Breedsville

The oldest settlement in southern Van Buren County, Breedsville, encompassing just .66 square miles, sits on the southern tip of Columbia Township, in Southwestern Michigan. With Great Bear Lake located within city limits, and dozens of other lakes within driving distance, Breedsville draws thousands of visitors every summer to enjoy its pristine place in nature.

Breedsville was founded by Silas Breed, who moved to Michigan from New York in 1835, with his family in tow. Breed built a sawmill in the town, which became the driving force behind the town’s growth in the mid-19^th century. Another mill was built in 1873, and despite all of this expansion, Breedsville was not officially incorporated as a village until 1883.

Breedsville is served by the Bangor Public School District, which not only offers education for grades K-12, but it also has a preschool and the Virtual Vantage Academy. The academy is a tuition-free, online public school, designed for students who learn better in a less structured and more comfortable environment. Daily Amtrak service to Chicago and Detroit runs out of Bangor, and Interstates 94 and 196 are located nearby.

Breedsville is home to Great Bear Lake, which is a popular spot for residents and summer vacationers alike. Although the area is mostly rural, there are a number of large lakes in Columbia Township, which are perfect for water-based recreational activities in both the summer and winter.