Marshall, Michigan
There's a reason it feels like home
Published May 2014
Named in honor of Chief Justice John Marshall of Virginia, who served in office from 1801-1835, the City of Marshall, Michigan was established in 1830 and was a nominee for state capitol in 1839.
The Michigan Central Railroad kept Marshall growing into the Civil War era and the city later became the center of Midwest patent medicine (although not many of the products survived after the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906).
Marshall is a National Historic Landmark District due to its abundance of 19th century architecture, featuring more than 850 homes and businesses and including the National House Inn Bed & Breakfast – Michigan’s oldest operating bed and breakfast inn.
The National Trust of Historic Preservation has previously named Marshall as one of the “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in the country. Marshall attractions include many museums, Brooks Memorial Fountain, Brooks Nature Area, Capitol Hill School, Cornwell’s Turkeville-USA, Firekeepers Casino, Franke Center for the Arts and various tours.
Throughout the year, Marshall holds many family-oriented events, including the Marshall Historic Home tour (presented by the Marshall Historical Society for 50 years), the Cruise to the Fountain car show, Bluesfest music event, Christmas Parade and Candlelight Walk, annual Crawfish Boil and the Fiber Arts & Animals Festival.
Marshall is dedicated to the education of its youth and Marshall Public Schools are regularly ranked academically among the best in the state. There are more than 10 major colleges and universities located within 70 miles of the city.
Business and development
Marshall has been committed to preserving the past, but also believes in planning and building for the future. The city is at the center of Michigan’s burgeoning Life Sciences Corridor. This $1 billion biotechnology initiative is helping drive the state’s new economy. Marshall is currently developing the Brooks Industrial and Research Park, which when finished will feature research and manufacturing facilities in a scenic wetland environment with walking and biking trails. The city now has many new industry and distribution centers as part of this developing industrial park.
Marshall is home to the top-rated regional healthcare organization Oaklawn Hospital, which was rated second-best in the nation for patient safety according to Consumer Reports. The American Nurses Credentialing Center awarded Oaklawn its highest award for nursing and organizational excellence in designating it as a Magnet Hospital, and Modern Healthcare has rated it one of the top 100 places to work in healthcare.
Many visitors choose to shop Marshall’s historic tree-lined downtown, where they find unique antique and specialty shops.
History of public power excellence
The city of Marshall has a long history as a municipal electric provider, entering into utility ownership and operation in 1893 by acquiring a hydroelectric plant from the Perrin Estate. It is claimed that the City of Marshall utility system is the third oldest hydroelectric utility system operating under its original ownership in the United States. The utility was recently named a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) program recipient by the American Public Power Association (APPA), receiving Gold level designation. RP3 is recognition for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.
As a member of AMP, Marshall participates in a number of AMP programs and projects that assist in providing reliable energy and other benefits to the community and its citizen-owners. These include:
- AMP Fremont Energy Center, a natural gas combined cycle facility that provides energy and capacity
- Meldahl/Greenup, which includes the run-of-the-river hydroelectric generating facility currently under construction at the Captain Anthony Meldahl Dam on the Ohio River and the existing generating facility at the Greenup Dam, also on the Ohio River
- Michigan AMP Service Group (MASG)
- Mutual Aid, a network of municipal electric systems that assist each other when utility emergencies occur that are too widespread to be handled by one system alone
- Phase 1 Hydro, which includes the run-of-the-river generating facilities currently under construction at the Cannelton, Smithland and Willow Island dams on the Ohio River
- The Prairie State Energy Campus, in southern Illinois, a 1,600-MW state-of-the-art supercritical mine-mouth plant and adjacent coal mine
For more information, please visit www.cityofmarshall.com.