Moon Valley is located in the southern end of Independence Township in Oakland County, Michigan, United States. It comprises most of section 32 on the northern base of Waterford Hill. [1]
| Moon Valley | |
|---|---|
  Moon Valley | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 42°42′50″N83°24′44″W / 42.71389°N 83.41222°W Coordinates: 42°42′50″N83°24′44″W / 42.71389°N 83.41222°W |
| Rivers | Clinton River, Greens Lake |
Moon Valley was formed during the retreat of the last continental glacier, approximately 14,000 years ago. [2] As they retreated, the glaciers left behind debris, called moraines, and valleys. The retreating glaciers also formed numerous lakes. [3] [4]
In 1854, Stephen Moon (1823-1909) came to Independence Township, Michigan from Palmyra, New York and was the first to settled in a valley on the northern side of Waterford Hill along the Saginaw Trail (now Dixie Highway). His tract of land was in section 32 of the township. There he established a 120-acre stock farm where he raised sheep, hogs, cows and fowl. [5]
Moon's son, Melvin C. Moon (1854-1933), eventually took over ownership of the farm and ran it until 1910. The valley became known as "Moon Valley" [6] and the farm was subdivided and today consists of a residences on Maple Lane and a commercial district along Dixie Highway. [7]
The Clinton River winds its way around Moon Valley and through Greens Lake, a 117 acres, 55 foot depth lake which borders the western side of the valley. [8]
Oakland County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the metropolitan Detroit area, located northwest of the city. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 1,274,395, making it the second-most populous county in Michigan, behind neighboring Wayne County. It is the largest county in the United States without a city of 100,000 residents. The county seat is Pontiac. The county was founded in 1819 and organized in 1820.
Independence Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 34,681 at the 2010 census.
Orion Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The population was 39,816 as on July 1, 2019.
Clarkston is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The city is surrounded by Independence Township, but the two are administered autonomously. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 882.
Waterford Township is a charter township in the geographic center of Oakland County, Michigan, United States.
Drayton Plains is an unincorporated community in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is located within Waterford Township. As an unincorporated community, Drayton Plains has no legally defined area or population statistics of its own. It once had its own post office with the 48020 ZIP Code but now uses the 48329 Waterford ZIP Code. It is located on Dixie Highway near the west end of Loon Lake.
US Highway 24 is a United States Numbered Highway that runs from Minturn, Colorado, to Independence Township, Michigan. In Michigan, it is also known as Telegraph Road and runs for 79.828 miles (128.471 km) as a major north–south state trunkline highway from Bedford Township at the Ohio state line through Metro Detroit. The highway runs through three counties in southeastern Michigan, Monroe, Wayne and Oakland, as it parallels the Lake Erie shoreline and bypasses Metro Detroit on the west. Telegraph Road connects several suburbs together and passes through the western edge of Detroit before it terminates northwest of Clarkston at an interchange with Interstate 75 (I-75).
Waterford Village is an historic community in Waterford Township, Michigan. First settled in 1819, the village is located in the northernmost part of the township along Dixie Highway, on the southeast shore of Van Norman Lake.
Silver Lake is a freshwater lake located in Waterford Township, Michigan in Oakland County, Michigan, United States.
The Village of Clarkston is located in the southern part of Independence Township, Michigan along M-15.
Clintonville is an unincorporated community in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is located within Waterford Township. As an unincorporated community, Clintonville has no legally defined area or population statistics of its own, and it uses the Waterford 48328 ZIP Code.
Van Norman Lake is a private, all-sports, 66-acre lake along the main branch of the Clinton River, in Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the lake lies within Independence Township; however, the southern portion of the lake is in Waterford Township.
Waterford Hill is located in Independence Township, in Oakland County, Michigan, 0.4 miles north of Waterford Village. The hill is classified as a summit. It extends from east of Dixie Highway including Ottawa Park Cemetery to the east, to Maple Lane in Moon Valley to the north, to Parview Drive and Greens Lake to the west, to Van Norman Lake to the south.
Greens Lake is a private, all-sports, 117-acre lake along the main branch of the Clinton River. The lake lies within Independence Township in Oakland County, Michigan.
Deer Lake is an all-sports, 137-acre lake along the main branch of the Clinton River. The lake, with a maximum depth of 63 feet, lies within Independence Township in Oakland County, Michigan.
Lester Lake is a lake in Oakland County, Michigan lake along the main branch of the Clinton River.
Lotus Lake is an all-sports, 185-acre (75 ha) Oakland County, Michigan lake along the Clinton River. Most of the lake lies within Waterford Township, however the northern portion of the lake is in Independence Township.
Dollar Lake is a lake along the main branch of the Clinton River. The lake lies within Independence Township in Oakland County, Michigan.
Eagle Lake is a 19-acre lake in central Oakland County, Michigan. The lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. It is located in Waterford Township.
Dark Lake is the name given to two separate lakes within Independence Township in Oakland County, Michigan. The lakes lie approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) apart.
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