Web Design in Ronald, MI

Web Design Services in Ronald, Michigan

AppWT Web & AI Solutions has been providing exceptional web design and digital marketing services to Ronald businesses since 1997. Located in Ionia County, Ronald is home to approximately 1,873 residents and a thriving business community.

About Ronald, Michigan

Ronald Township is a farming township on the northern border of Ionia County, with 1,861 residents at the 2020 census. Its one settlement is Palo, a small unincorporated community and census-designated place in the north end. No railroad was ever built through the township despite a funded attempt in 1869, and no Michigan State Historic Sites are listed anywhere in it.

History of Ronald

• Organized March 19, 1845, when survey town 8 north, range 6 west was taken from Lyons and Ionia townships and given a separate organization.
• The name is fully documented: state representative A. L. Roof found that 'Northport,' the name the petitioners wanted, was already held by another Michigan town. Called on to name it himself, he chose 'Ronald' after the hero of a novel he was reading at the time and admired (1881 History of Ionia and Montcalm Counties).
• The first town meeting was held at the house of William J. Clark on April 7, 1845. Thirty-two votes were cast. William Jennings was elected the first supervisor, William J. Clark clerk and Royal Howell treasurer.

Landmarks and Places in Ronald

• Ronald Township Hall, 4987 N. Stage Rd., Ionia, MI 48846 (US Census geocoder confirms this address falls in Ronald Township, Ionia County).
• Ronald Township fire station, 8301 Main St., Palo, MI 48870 (geocoder confirms Ronald Township).
• The Palo village cemetery. The 1881 history records that the first burial place selected at Palo was abandoned and the remains, including an infant daughter of Jeremiah Mabie, were moved to the present village cemetery.

The Ronald Economy

• Agriculture. The 1881 county history described Ronald as occupying 'a belt of fertile country that for wealth of agricultural products cannot easily be equaled in the State,' watered by Prairie Creek and other streams.
• No railroad. On October 30, 1869 the township voted $19,985 by 191 ayes to 121 nays to aid the proposed Jonesville, Marshall and Grand River Railroad. The enterprise failed, and the 1881 history recorded that 'Ronald still waits for a railway.'
• By 1880 Palo had four general stores, three drug stores and what the county history called 'an amazingly large supply of millinery establishments.' Mathew Millard ran an exchange office and bank from a two-story brick store finished in 1878 at a cost of about $5,000, bought wheat in quantity, and was building a grain-separator factory.

Community Life in Ronald

• The Palo census-designated place is in the Carson City-Crystal Area School District (2020 Census school district reference map for Ionia County).
• Palo's brick public school building was completed and occupied in the fall of 1879 at a cost of over $5,000 including ground. It had three departments and average attendance of about 100, including 20 non-resident pupils.
• The First Baptist Church of Palo was the first religious organization formed in Palo and perhaps the first in the township, organized with twelve members. A Methodist Episcopal class became Palo Class in 1856, and Palo Circuit was formed the same year; a Presbyterian organization was effected at the house of Gideon Noel.

Local reference: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, ronaldtownship.org