Frenchtown is an old settlement brimming with new growth
Frenchtown is a spacious stretch of land along Lake Erie's shores. Officially called Frenchtown Carter Township, the community gets its name from its French-Canadian settlers in the 1700s. The township was much larger and shrank when other settlements were chiseled from its land in the 1800s. While the township has a deep past, its future points towards growth. "It's probably the township with the most potential over the next 10 years in Monroe County," says Steve Hudkins, a Realtor and co-manager at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kee Realty and lifelong resident of the area. "A lot is going on there." Frenchtown has shopping centers, a new community center and a busy state park. "It's still a rural area with beautiful stretches of country, however," Hudkins says. "People moving here are looking for that quieter life."
Dixie Highway runs through the heart of Frenchtown.
The Frenchtown Community & Event Center sits on Dixie Highway.
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Lakefront neighborhoods and small developments on quiet, rural roads
Detroit Beach, Woodland Beach and Stony Point are neighborhoods along Lake Erie with the densest clusters of homes. Each community is private and has a beach with resident-only access. Outside the three communities, houses are along quiet connecting roads, side streets or in small developments. "There hasn't been too much going on over the past decade in terms of housing, but the area attracts developers because of its location and open land," Hudkins says. "Frenchtown is by far the most progressive township in our community and has the space for growth." Manufactured homes range from $20,000 to $60,000, and small single-family homes sell between $70,000 and $200,000. Ranch-style, farmhouse and Colonial Revival styles range from $175,000 to $350,000. Modern Craftsman and new traditional homes, including those along the lake and in small developments to the west, sell between $400,000 and $750,000.
Modern homes are also being built in Frenchtown.
Frenchtown features many cute and cozy homes.
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Year-round fishing and recreation at Sterling State Park and Breast Bay
Sterling State Park is Michigan's only state park on Lake Erie and has 1,300 acres of marsh, prairie and water basins. It's popular for fishing perch, walleye, largemouth bass and carp. The park also has camping, biking, boating, hunting and cross-country skiing. Breast Bay is another destination for anglers. "The bay has the best walleye fishing on Lake Erie, and people will be out year-round," Hudkins says. "There will be hundreds of boats on the nicest days." Frenchtown Township Park has a playground, a baseball diamond and tennis, basketball and pickleball courts.
Sterling State Park, sits on Lake Erie and features more than 1,300 acres of camping, fishing, hunting and recreation space in Frenchtown.
Brest Bay Grove Park welcomes walkers.
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Frenchtown has the county’s largest collection of major shopping
U.S. Route 24, also called North Telegraph Road, is the main shopping strip in Monroe County. The strip has plazas with department stores, specialty shops, fast-food chains and car dealerships. "Most of Monroe County's shopping is in Frenchtown," Hudkins says. Locally owned restaurants throughout the township include Eureka Eatery, which specializes in fried chicken, gyros, tacos and mac n' cheese. Angelo's Chop House on North Dixie Highway, a smaller shopping strip, is an upscale restaurant that ages its own meats. "I feel spoiled when I eat there," Hudkins says.
Frenchtown offers many big store shopping.
Frenchtown homeowners appreciate having a Lowe's in the neighborhood.
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Jefferson schools are not only for students but for the community
Three school groups oversee the township: Jefferson School District, Airport Community Schools and Monroe Public Schools. Most students are served by Jefferson School District, and three of the district's four schools are in Frenchtown. Sodt Elementary School is rated C-plus by Niche, and Jefferson Middle School is rated C. Students graduate from C-plus-rated Jefferson High School, home to the Jefferson Recreation Center. Through annual memberships, the community can access the center's weight and fitness rooms, basketball courts, elevated track and aquatics center.
Jefferson Middle School welcomes creative kids in Frenchtown.
Jefferson High School welcomes new students in Frenchtown.
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Community events and nostalgic movie nights in Frenchtown
Frenchtown Township Community and Event Center opened in 2025 and features monthly makers markets, holiday parties, concerts and community socials on its social calendar. While not quite as new as the community center, Memory Lane Drive-In Theater opened a few years ago and is an old-school drive-in with two screens, a concession stand and an 80s vibe.
An accessible location with economic advantages
Interstate 75 goes through the township, connecting it to a few major metropolitan areas. "When you're in Frenchtown, you're about 30 miles from Ann Arbor, Detroit and Toledo," Hudkins says. The interstate connects to Interstate 275, which heads 21 miles north to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital is south in the City of Monroe. Enrico Fermi II Nuclear Power Plant and DTE Energy, its parent company, are both in the township. Hudkins explains that the two large employers help lower the tax base, and Frenchtown has lower taxes than nearby townships. "Also, the taxes in Monroe County are almost 30% less than in Wayne County," he adds.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
Photography Contributed By
Paul Vilela
Video By
Anne Sheridan
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