History

Durand began as a small hamlet known as Vernon Center, and was awarded a post office in 1876. Named for a Michigan Congressman, Durand was incorporated as a village in 1887.

Since law required a population of at least 300 to achieve village status, it included 50 railroad construction workers to reach that number.  Durand became a city in 1932 and a Home Rule City in 1958.

Durand developed its diverse economy around the railroad. In the early 1860’s the Detroit-Grand Haven-Milwaukee (Grand Trunk) rail line was built with the line passing through Durand. Later the Ann Arbor line was built and in 1885, the Cincinnati, Saginaw, and Mackinaw line was laid from Durand to Bay City. This put Durand at the cross sections of several busy rail lines and in 1903 a Victorian style depot was built by Grand Trun