It is centered along M-36 within Ingham Township about 22 miles (35 km) southeast of downtown Lansing.

As far as European settlement is concerned, the area that is now the village of Dansville was originally settled by Samuel Crossman in 1844, who, like many settlers at the time, had come from the state of New York in search of a new life.

[citation needed] Dansville is one of the earliest settlements in Ingham County.

Permanent home-seekers located there as early as 1836–40, and the first business establishment was a small store, with a general stock, opened by Samuel Crossman about 1847.

A post office was established in the southern part of Ingham Township in 1846, and was first kept by John B. Lobdell.

Later it was moved to Hayne’s Corners, one and one-half mile south of the present village, and Henry Densmore was postmaster.

The original plat of the village was laid out May BG, 1857, by Samuel Crossman and Ephraim Hillaird.

[citation needed] According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.01 square miles (2.62 km2), all land.

[9] This drew extensive media attention as a base for state aid during droughts of 1986.