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Finely drafted cadastral map of the northern part of Cheboygan County in northern Michigan.
Place names include:
- Village of Cheboygan
- Township of Benton
- Township of Duncan
- Township of Grant
- Township of Inverness
Information on the map suggests it was drafted no earlier than the mid-1860s. The identification of "the Village of Cheboygan" suggests a date of about 1871, when the Village was first incorporated.
- Thompson Smith acquired Jeremiah Duncan's mill property at Duncan Bay after Duncan's death in 1854.
- The Property at the east side of the mouth of the Cheboygan River is owned by S(anford) Baker. Baker acquired this property which housed a steam sawmill in the fall of 1866.
- McArthur Smith & Co., another large landowner, began business by the beginning of 1868.
Cheboygan
Cheboygan’s history is rooted in its early settlement by the Ojibwe, who called the area Shabwegan. The region was an important seasonal campsite for Native Americans, offering access to the Cheboygan River and Lake Huron, critical waterways for travel and trade. Its natural resources—forests, rivers, and fertile lands—made it a vital location for hunting, fishing, and gathering. The name Shabwegan, meaning something akin to "through passage" or "narrow passage," highlights the area's significance as a travel route.
The first documented European-American settler in Cheboygan was Jacob Sammons, a cooper from Fort Mackinac, who arrived in 1844. Recognizing the advantages of the former Ojibwe camping ground, Sammons chose the site for his cabin and began recruiting other settlers to join him. This settlement soon became known as Duncan City, named after Robert Duncan, a sawmill owner who helped stimulate local development. In 1846, a post office named "Duncan" was established, marking the community's growing importance. By 1853, Duncan was designated the seat of Cheboygan County, and in 1855, it became the site of the federal land office, solidifying its prominence in the region.
The area around Duncan City thrived in the mid-19th century as the timber industry boomed. The Cheboygan River served as a key artery for floating logs to nearby sawmills, fueling the local economy and drawing new settlers. However, by 1870, the focus shifted to the emerging village of Cheboygan. The county seat was relocated from Duncan to Cheboygan around this time, and Duncan was gradually absorbed into Cheboygan’s expanding boundaries.
Cheboygan was incorporated as a village in 1871, reflecting its growing population and infrastructure. By 1877, a theater was constructed, indicating the community’s cultural development. Early rail maps from 1876 show that rail service was planned for Cheboygan, but it was not until 1881 that the railroad finally reached the town due to various setbacks. The arrival of the railroad connected Cheboygan to larger markets and marked a new era of economic expansion.
In 1889, Cheboygan was officially incorporated as a city. By this time, it had developed into a regional center for commerce and transportation. The city's economy remained closely tied to the timber industry, with numerous sawmills lining the Cheboygan River. As logging declined toward the end of the 19th century, Cheboygan adapted by diversifying into other industries, including manufacturing and tourism, taking advantage of its scenic location on Lake Huron.
