Watervliet, Michigan

The name Watervliet is Dutch for flowing water, a fitting choice for a town whose history is tied to the Paw Paw River. Watervliet Township was established in the nineteenth century, and the first settlement of consequence grew up along the river's banks. The area became part of Michigan's Fruit Belt, where proximity to Lake Michigan creates a microclimate ideal for orchards.

Local tradition holds that Harvey Sherwood became known as the Apple King of Michigan, operating one of the largest apple orchards in the state right here in Watervliet Township. That tradition of fruit farming shaped the community for generations, even as the town itself remained small and compact along the Paw Paw River corridor.