Editing Potterville, Michigan (section)

==History==
Potterville is named after Linus Potter, who settled his family in the area in November, 1844.  Linus was elected supervisor of Benton Township in 1846.  In 1830, Linus and his wife Diantha came from Cayuga County, New York, by way of the Erie Canal, to Buffalo and then by way of Lake Erie steamboat to Detroit.  From there, Linus and Diantha walked to Plymouth, Michigan, a journey of about thirty miles, before walking on to Saline.  The pair carried their three-year-old son, George, and their infant daughter, Louisa.<ref>Wright, Ruth L. ''The History of Potterville, Michigan, 1869-1976.'' Potterville: Al Dymond Color Service, 1977.</ref>

Potterville incorporated as a [[Administrative divisions of Michigan|village]] within [[Benton Township, Eaton County, Michigan|Benton Township]] in 1881, and as a [[Administrative divisions of Michigan|city]] in 1962 withdrawing it completely from the township.<ref>{{cite web|title=Potterville, MI The City of Helping Hands|url=http://www.pottervillemi.org/|website=Potterville, MI|accessdate=12 May 2017}}</ref>

On July 6, 1994, a lightning strike at Fox Park injured 22 beach-goers.  The lightning struck the water and "walked up the beach."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19940707&id=exozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TDgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=5584,1797605|title = Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search}}</ref>

A rare Michigan [[earthquake]] on September 2, 1994, had its [[epicenter]] just east of the city.  The shock had a [[body wave magnitude]] of 3.5 and a maximum [[Mercalli intensity scale|Mercalli intensity]] of V (''Moderate''). It could be felt through most of [[Mid-Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=M3.5 - Michigan|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp0006hvv#general_summary|author=USGS|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref>

The city experienced a massive train derailment of 35 [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] [[railroad car]]s over [[Memorial Day]] weekend 2002.  Due to leaking [[propane]] from the cars, the entire city was evacuated.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lsj.com/news/local/020530_potterville_roll_1a-.htm | title=Lansing State Journal - Home }}</ref>  The cause of the derailment was found to have been a faulty rail.