Whittaker, Michigan

Whittaker, Michigan
Unincorporated community
Intersection of Talladay and Whittaker Road
Whittaker Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Whittaker Whittaker (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 42°07′41″N83°35′59″W / 42.12806°N 83.59972°W / 42.12806; -83.59972 Coordinates: 42°07′41″N83°35′59″W / 42.12806°N 83.59972°W / 42.12806; -83.59972
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Washtenaw
Township	Augusta
Elevation	676 ft (206 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48190
Area code	734
GNIS feature ID	1616401 [1]

Whittaker is an unincorporated community in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ^[1] The community is located within Augusta Charter Township. As an unincorporated community, Whittaker has no legally defined boundaries or population statistics of its own but does have its own post office with the 48190 ZIP Code. ^[2]

Geography

Whittaker sits at an elevation of 676 feet (206 m) above sea level. ^[1] The community is located about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Ann Arbor in the southeastern corner of Washtenaw County. ^[3] Paint Creek flows near Whittaker, and U.S. Route 23 is approximately four miles (6.4 km) to the west.

Whittaker is served by Lincoln Consolidated School District. ^[4]

History

The area was originally referred to as Augusta Center, when businessman Frank Whittaker opened a general store near a railway line around 1860 after moving a few miles south from the community of Willis. Augusta Township, which was established much earlier in 1836, built its township hall in the area in 1867. A hotel, several stores, blacksmith shops, and a creamery were soon built in the growing community that was named after Whittaker. In 1880, the community was given a train station on the Wabash Railroad, which allowed for easy export of lumber and other goods directly to Detroit. ^{[5] [6]}

The community of Whittaker received its first post office on January 9, 1882 with William Bishop serving as the first postmaster. ^[7] The post office has continued to remain in operation, and the current post office is located at 11014 Whittaker Road. ^[8] The post office utilizes the 48190 ZIP Code and serves only a very small area; it is primarily used for post office box services. The surrounding areas are served by Milan 48160 to the west, Ypsilanti 48197 to the north, and Willis 48191 to the east and south. ^[9]

The single railway line continues to run through the community. It is currently operated by Norfolk Southern Railway but contains no station in the area. ^[10]

Images

• 
  U.S. Post Office in Whittaker
• 
  Whittaker General Store (closed)

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Whittaker, Michigan
2. Google (October 9, 2020). "48190 ZIP Code map" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
3. Michigan Economic Development Corporation (2020). "Pure Michigan: Whittaker" . Retrieved October 5, 2020.
4. Michigan Geographic Framework (15 November 2013). "Washtenaw County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved May 12, 2021.
5. Milan Area Historical Society (2008). "Milan Area Historical Society: Whittaker" . Retrieved October 9, 2020.
6. Charter Township of Augusta (2020). "Augusta History" . Retrieved October 9, 2020.
7. Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Great Lakes Books Series (Paperback). Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 603. ISBN   978-0-8143-1838-6.
8. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Whittaker Post Office
9. UnitedStatesZipCodes.org (2020). "ZIP Code 48190" . Retrieved October 9, 2020.
10. Michigan Department of Transportation (March 2017). "Michigan's Railroad System: Railroads Operating in Michigan" (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2022.