Waltz is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Wayne County in the U.S. state of

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. It is located within Huron Charter Township approximately southwest of

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

. As an unincorporated community, Waltz has no defined boundaries or population statistics of its own. The community was first settled in 1857 when Joseph Waltz, Sr., moved his family from Detroit to a plot of farmland. The original farm was located along

Territorial Road A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...

(now Waltz Road) just north of the Wayne– Monroe county line. When the elder Waltz died in 1865, the property was left to his widow Mary, who later deeded it to Joseph Waltz, Jr., in 1867. In 1872, the area of Waltz was

plat In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bear ...

ted. The community later expanded through several additions. Joseph Waltz, Jr., operated a general store on Territorial Road which later became Krzyske Brothers Hardware which remains in operation today. Waltz also opened a German bier garten and hall on Mineral Springs Avenue and Territorial Road, this business remains in operation today as the Waltz Inn. Joseph Waltz, Jr. held many political positions including Huron Township Clerk and Supervisor,

Superintendent of the poor A poorhouse or workhouse is a government-run (usually by a county or municipality) facility to support and provide housing for the dependent or needy. Workhouses In England, Wales and Ireland (but not in Scotland), ‘workhouse’ has been the ...

for Wayne County and also State Representative. As Superintendent of the Poor, he was instrumental in establishing the Wayne County Hospital at Eloise and as State Representative, he was largely responsible in purchasing Detroit's

Belle Isle Park Belle Isle Park, known simply as Belle Isle (), is a island park in Detroit, Michigan, developed in the late 19th century. It consists of Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River, as well as several surrounding islets. The U.S.-Canada border ...

. The community is located along the

Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad The Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad (F&PM) is a defunct railroad which operated in the U.S. state of Michigan between 1857 and 1899. It was one of the three companies which merged to become the Pere Marquette Railway. Early history The F&PM was c ...

where it had its own depot and was a primary producer of charcoal and bricks. Other businesses in Waltz's early history included the Waltz Hotel, Waltz Cheese and Molasses Company, and the Harbaurer Pickle Company. Although early in its existence, Waltz supported two churches, the primary center of spiritual and religious learning has been St. John's Lutheran Church which was founded in the community in 1857. The community continues to exist today located off Michigan's Interstate 275 at exit 8. The community is served by the Huron School District. Postal service from the Waltz Post Office ceased in 1954 when a new post office was opened in New Boston using the 48164 ZIP Code. The community of

Willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist s ...

is just to the north.

References

Unincorporated communities in Michigan Unincorporated communities in Wayne County, Michigan Metro Detroit 1857 establishments in Michigan Populated places established in 1857 {{WayneCountyMI-geo-stub