Bellaire, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Bellaire is a village in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,164. It is the county seat
of Antrim County
. The town has a very scenic main street, and is a popular location for tourists. Bellaire is also home to the Antrim County Courthouse, a historic structure built in 1905. The Antrim Review, the county's newspaper of record, is headquartered in downtown Bellaire.
had previously had. The Chicago & West Michigan Railroad built a depot in Bellaire in 1891, and the East Jordan & Southern Railroad
built another line into the town in 1901. For years, Bellaire was a major railroad center in Antrim County, so the town attracted many industrial corporations. For example, the wooden bowl company (which made wooded utensils) built a factory in Bellaire because of the ease of transportation. Bellaire remained a transportation center until 1962, when the East Jordan and Southern abandoned their trackage through Bellaire, and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
(which was using the former Chicago and West Michigan line) followed suit in 1982.
Currently, the largest employer in the county is Shanty Creek/Schuss Mountain Resort.
on the west and Kearney Township
on the east, separated by the Intermediate River with the larger portion within Kearney Township. The Bellaire ZIP code
, 49615, serves large portions of both townships, as well as portions of Central Lake Township
to the north, Chestonia Township
to the east, Custer Township
to the south, and Helena Township
to the southwest.
M-88
passes through the village, with Central Lake
approximately 8 miles to the north and Mancelona
approximately 10 miles to the southeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²). 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (6.15%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,164 people, 489 households, and 315 families residing in the village. The population density
was 636.1 inhabitants per square mile (245.6/km²). There were 545 housing units at an average density of 297.8 per square mile (115.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.25% White, 0.17% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.17% from other races
, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population.
There were 489 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,243, and the median income for a family was $44,625. Males had a median income of $31,950 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $18,327. About 3.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,164. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Antrim County
Antrim County, Michigan
-History:Antrim County was formed in 1863. In 1950 its population was 10,721. The county seat was originally located in Elk Rapids, but was moved to Bellaire in 1904 after 25 years of litigation.-Demographics:...
. The town has a very scenic main street, and is a popular location for tourists. Bellaire is also home to the Antrim County Courthouse, a historic structure built in 1905. The Antrim Review, the county's newspaper of record, is headquartered in downtown Bellaire.
History
The Bellaire post office opened under the name Keno on June 20, 1879 and changed to Bellaire on May 26, 1880. Also, in 1880, Bellaire became the county seat of Antrim County, a position that Elk RapidsElk Rapids, Michigan
Elk Rapids is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,700 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Elk Rapids Township, about north of Traverse City. It is physically split by the Elk River, which runs between nearby Elk Lake and Grand Traverse...
had previously had. The Chicago & West Michigan Railroad built a depot in Bellaire in 1891, and the East Jordan & Southern Railroad
East Jordan & Southern Railroad
The East Jordan and Southern Railroad was a shortline railroad that operated from 1901 to 1962 between East Jordan and Bellaire, Michigan.-History:...
built another line into the town in 1901. For years, Bellaire was a major railroad center in Antrim County, so the town attracted many industrial corporations. For example, the wooden bowl company (which made wooded utensils) built a factory in Bellaire because of the ease of transportation. Bellaire remained a transportation center until 1962, when the East Jordan and Southern abandoned their trackage through Bellaire, and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
(which was using the former Chicago and West Michigan line) followed suit in 1982.
Currently, the largest employer in the county is Shanty Creek/Schuss Mountain Resort.
Geography
The village is located on the boundary between Forest Home TownshipForest Home Township, Michigan
Forest Home Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,858 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on the west and Kearney Township
Kearney Township, Michigan
Kearney Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,764 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census...
on the east, separated by the Intermediate River with the larger portion within Kearney Township. The Bellaire ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
, 49615, serves large portions of both townships, as well as portions of Central Lake Township
Central Lake Township, Michigan
Central Lake Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,254 at the 2000 census. The Village of Central Lake is located within the township.-Geography:...
to the north, Chestonia Township
Chestonia Township, Michigan
Chestonia Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 546 at the 2000 census. From the 1901 to 1932, the junction of the East Jordan and Southern and the Detroit and Charlevoix railroads lied within the township.-Geography:According to the United...
to the east, Custer Township
Custer Township, Antrim County, Michigan
Custer Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 988 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
to the south, and Helena Township
Helena Township, Michigan
Helena Township is a civil township of Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 878 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* Alden is an unincorporated community in the township on the southeast end of Torch Lake...
to the southwest.
M-88
M-88 (Michigan highway)
M-88 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs between US Highway 31 and US 131/M-66 in the Lower Peninsula. Running from Mancelona to Eastport, M-88 also goes through the communities of Bellaire and Central Lake...
passes through the village, with Central Lake
Central Lake, Michigan
Central Lake is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Central Lake Township.-Geography:...
approximately 8 miles to the north and Mancelona
Mancelona, Michigan
Mancelona is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,408 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Mancelona Township.-History:...
approximately 10 miles to the southeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²). 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (6.15%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,164 people, 489 households, and 315 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 636.1 inhabitants per square mile (245.6/km²). There were 545 housing units at an average density of 297.8 per square mile (115.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.25% White, 0.17% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population.
There were 489 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,243, and the median income for a family was $44,625. Males had a median income of $31,950 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $18,327. About 3.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.