Mount Pleasant, Michigan

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Mount Pleasant, Michigan
City
Official seal of Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Seal
Location within Isabella County, Michigan
Location within Isabella County, Michigan
Coordinates: 43°35′52″N 84°46′03″W / 43.59778°N 84.76750°W / 43.59778; -84.76750Coordinates: 43°35′52″N 84°46′03″W / 43.59778°N 84.76750°W / 43.59778; -84.76750
Country United States
State Michigan
County Isabella
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • Mayor Jim Holton
 • City Manager Nancy Ridley (Interim)
Area[1]
 • Total 7.83 sq mi (20.28 km2)
 • Land 7.74 sq mi (20.05 km2)
 • Water 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)  1.15%
Elevation 771 ft (235 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 26,016
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 26,183
 • Density 3,361.2/sq mi (1,297.8/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 48804 (P.O. Box),
48858 (general delivery),
48859 (Central Mich. Univ.)
Area code(s) 989
FIPS code 26-56020[4]
GNIS feature ID 0632832[5]
Website http://www.mt-pleasant.org

Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Isabella County and located in Central Michigan.[6] The population was 26,016 at the 2010 census.

Part of the city (with a population of 8,741) is on the Isabella Indian Reservation, site of the Soaring Eagle Casino. The city is also home to the main campuses of Central Michigan University and Mid Michigan Community College.

History[edit]

1884 map of Mt. Pleasant.

White settlers first arrived in what is now Mount Pleasant after the Graduation Act of 1854, allowing white settlers to purchase land from the government at discount rates. The Treaty of 1855 relocated the Native American Ojibwa (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe) from Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River to land in Isabella County (Isabella Indian Reservation).[7] Many non-natives soon moved to Mount Pleasant predicting prosperous relations with the natives. The Homestead Act of 1862 brought many new settlers to Mount Pleasant to live on the free land that the government allowed them.

In 1875, a devastating fire started at the Fancher Building on the north corner of Broadway Street and Main Street. It eventually moved east down Broadway, destroying several buildings. Seven years later another fire would damage buildings on the south side of Broadway.

In 1879 the first library appeared in Mt. Pleasant. Known as "The Library, Literary, and Musical Association of Mount Pleasant," the first books were the personal book collections of the board members.[7] In 1890 W.A. Jordan started Mount Pleasant Business College. Expanding in 1892, the school changed its name to Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, the beginnings of what is now Central Michigan University.

On January 3, 1893, the U.S. government opened an Indian boarding school called the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial School. It operated for 40 years, closing in 1933. 76 years later, on July 17, 2009, The White Bison Wellbriety Journey for Forgiveness made its stop to the Mount Pleasant community to recognize this part of Mount Pleasant's history. The building now stands abandoned. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan purchased the boarding school from the State Of Michigan.

In 1928, large quantities of oil were discovered to exist in the Mt. Pleasant area. A farm owned by the Lilly family was the first to strike, producing hundreds of barrels a day. Although oil resources would eventually diminish, their legacy is apparent in the Mt. Pleasant city seal, which bears an image of an oil drill. Mt. Pleasant High School's mascot, the Oiler, is also a reference to the city's long history with oil.

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.83 square miles (20.28 km2), of which 7.74 square miles (20.05 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) is water.[1] The Chippewa River runs through the city. Mount Pleasant is located approximately 61 miles (98 km) north of Lansing, Michigan's state capital, along US 127.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 1,115
1890 2,701 142.2%
1900 3,662 35.6%
1910 3,972 8.5%
1920 4,819 21.3%
1930 5,211 8.1%
1940 8,413 61.4%
1950 11,393 35.4%
1960 14,875 30.6%
1970 20,524 38.0%
1980 23,746 15.7%
1990 23,285 −1.9%
2000 25,946 11.4%
2010 26,016 0.3%
Est. 2014 25,971 [8] −0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 26,016 people, 8,376 households, and 3,100 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,361.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,297.8/km2). There were 8,981 housing units at an average density of 1,160.3 per square mile (448.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 3.9% African American, 2.0% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 8,376 households of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 63.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 22 years. 11% of residents were under the age of 18; 53.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.8% were from 25 to 44; 11.9% were from 45 to 64; and 7.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 25,946 people, 8,449 households, and 3,126 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,327.2 per square mile (1,284.3/km²). There were 8,878 housing units at an average density of 1,138.5 per square mile (439.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.12% White, 3.67% African American, 1.54% Native American, 2.85% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.

There were 8,449 households out of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 63.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 11.5% under the age of 18, 54.1% from 18 to 24, 16.9% from 25 to 44, 10.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,572, and the median income for a family was $43,927. Males had a median income of $32,004 versus $23,869 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,177. About 11.4% of families and 37.2% of the population (student population skews this statistic) were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation[edit]

Education[edit]

Local media[edit]

Newspapers
  • The Morning Sun (Daily)[10]
  • Central Michigan Life (Monday, Wednesday, Friday during academic year. Wednesday only during summer)[11]
Radio stations
TV stations
  • WCMU (Channel 14) - PBS

Notable people[edit]

Sister cities[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25. 
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25. 
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-03. 
  4. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mount Pleasant, Michigan
  6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  7. ^ a b Cumming, John. This Place Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant, MI: J. Cumming, 1989.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015. 
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015. 
  10. ^ "About The Morning Sun". The Morning Sun. 
  11. ^ "About Central Michigan Life". cm-life.com. 
  12. ^ http://www.mt-pleasant.org/links/sister.htm

External links[edit]