Lawton is a village in southeastern Van Buren County, Michigan, United States. The population was 1,900 at the 2010 census. Lawton was named for Nathaniel Lawton, an early settler. The Village of Lawton came into existence in 1848 when the Michigan Central Railroad reached this destination. Nathan Lawton who the village is named after, was from …Lawton is a village in southeastern Van Buren County, Michigan, United States. The population was 1,900 at the 2010 census. Lawton was named for Nathaniel Lawton, an early settler. The Village of Lawton came into existence in 1848 when the Michigan Central Railroad reached this destination. Nathan Lawton who the village is named after, was from Waterford, New York and had purchased property when it became available when Michigan received statehood. Upon the railroad reaching here in 1848, Mr. Lawton donated several acres of land for the construction of a depot that was originally named Paw Paw Station. In 1851 when a post office was being established the name of the town was named for Mr. Lawton. Though Nathan Lawton never lived here two of his sons, George and Charles moved here and made this town their home. Around 1860 a few local men began experimenting with growing grapes. In 1868 the first grapes were taken to market. From there the grape industry took off and in now one of Southwest Michigan's largest industries with several wineries in the area as well as a Welch Grape Juice Factory located in Lawton that has been part of Lawton since 1919.
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