Butler was first founded in 1855 by Charles Norris and was called Norristown. In 1880, Butler became the division point for the Wabash Railroad when the railroad was extended to Detroit.  In 1903 the Butler officially became a city and elected its first mayor, Sam G. Stone. As of the census of 2000, there were 2,725 people, 983 households, and 699 families residing in the city.  The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of five members four are elected from individual districts. One is elected at-large.  To the south of Butler sits several steel mills.  Butler is home to Butler Elementary School and Eastside Junior-Senior High School.