A friendly farming community in Montrose Township
Montrose Township is a rural community of around 6,000 people with farms, ranches and orchards northwest of Flint. Established in 1847, Montrose Township grew around the timber industry, which thrived due to the area's dense pine forests. Today, agriculture is the community's economic engine, driven by crops like corn, soybeans and potatoes. Socially, events organized by schools and churches bring people together. “It’s a very friendly atmosphere,” says Connie Yeaster, a native and broker with Independent Realty. “A lot of people who move here tend to stay for a while. I love it here – I’ve been here my entire life.”
Farmhouses and ranch-style homes on wooded acres
Older homes can be found in town, just west of the Flint River, while homes on acreage are more common in the country. Buyers can often find ranch-style, Colonial, Cape Cop and traditional homes. Smaller bungalows and fixer-upper properties that are less than 1,300 square feet are $50,000 to $125,000, while some farmhouse-style homes with covered porches and pole barns can cost $100,000 to $220,000. Some split-level and tri-level homes cost between $200,000 to $300,000, and newer builds on wooded lots range from $300,000 to $500,000.
Youth sports and virtual learning at Montrose Community Schools
Montrose Community Schools earns a C on Niche and offers school choice to around 1,400 students in the community. “We get a lot of people from other school districts who come here,” Yeaster says. “We have a wonderful school system.” Carter Elementary serves kindergarten through third-grade students and earns a B-minus on Niche. Kuehn-Haven Middle School has youth sports programs for football, baseball and wrestling and earns a C-plus. Hill-McCloy High School offers online lessons through its virtual academy and earns a B-minus. It's also home to a Mini Goldendoodle therapy dog named Fraser that makes classroom visits throughout the day.
An interstate to Flint hospitals and an international airport
Michigan Highway 57 cuts east and west through the community, while Interstate 75 runs east of the township and leads over 20 miles away to Flint. While there isn’t any public transportation for the township itself, MTA Flint does offer personalized transit from specific service centers throughout Genesee County. “We’re a small community, but we’re not far from Flushing, Chesaning and Clio,” Yeaster says. “You don’t have to go far if you want to take your family out.” The 24-hour McLaren Flint hospital is approximately 18 miles southeast, while Bishop International Airport is around 20 miles south and offers direct flights to Florida and Illinois.
Locally owned markets and restaurants
Most small businesses and restaurants are situated along the city’s main commercial corridor. Montrose Pub serves sub sandwiches and half-pound burgers and also has an arcade bar and karaoke nights. M57 Pizza is popular for its cheesy bread and cinnamon sticks, and Debbie’s Kitchen offers sweet treats and take-home meals from Montrose Orchards. Gifts and souvenirs are available at Blackbird Market, and Iverson’s Lumber Company has been in business for nearly 75 years. Riverside Market, a local grocery store, offers fresh produce and weekly specials.
Township parks, a museum and a 150-acre orchard
The 27-acre Montrose Township Barber Memorial Park sits on the western bank of the Flint River. The park has a playground, a soccer field and courts that can be used for basketball or pickleball matches. There’s a fishing pier where people can catch smallmouth bass, and the river also sees its fair share of canoes and kayaks. Lions City Park and Montrose Blueberry Park is also located within the city, and the Montrose Historical & Telephone Pioneer Museum showcases old antiques inside a former schoolhouse. Many families also like to go picking apples, blueberries and pumpkins at the 150-acre Montrose Orchards when they’re in season.
Sweet treats at Montrose Blueberry Festival
The city welcomes thousands of visitors every year for the Montrose Blueberry Festival, an annual tradition that has been part of the community for over 50 years. The week-long event kicks off with a car show and parade before a carnival midway opens up for the weekend. True to its name, the festival also features blueberry pancakes, muffins and pie-eating contests. The M-57 Market is held every Saturday on the city square over the summer and features food trucks and activities alongside locally made goods.
