The park has ball fields, a basketball court, a volleyball court and a playground. It also has shuffleboard courts and a fenced dog park. There’s plenty of lawn space to enjoy, and a kayak launch on the river. Up-and-coming sluggers play their weekend games at Blissfield Little League Park on the south end of town.
Commute to Adrian or Toledo
The soybean and corn fields for miles around make it obvious that farming rules this region. Residents who don’t work on a farm or at a local business might commute to Adrian, Michigan, or Toledo, Ohio. Adrian is 11 miles northwest on U.S. Route 223, Blissfield’s central thoroughfare. It’s the seat of Lenawee County and has a number of industrial businesses. Locals also go to Adrian for medical appointments and other errands. Toledo, Ohio, is the nearest sizable city, about 25 miles southeast. Built on the shores of Lake Erie, it has a prominent shipping industry, and it’s home to Toledo University. Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport is also the closest place for flights.
