Riley Township offers open space with agricultural amenities
Riley Township is a rural community of around 3,000 people that’s over 50 miles northeast of Detroit. Originally settled by Ojibwe Indians in the early 1800s, Riley Township is a farming town that was once known for its lumber and milling industries. While the mills are no longer in operation two centuries later, the township continues to rely on its agricultural roots while residents turn to nearby communities for employment and amenities. “It’s primarily a bedroom community,” says Harold Cummings, a broker with Elmlands Realty Company who’s worked in the market for over 50 years. “There’s not much in the way of industry or commercial, but it’s easy to get around between Port Huron and the northern suburbs of Detroit.”
Cape Cod and Colonial homes built on acreage
Houses are spaced out along its many country roads, many of which are built on acreage with cattle and pole barns. “Most everybody that moves out there wants some elbow room,” Cummings says. “Pretty much everybody has some land and does a little bit of farming and gardening.” Housing styles vary between ranch-style, Cape Cod and Colonial homes with some bungalows and farmhouse-style architecture. Many homes lean on the older side, some of which were built as far back as the 1890s, but Cummings says newer builds have led to the township having a more balanced, modern look. Properties that have less than 2,000 square feet of space typically range between $130,000 and $330,000, while larger two-story homes with more land costs between $350,000 and $715,000.
A golf course, a playground and fishing by Belle River
Riley Township Park has a playground with swings, slides and seesaws, along with a pavilion where picnics and small events are typically held. The 18-hole Belle River Golf Course is right by the river, which flows over 8 miles southeast through the community. “People fish from the bridges on the secondary roads,” Cummings says. “A lot of hunting goes on, and we’re close to Lake Huron, so that draws a lot of people for boating as well.” There are more parks and playgrounds south in Memphis, and there are camping grounds north of the interstate.
Armada Area Schools supports fine arts and sciences
Riley Township is served by three different school districts. One of those, Armada Area Schools, has a science academy and a fine art conservatory and earns a B-plus on Niche. Orville C. Krause Elementary School teaches kindergarten through fifth grade and earns an A-minus. Armada Middle School offers a free or reduced lunch program for its students and also earns an A-minus. B-rated Armada High School offers an early college program and has a 95% graduation rate.
An interstate between Flint and Port Huron
There’s no dedicated metro or rail service for the township, so most residents are car-dependent and use Interstate 69 to get around the area. Flint is over 40 miles west, while the 24-hour Lake Huron Medical Center is about 25 miles east in Port Huron. Detroit Metropolitan Airport is less than 70 miles southwest and served more than 30 million passengers in 2024.
Local restaurants and businesses in Memphis
The few restaurants within the township are mainly clustered south toward Memphis. Doghouse Tavern has around 20 craft brews on tap and occasionally hosts trivia, DJ and karaoke nights. Mr. Z’s is a longtime favorite of the community that has served steak, seafood and barbecue for nearly five decades. Sage Creek Winery is a veteran-owned establishment that also offers mead, ciders and wine slushies, and Arctic Queen has served ice cream sundaes for over 30 years. There’s also a few convenience stores and gas stations in Memphis, while groceries are available at Dollar General.
