Higher education with a rural backdrop in Kochville Township
Kochville Township, part of Saginaw County in eastern Michigan, was established in 1855 and thrived off its agricultural activity. The township was small in population but hearty in community spirit, growing slowly but steadily throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. When Saginaw Valley State University opened in 1963, the population surged with new faces, including students and those moving in to work for the university. The university was, and still is, one of the township's major employers and influences for attracting new residents. Kochville Township is also home to part of Saginaw County's most extensive shopping area, making it an essential stop for smaller communities surrounding it. While it offers plenty regarding education and essentials, it's still no bustling college scene. The community has retained much of its rural nature, with winding back roads, plenty of outdoor recreation and generous residential acreage.
Midcentury homes, New Traditional properties and available acreage
Kochville Township is not a place of subdivisions and busy streets. Instead, homes stretch along the roads that wind through the green Michigan fields. Most homeowners have an acre of land at the very minimum, some with dozens. Architecture here is diverse, from classic painted split-levels and mixed-material ranch homes to contemporary New Traditional properties. Due to the university, there's a nearly even mix of renters and homeowners in the township. Midcentury homes, or early 20th-century properties needing renovation, can sell between $80,000 and $250,000. Newer properties, especially those sitting on generous acreage, sell for $300,000 to $500,000.
From primary schooling to university grade levels
Kochville Township is zoned under the Freeland Community School District and, on the east side, Saginaw Public Schools. Many children will start at Freeland Learning Center, which gets a B from Niche. Students can move on to A-minus-rated Freeland Elementary, which is ranked as one of the top 5 best elementary schools in Saginaw County. Freeland Middle/High School receives a B-plus, and Freeland High offers dual enrollment through a partnership with Delta College so that students can earn college credit before graduating. Kochville Township is also home to Saginaw Valley State University, which offers over 100 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Wandering the campus, playing at local parks and nearby golfing
Kochville Township has several green areas for recreation, and while not a formal park, many head to the Saginaw Valley State University campus to spend time outdoors. At nearly 750 acres, the campus has several paved pathways that make for good walking and biking trails. On the community's south side, Krossroads Park and Rainbow's End Playground offer picnic pavilions, access to the Kochville Pathway and the first universally inclusive play area in the Tri-county area. The township also has the Beech Hollow Golf Course, which is open to the public and offers a challenging 18-hole course.
Housing Saginaw County's largest shopping area
Route 84, which intersects the township and runs down into Saginaw, is lined with several sprawling shopping plazas. Those living in Kochville Township have immediate access to big-box stores such as Sam's Club and Target, as well as national retailers, chain restaurants and grocers. Interspersed with the chains are some locally owned eateries like Pierce Road Bar and Grill, a go-to watering hole for beer on tap and traditional bar food.
Community in and around the township
The community is bordered by Interstate 75, which has exchange ramps to Interstate 675 on the east side. Both are major highways for getting around Saginaw County and nearby cities, with I-75 running all the way to Lake Superior and the Canadian border. The MyMichigan Medical Center's Saginaw campus, the county's largest hospital, is only 8 miles away via I-675. Just outside the township proper, MBS International Airport services a few major airlines, such as Delta and United.
