A mere one square mile in size, Ortonville, Michigan, is a village in Oakland County, Michigan. Technically called the Village of Ortonville, it is within Brandon Township and serves as the township’s downtown. At one point, Ortonville was dominated by a grist mill on the banks of Karsley Creek, and as farmers brought their crops to the mill, the village grew.

Today, Ortonville remains a rural community. About 20 miles from Flint and about 53 from Detroit, the village is not a suburb of either large city and thus has, through the years, retained its reputation as a small, quiet, quaint place to live and raise your family. Since Ortonville is not a place you’ll find any sort of cookie-cutter housing developments, the homes are extremely diverse in their look, size, and price range. You can find almost anything from a 960-square-foot 2-bedroom 1-bathroom starter home to a custom-built mansion with outbuildings, a lower-level apartment, geothermal heating, and a pond. Lots are large and houses comes with space…sometimes acres of it. Ortonville is not what you might deem “country living” (after all, I-75 is 8 miles from the village), but it’s close.

That being said, the outdoors is an attractive part of living in Ortonville, and the nearby Ortonville State Recreation Area does not disappoint. Within 5,400 acres, you can find a cross-country ski/biking trail, a 8.75-mile equestrian trail located within the 25-site equestrian campground, swimming, ponds for fishing and countless spots for Sunday afternoon picnics. Independence Oaks County Park, just south of the village, is a 1,276-acre park with 12 miles of ski trails, 2.5 mile paved bike pathways, and a nature center, among many other delightful features.

Back in Ortonville, students will attend school within the Brandon Township system. The Downtown Development Authority continues to look for ways to grow while maintaining the village feel of Ortonville; to that end, there’s a festival called Creekfest every year, which showcases the water features of the area alongside a carnival and bed races; a farmer’s market; a Halloween extravaganza that includes a scavenger hunt and free cider/donuts; and a Christmas celebration that finds Santa Claus making a stop in the village.

While Ortonville’s founder, Amos Orton, is long gone, his principles of hard work and appreciation for nature made the land that bears his name a perfect home. And if you’re looking to escape the hustle-and-bustle of Michigan’s cities and their suburbs, or look into an area that just may have your perfect home, Ortonville may be the place for you.