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AHistory
History · Mason

Mason dates to 1836, and 16% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 90% of U.S. towns · #60 of 701 in Michigan. What drives it

9 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 205 buildings between them. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1889 on, and the census since 1860.

1836founded
9on the National Register
16%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
9famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Mason’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Mason began

When was Mason founded?

1836

Mason dates its founding to 1836 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1860.

First census: 363 in 18602020 census: 8,283190 years

How historic is Mason?

A

More historic than 90% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1838.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Mason’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Mason is more historic than 90% of U.S. towns, #60 of 701 in Michigan. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Mason’s overall grade.
Founding era1836, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194016.4% of homes (±4.6) · typical MI town 11.9% · U.S. 8.4%BNational Register9 listings, 211 historic buildings, 256 per 10,000 residents · typical MI town 0.0 · U.S. 2.4A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 90%
NewerOlder
Michigan towns of 2,500+ (701)Ahead of 92%

Few Michigan towns list much on the Register (a typical Michigan town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Mason’s 256 sits above most of its state (97% of Michigan towns have fewer) while its 211 historic buildings outnumber those of 94% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±4.6 points). Two sources give 1836.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Mason’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A historic districtThe Courthouse Square Historic District takes in 164 historic buildings.A history waiting to be writtenOnly 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.Mapped building by building4 fire insurance maps, 1889 to 1909, drew every building in Mason.On the map since 19093 editions of the USGS map, 1909 to 1970. Watch Mason change.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

9 listings protect 211 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
9
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
211
each building in a district counts
first listed
1971
Ingham County Courthouse
Ingham County CourthouseJohn Raynor HouseMaple Grove CemeteryMerrylees-Post HouseMichigan Central Railroad Mason DepotPhilip Nice HouseWestside Neighborhood Historic DistrictAsh Street-Sycamore Creek BridgeCourthouse Square Historic District
BuildingsDistrictsStructures

Architectural styles listings

Queen Anne3
Beaux Arts2
Romanesque Revival2
Craftsman2
Italianate2
Colonial Revival2
Ingham County CourthouseBeaux Arts
John Raynor HouseBuilding
Maple Grove CemeteryRomanesque Revival
Merrylees-Post HouseQueen Anne
Michigan Central Railroad Mason DepotCraftsman
Philip Nice HouseBuilding
Westside Neighborhood Historic DistrictCraftsman Bungalow
Ash Street-Sycamore Creek BridgeConcrete T-Beam Bridge
All 9 listings
Courthouse Square Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1985

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Help out

Start Mason’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Mason’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewHouse at: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Every building

Mason, building by building, 1889–1909

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Mason fire insurance map, 1889, sheet 11889Sheet 1 of 2
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

The story

How Mason came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Mason.

Read it all →

In 1836 Charles Noble knew that Michigan would be seeking a central location for a new capital when it became a state. He purchased an area of forest, cleared 20 acres (81,000 m2), and founded Mason Center. The "Center" was soon dropped. In 1847, however, the state chose Lansing Township 12 miles (19 km) northward to be its capital due to its potential for water power. Noble managed to make Mason the county seat instead. Ingham County's first downtown courthouse was built in 1843, and was replaced in 1858, and the economy thrived in the first decades based on sawmills, carriage and cart factories, copper shops, a steam flourmill and a buffalo robe manufacturer. In 1865, Mason was incorporated as a village; in 1875 the town became a city. In the 1800s, Mason was the center of Ingham County activity, even more than was Lansing, the state capital. In 1877, Lansing attempted to take the sta…

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Mason in 1882

Passages that mention Mason, cut from the printed page as they were published.

Terms to suit purchasers. At this place doubtless will be the first railroad station east of Ludington, and will be the best wooding station in Mason County. This, with the farming country around, will make it a thriving inland village. Thus is Amber built since, Chicago burned. May her population …
History of Mason County, Michigan1882 · page 74Read the page →
Read the text

Terms to suit purchasers. At this place doubtless will be the first railroad station east of Ludington, and will be the best wooding station in Mason County. This, with the farming country around, will make it a thriving inland village. Thus is Amber built since, Chicago burned. May her population never grow less. ” In 1875, a schoolhouse was .built at the village, costing up¬ wards of $1,200. Among the early settlers in this township, who cleared good farms, were J. T. Reed, Jesse L. Towns, Mr. Van

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The township of Summit was the first township erected by the board of supervisors of Mason County. At a meeting in December, 1859, it was voted that Town 17 north, of Range 18 west, except Sections 1, 2 and 8, and Town 17 north, of Range 17 west, except Sections 1, 2, 8, 4, 5 and 6, from the presen…
History of Mason County, Michigan1882 · page 71Read the page →
Read the text

The township of Summit was the first township erected by the board of supervisors of Mason County. At a meeting in December, 1859, it was voted that Town 17 north, of Range 18 west, except Sections 1, 2 and 8, and Town 17 north, of Range 17 west, except Sections 1, 2, 8, 4, 5 and 6, from the present township of Pere Marquette, be organized into a new township, to be called Summit. The first townsliip meeting was held the first Monday in April, 1860, at the house of William Quevillon. George

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Mason, 1836 to 1986

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1836
    FoundingMason is established
  3. 1838Post officeThe Mason Center post office opens
  4. 1842Post officeThe Mason Center post office closes
  5. 1842Post officeThe Mason post office opens
  6. 20th century
  7. 1909On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  8. 1924Born hereRobert H. Starr is born here
  9. 1934Born hereAlan Curtis is born here
  10. 1978In the archiveHouse at
  11. 1986Born hereSteve Clark is born here
  12. 1986Born hereDoug DeMartin is born here
By decade

Mason, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1970s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1970s1 item
House at1978House at
1980s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today11 recent
Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 022 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 022 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 020 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 020 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 019 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 019 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 018 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 018 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 017 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 017 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 015 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 015 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 013 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 013 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 010 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 010 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 005 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 005 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 002 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 002 NMason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 001 N2009Mason Tractor Show 8-1-2009 001 N
On the map

Mason on the map, 1909 to 1970

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Mason. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Mason on the 1909 USGS mapMason on the 1911 USGS mapMason on the 1970 USGS map1909Mason sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Mason.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

House at
Retake this viewHouse at, 1978

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Mason’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Mason, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,0001900195020008,283

Grew from 363 people in 1860 to 8,283 in 2020, more than tenfold.

17 censuses, 1860–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Mason’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

9 famous people were born in Mason

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Steve ClarkAmerican soccer player · b. 1986
Alan CurtisAmerican musician · b. 1934
R
Robert H. StarrAircraft designer · b. 1924
D
Doug DeMartinAmerican soccer player · b. 1986
Kyle WoodringAmerican drummer · b. 1967
A
Alyse AndersonAmerican mixed martial arts fighter · b. 1995
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Mason’s post office has been open since 1842. Another post office, Mason Center, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Mason Center
1838–1842
Mason
1842–today
18301930today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Sycamore Village Mobile Home Park
Gone or out of use
Mason Stationlocale
1cemetery inside Mason
Maple Grove

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Vevay TownshipIts storyB−Alaiedon Township1 historic placeA−

Questions about Mason’s history

What year was Mason founded?

In 1836, according to Wikidata. Mason’s post office opened in 1838, and the census of 1860 counted 363 people here.

How does Mason rank for history?

Mason is more historic than 90% of U.S. towns, #60 of 701 in Michigan. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Mason?

9 listings: 5 buildings, among them the Ingham County Courthouse (listed 1971, the first), 3 historic districts, the Maple Grove Cemetery, the Westside Neighborhood Historic District and the Courthouse Square Historic District, with 205 contributing buildings, and 1 structure. 211 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Mason?

16% of Mason’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±4.6 points), against a typical 12% for a Michigan town; the median home was built in 1978.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (12), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.