Denmark Township is a rural agricultural township located on the western side of Tuscola County, in Michigan’s Thumb area. The township has a total area of 35.3 square miles, all land. The township includes the villages of Reese and Richville, with a population of 2,923 as of the 2020 census.
View our Master Plan to see more township demographics.
A brief history of Denmark Township.
1851
The earliest settlers in Denmark Township were German Lutherans who founded the community of Richville (originally Frankenhilf). Among the first settlers were Mr. and Mrs. Gottlieb Ammon, Michael Schwartz, and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gruber.
1853
Denmark Township was officially organized.
1854
The first town meeting was held at the home of Joseph Selden. The 1854 census recorded a population of 227, with early agricultural output of 100 bushels of corn and 75 bushels of wheat.
1860s
The first settlers arrived in the Reese area, beginning the development of that community.
1872
Asenath M. Rogers platted 11 acres in what would become Reese, naming it “Gates” after a Saginaw entrepreneur.
1873
The Detroit & Bay City Railroad (D&BC) was built through the area. The railroad renamed the village “Reese” after G. W. Reese, a railroad superintendent, which provided a major economic boost and spurred local growth.
1878
The village of Reese had a population of about 300 residents.
1880
Denmark Township’s population had grown to 1,643, with production reaching 33,542 bushels of wheat and 65,455 bushels of corn.
1883
John J. Rogner was elected as the first Supervisor of Denmark Township. That same year, the Saginaw, Tuscola, and Huron Railway constructed a line from Saginaw to Bad Axe, forming a rail junction with the D&BC at Reese, further accelerating the area’s development.
