The Windsor Township area was considered remote from earlier settlements and was one of the last townships in Eaton County to receive settlers. This did not deter sixty-three land purchases by the year 1836. In the fall of 1837 Orange Towslee and Nathan Pray settled in the township, each coming from different directions. Esek Pray, born in March 1838, was considered to be the first ‘white’ child born in the township. The first white girl was Charlotte Towsley in 1839.
The early years are full of tales of wolves, bears and settlers lost either in the woods, or in the Old Maid Swamp area, and of hardship, but still, pioneers came and settled.
On March 16, 1842, the Township of Windsor was organized along with the townships of Delta, Eaton Rapids and Sunfield. The first township supervisor was John D. Skinner.
Issac H. Dimond came to the area in 1848 and, among his many enterprises, began to construct a dam on the Grand River. By 1856 a grist mill was completed, and the village of Dimondale was platted. The village, by 1880, contained seven stores, two millinery shops, a planing mill, a grist mill, sawmill and several machine shops. Dimondale become incorporated in 1906.
Little log school houses appeared throughout the township, beginning soon after the arrival of the first settlers. Dimondale celebrated its 150th sesquicentennial in June of 1998, based on the establishment of the Dimondale School District No.6.
A lot has changed since those early years. The 1994 U.S. Census figures reflects an approximate population of 6,800 for both the village and the township. No longer strictly a farming community, the area, like adjacent areas, has seen planned residential development along with the interstate highway, the State of Michigan secondary complex, many business establishments, varied industry, and the establishment of public sanitary sewer in a defined district.
The township is divided into seven school districts which include: Holt-Dimondale, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Potterville, Waverly, Grand Ledge and Charlotte. This unique division has resulted in challenges for neighborhood and community cohesiveness.
As the population increases and needs are diversified, there will be challenges ahead in many areas. However, inasmuch as many of the residents who have located in the township and village appreciate the quiet rural atmosphere and the quality of life now existent, it will be up to these same citizens to work together to protect this quality of life, and to plan together for the growth expected today and tomorrow.