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The earliest recorded deeds for the area to be known as Hazel Park were recorded by Shuabel Conant, who was a leading businessman and political figure in Detroit. He was a leading abolitionist of his day, and also served as Water Commissioner in Detroit.
His land grants can be seen by clicking on these links.
Section 26   Section 25  Section 36   Section 35
The grants from the U.S. government  for sections 26, 25, 36,and 35,  were granted April 1st 1837. After a number of years, the land was gradually sold to other settlers, as can be seen in the 
1872 plat map of the Hazel Park area. Note the "Coanant" tracts still unsold. Shubael Conant died in 1877, having never lived in Hazel Park.

By 1898, the city was continuing to develop. The larger farms of earlier years divided into smaller parcels, Click here to view the map. This plat map as well as other plat maps in our collection can also be found transcribed in our transcriptions section, under the Other Transcriptions section.

The plat map for 1916-1921 shows even further development. Note the path the electric railway took through the city. This railway was run by the Highland Park and Royal Oak Railroad, a subsidiary ofthe Detroit Urban Railway. This line was constructed to relieve congestion on the Woodward Corridor. The trolley ran from the Highland Park Ford plant to 4th street in Royal Oak. A picture of the trolley can be found HERE, shown on 4th street in RO. The trolley line ran off the tracks often near Goulson. The line was the last interurban to be discontinued in the state, closing in 1931.
By 1925, a significant portion of Hazel Park had been platted for housing. The Hazel Park Plat map from 1925 shows the development of a city. Even though Hazel Park remained Royal Oak Township at the time, maps of the area denoted it as Hazel Park. Curiously enough, the city of Southfield was "Southfield Park" and the village of Franklin was once "Franklin Park", giving some indication of the naming pattern. Subdivisions are listed for the first time.

In 1949, Hazel Park School District had commissioned an aerial photo of the city. See It Here organized by 2 block by 1/2 mile boundries.