Caro, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Caro is a city
in and the county seat
of Tuscola County
, Michigan
, United States
. The population was 4,229 at the 2010 census
and 4,145 at the 2000 census
(an increase of about 2%).
Caro is located northeast of Flint
and east of Saginaw
in Michigan's Thumb region
. It is the largest community in the Thumb, both by population and by area and is an industrial and commercial center for the region as well.
on September 8, 1852. Prior to this, only two land sales had been recorded, both for lumbering or speculative purposes. His son, William E. Sherman, had worked in the lumber industry nearby on the Cass River
for some time prior to 1852 and William's favorable report persuaded his father to visit in 1851 and afterwards purchased several tracts of land in addition to his initial purchase.
In the 1856-57 session of the Michigan Legislature, a road was authorized construction of a road from Bridgeport
in Saginaw County
northeast to Forestville
in Sanilac County
, with a route that would pass through what is now Caro. Once the road was cleared, commercial interests began to locate here. Melvin Gibbs, who had been keeping a hotel in an old log house, in 1858 put up a new frame building, known as the Gibbs House. In 1859, William E. Sherman built another hotel, which he named the Centerville House, based on the location being near the center of the county. The name Centerville became associated with the developing community.
In 1865, Centerville was selected as the county seat. A post office named Tuscola Center was established on April 25, 1866. To address confusion caused by the differing names, community leaders met in 1868 and at the suggestion of William E Sherman selected the name Caro, based on a variant spelling of the Egyptian city of Cairo
.
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.84%) is water.
Caro is located in the northern portion of Indianfields Township
has also incorporated some land in southern Almer Township
. The Caro post office, with ZIP code 48723, also serves nearly all of Indianfields and Almer townships, as well as smaller portions of Wells Township
to the east of Indianfields, Dayton Township
to the southeast of Indianfields, Fremont Township
to the south of Indianfields, Juniata Township
to the west of Indianfields, Fairgrove Township
to the northwest of Indianfields, Columbia Township
, to the north of Almer, Elmwood Township
to the northeast of Almer, and Ellington Township
to the east of Almer.
of 2000, there were 4,145 people, 1,738 households, and 1,042 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,746.0 per square mile (675.3/km²). There were 1,899 housing units at an average density of 799.9 per square mile (309.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.62% White, 0.55% African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.95% from other races
, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.
There were 1,738 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples
living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,226, and the median income for a family was $39,432. Males had a median income of $36,307 versus $25,833 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,152. About 5.1% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
The festivities begin each year with the annual Lip-Sync
contest and various sports tournaments that have included 3-on-3 basketball
, volleyball, tennis
, and golf
. The festival culminates with the Grand Parade. In 2003, nearly 200 units participated in the parade, including 14 marching bands from across the state of Michigan, local merchants, churches, other organizations and Miss Michigan
.
On the first weekend in June, Caro also hosts the Cars and Crafts Weekend. State Street, the main road through town, is closed between Frank Street and the courthouse building. Local artisans sell handcrafted goods and many merchants sport sidewalk sales. Additionally, residents show-off historic automobiles.
In late July/early August, Caro hosts the Tuscola County Fair at the county fairgrounds. The fair has been a county tradition for over 100 years and includes games and rides, awards for skilled crafts and animal rearing, and grandstand events. Grandstand events include the tractor pull, harness racing
, a rodeo
, and a demolition derby
.
In 2003, Michigan Ethanol, a partner of Broin Companies, opened a corn ethanol
production facility in southwest Caro.
The Caro Center, a mental health facility operated by the State of Michigan, originally opened as a support center for individuals with epilepsy and operated as a self-supportive community, producing its own vegetables and maintaing live stock. Following, it converted to an institution for the developmentally disabled, then a home for the mentally impaired, and now operates as a facility for forensic patients.
The former Camp Tuscola, which was a state correctional facility until 2005, is now a Residential ReEntry Program.
AM and WIDL
FM.
FM
AM
in the Bad Axe area are listed below.
On November 12, 2001, 17-year old Chris Buschbacher, armed with a .22-caliber rifle and a 20-gauge shotgun, took one teacher and one student hostage at the Caro Learning Center before killing himself.
In August 2006, three men were arrested in Caro after 1,000 cell phones were found in their van. A Wal-Mart employee grew suspicious when three men of Arab descent purchased 80 prepaid cell phones. Also found in the van was video and pictures of the Mackinac Bridge
. Because of this, they were believed to be involved in "terrorist activity". When the case went to pre-trial hearing, it was found that the men were innocent and had no intention of committing terrorist acts. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/08/14/national/a113030D67.DTL
Terry Nichols
had/has strong ties to the Thumb area. Additionally, one of the co-founders of his defense fund was/is from Caro.
On July 23, 2007 Governor Jennifer Granholm
announced Caro as a community chosen by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to take part in the Blueprints for Downtowns program. Caro will receive a comprehensive, market-driven strategy toward developing an action-oriented downtown that will result in economic growth, job creation and private investments. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-23-2007/0004630539&EDATE The Blueprints for Downtowns award were also received by the communities of Clio
and Ypsilanti
. Scottville
received a similar award to take part in the Cool Cities
Michigan Main Street program.
. Elected to the city council were Mike Henry, Rick Lipan, Joe Greene, Charlotte Kish, Amanda Langmaid, and Richard Pouliot. The first meeting of the new city council was held on November 13.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in and 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 Tuscola County
Tuscola County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-15* M-24* M-25* M-46* M-81* M-138-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 58,266 people, 21,454 households, and 15,983 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 23,378 housing units at an average density of 29 per...
, 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"....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,229 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
and 4,145 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
(an increase of about 2%).
Caro is located northeast of Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
and east of Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
in Michigan's Thumb region
The Thumb
The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten; thus the Thumb is the area that looks like the thumb of the mitten. The Thumb is generally considered to be in the Mid-Michigan area of the state, located east of Flint/Tri-Cities...
. It is the largest community in the Thumb, both by population and by area and is an industrial and commercial center for the region as well.
History
The first white settler in what is now the city of Caro was Samuel P. Sherman, who purchased 63 acres (254,952.2 m²) in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 3 in Indianfields TownshipIndianfields Township, Michigan
Indianfields Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,392 at the 2000 census, making it the largest unit of local government in the Thumb of Michigan, although this figure also includes most of the population of the city of Caro.-...
on September 8, 1852. Prior to this, only two land sales had been recorded, both for lumbering or speculative purposes. His son, William E. Sherman, had worked in the lumber industry nearby on the Cass River
Cass River
The Cass River is a river in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It drains large portions of Sanilac and Tuscola counties and smaller portions of Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, and Saginaw counties....
for some time prior to 1852 and William's favorable report persuaded his father to visit in 1851 and afterwards purchased several tracts of land in addition to his initial purchase.
In the 1856-57 session of the Michigan Legislature, a road was authorized construction of a road from Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Michigan
Bridgeport is an unincorporated community in Bridgeport Charter Township, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also a census-designated place for statistical purposes. The population was 7,849 at the 2000 census. Bridgeport is also the name of a post office with ZIP code 48722...
in Saginaw County
Saginaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 210,039 people, 80,430 households, and 55,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 260 people per square mile . There were 85,505 housing units at an average density of 106 per square mile...
northeast to Forestville
Forestville, Michigan
Forestville is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 127. It does not have a true harbor onto Lake Huron, but the village does have a boat launch site. Forestville receives city water from nearby Harbor Beach...
in Sanilac County
Sanilac County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-46* M-53* M-81* M-90-History:Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot chief named Sanilac. See List of Michigan county name etymologies....
, with a route that would pass through what is now Caro. Once the road was cleared, commercial interests began to locate here. Melvin Gibbs, who had been keeping a hotel in an old log house, in 1858 put up a new frame building, known as the Gibbs House. In 1859, William E. Sherman built another hotel, which he named the Centerville House, based on the location being near the center of the county. The name Centerville became associated with the developing community.
In 1865, Centerville was selected as the county seat. A post office named Tuscola Center was established on April 25, 1866. To address confusion caused by the differing names, community leaders met in 1868 and at the suggestion of William E Sherman selected the name Caro, based on a variant spelling of the Egyptian city of Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.84%) is water.
Caro is located in the northern portion of Indianfields Township
Indianfields Township, Michigan
Indianfields Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,392 at the 2000 census, making it the largest unit of local government in the Thumb of Michigan, although this figure also includes most of the population of the city of Caro.-...
has also incorporated some land in southern Almer Township
Almer Township, Michigan
Almer Charter Township is a charter township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,023 at the 2000 census. It is the only charter township in the Thumb region of Michigan.- Communities :...
. The Caro post office, with ZIP code 48723, also serves nearly all of Indianfields and Almer townships, as well as smaller portions of Wells Township
Wells Township, Tuscola County, Michigan
Wells Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,946 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*There are no incorporated municipalities in the township....
to the east of Indianfields, Dayton Township
Dayton Township, Tuscola County, Michigan
Dayton Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,869 at the 2000 census.-Communities:There are no incorporated municipalities in the township....
to the southeast of Indianfields, Fremont Township
Fremont Township, Tuscola County, Michigan
Fremont Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,559 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*Mayville is a village on M-24 in the southeast corner of the township....
to the south of Indianfields, Juniata Township
Juniata Township, Michigan
Juniata Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,673 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
to the west of Indianfields, Fairgrove Township
Fairgrove Township, Michigan
Fairgrove Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,749 at the 2000 census. The village of Fairgrove is located within the township, as well as the southern half of the village of Akron.-Geography:...
to the northwest of Indianfields, Columbia Township
Columbia Township, Tuscola County, Michigan
Columbia Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,419 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
, to the north of Almer, Elmwood Township
Elmwood Township, Michigan
Elmwood Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,213 at the 2000 census.Elijah White was the first permanent white settler in the township in 1855...
to the northeast of Almer, and Ellington Township
Ellington Township, Michigan
Ellington Township is a civil township of Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,304 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*Ellington is an unincorporated community in the township at Dutcher Rd and M-81/E Caro Road...
to the east of Almer.
Michigan highways
M-24M-24 (Michigan highway)M-24 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan that extends through Southeast Michigan, from northeast Auburn Hills to Unionville. It starts at an interchange with Interstate 75 and ends where it merges with M-25...
M-81M-81 (Michigan highway)M-81 is a state trunkline in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan that travels from the city of Saginaw at the junction with M-13 and ends at the junction with M-53 east of Cass City over the county line in Greenleaf Township in northwestern Sanilac County.-Route description:M-81 starts...
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 4,145 people, 1,738 households, and 1,042 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 1,746.0 per square mile (675.3/km²). There were 1,899 housing units at an average density of 799.9 per square mile (309.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.62% White, 0.55% African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.95% 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 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.
There were 1,738 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% 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, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,226, and the median income for a family was $39,432. Males had a median income of $36,307 versus $25,833 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 $17,152. About 5.1% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
City traditions
Caro is the home of the Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival,http://www.tcpumpkinfest.com an October tradition which was started in 1981 by a small group of local residents. Annually, the four-day festival attracts approximately 50,000 visitors. Local farmers grow pumpkins that are delivered to primary school youth who decorate the pumpkins and submit them for display on the courthouse lawn where they are judged in one of five competitive categories. In addition, the Pumpkin Festival Royal Court is selected based on the largest pumpkins grown.The festivities begin each year with the annual Lip-Sync
Lip sync
Lip sync, lip-sync, lip-synch is a technical term for matching lip movements with sung or spoken vocals...
contest and various sports tournaments that have included 3-on-3 basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, volleyball, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
. The festival culminates with the Grand Parade. In 2003, nearly 200 units participated in the parade, including 14 marching bands from across the state of Michigan, local merchants, churches, other organizations and Miss Michigan
Miss Michigan
The Miss Michigan competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss America pageant. Michigan has won the Miss America crown on five occasions.- Winners :- External links :*...
.
On the first weekend in June, Caro also hosts the Cars and Crafts Weekend. State Street, the main road through town, is closed between Frank Street and the courthouse building. Local artisans sell handcrafted goods and many merchants sport sidewalk sales. Additionally, residents show-off historic automobiles.
In late July/early August, Caro hosts the Tuscola County Fair at the county fairgrounds. The fair has been a county tradition for over 100 years and includes games and rides, awards for skilled crafts and animal rearing, and grandstand events. Grandstand events include the tractor pull, harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
, a rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
, and a demolition derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
.
Caro industry
Caro is the home of one of Pioneer Sugar Company's longest continually operating facilities. Local sugarbeet farmers retain joint ownership of the plant.In 2003, Michigan Ethanol, a partner of Broin Companies, opened a corn ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
production facility in southwest Caro.
The Caro Center, a mental health facility operated by the State of Michigan, originally opened as a support center for individuals with epilepsy and operated as a self-supportive community, producing its own vegetables and maintaing live stock. Following, it converted to an institution for the developmentally disabled, then a home for the mentally impaired, and now operates as a facility for forensic patients.
The former Camp Tuscola, which was a state correctional facility until 2005, is now a Residential ReEntry Program.
Agriculture
Caro is a rural community that supports many cash-crop farms just outside the city limits. Local farmers harvest crops that include sugarbeets, corn, blueberries, wheat, dry beans and soy beans. Recently, the agriculture of the area has seen an increase in the number of organically grown crops. Most of the farms are family-owned and operated and vary in size from 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) to over 3000 acres (12 km²).Radio
The thumb area is an unranked radio area. Local radio in Caro includes WKYOWKYO
WKYO is a radio station licensed to Caro, Michigan broadcasting a full-service oldies format. In addition to its '50s-through-early '70s oldies format the station features a strong commitment to local news and information from around Caro and Tuscola County...
AM and WIDL
WIDL
WIDL is a radio station broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Caro, Michigan, it first began broadcasting at 104.9 MHz...
FM.
FM
- WIDLWIDLWIDL is a radio station broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Caro, Michigan, it first began broadcasting at 104.9 MHz...
92.1 FM, Caro, The best mix of the 80s, 90s, and now - WTGV 97.7 FM, Sandusky, Light & Easy Listening
- WLEWWLEW-FMWLEW-FM is a radio station in Bad Axe, Michigan, serving the Thumb area of Michigan. It is owned by Thumb Broadcasting and broadcasts from studios on South Van Dyke Road in Bad Axe. Unusual for small-town radio stations, WLEW-FM is locally programmed and does not rely on satellite feeds for any...
102.1 FM, Bad Axe, Classic Hits
AM
- WMICWMICWMIC is a news/talk and country radio station licensed to Sandusky, Michigan. WMIC signed on the air at 1560 kHz on June 27, 1968, and changed its frequency to the current 660 in 1987, serving Sandusky, the Thumb and the Blue Water area of Michigan. Part of WMIC 660's success is mostly due to...
660 AM, Sandusky, The Thumb's Information Station (daytime only) - WLEWWLEW (AM)WLEW is a radio station in Bad Axe, Michigan, serving the Thumb area of Michigan. It is owned by Thumb Broadcasting and broadcasts from studios on South Van Dyke Road in Bad Axe. Unusual for small-town radio stations, WLEW is locally programmed and does not rely on satellite feeds for any of...
1340 AM, Bad Axe, Thumb Country - WKYOWKYOWKYO is a radio station licensed to Caro, Michigan broadcasting a full-service oldies format. In addition to its '50s-through-early '70s oldies format the station features a strong commitment to local news and information from around Caro and Tuscola County...
1360 AM, Caro, Oldies 1360 - WLCOWLCOWLCO is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Lapeer, Michigan, it first began broadcasting under the WTHM call sign. The station's format, from Citadel Media, is called "Real Country" and combines classic country favorites with select current titles...
1530 AM, Lapeer, Real Country
Newspapers
- Daily editions of the Detroit Free PressDetroit Free PressThe Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
and The Detroit NewsThe Detroit NewsThe Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
, four-day per week editions of the Bay City TimesBay City TimesThe Bay City Times is a newspaper published in Bay City, Michigan, United States, published Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, with a Tuesday edition jointly-published with The Saginaw News. The paper is published by Booth Newspapers, owned by Advance Publications...
and Saginaw News, as well as the Vassar Pioneer Times are available. - The Tuscola County Advertiser
Broadcast television
Huron County lies inside the Flint/Tri-Cities Television Market. Only stations available on ComcastComcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
in the Bad Axe area are listed below.
- WNEMWNEM-TVWNEM-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Flint/Tri-Cities market in Michigan. It is licensed to Bay City, and broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 22 . Owned by the Meredith Corporation, the station has studios on North Franklin Street in downtown Saginaw, as...
5 (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
/MyNetworkTVMyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
) - WJRT 12 (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) - WDCQ 19 (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
) - WEYI 25 (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) - WBSFWBSFWBSF is the CW-affiliated television station for the Flint/Tri-Cities market that is licensed to Bay City. Owned by Barrington Broadcasting, the station is sister to NBC affiliate WEYI-TV and the two share studios on West Willard Road in Vienna Township along the Genesee and Saginaw County line...
46 (The CW) - WAQPWAQPWAQP is a television station in Saginaw, Michigan, which broadcasts the programming of the Tri-State Christian Television religious network....
49 (Religious) - WSMHWSMHWSMH is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Flint/Tri-Cities market that is licensed to Flint. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 16 from a 245 kilowatt, high transmitter on Aman Rd near St. Charles, Michigan...
66 (FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
)
Caro in the news
Although Caro is a small town, the area has had a relatively high level of national media attention.On November 12, 2001, 17-year old Chris Buschbacher, armed with a .22-caliber rifle and a 20-gauge shotgun, took one teacher and one student hostage at the Caro Learning Center before killing himself.
In August 2006, three men were arrested in Caro after 1,000 cell phones were found in their van. A Wal-Mart employee grew suspicious when three men of Arab descent purchased 80 prepaid cell phones. Also found in the van was video and pictures of the Mackinac Bridge
Mackinac Bridge
The Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the non-contiguous Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the bridge is the third longest in total suspension in the world and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages...
. Because of this, they were believed to be involved in "terrorist activity". When the case went to pre-trial hearing, it was found that the men were innocent and had no intention of committing terrorist acts. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/08/14/national/a113030D67.DTL
Terry Nichols
Terry Nichols
Terry Lynn Nichols is a convicted bomber's accomplice. Prior to his incarceration, he held a variety of short-term jobs, working as a farmer, grain elevator manager, real estate salesman, ranch hand, and house husband. He met his future co-conspirator, Timothy McVeigh, during a brief stint in the...
had/has strong ties to the Thumb area. Additionally, one of the co-founders of his defense fund was/is from Caro.
Caro today
Caro has worked hard to maintain a small, hometown feel while striving to attract a more diverse population of visitors and residents. However, as large commercial retailers continue to move into the city, including big-box stores like Wal-Mart, locally owned businesses have had difficulty continuing operations.On July 23, 2007 Governor Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
announced Caro as a community chosen by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to take part in the Blueprints for Downtowns program. Caro will receive a comprehensive, market-driven strategy toward developing an action-oriented downtown that will result in economic growth, job creation and private investments. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-23-2007/0004630539&EDATE The Blueprints for Downtowns award were also received by the communities of Clio
Clio, Michigan
Clio is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan.As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 2,483. Clio is home to Michigan's second tallest construction, the WEYI Tower...
and Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
. Scottville
Scottville, Michigan
Scottville is a city located in the north west of the U.S. state of Michigan in rural Mason County.On July 23, 2007 Governor Jennifer Granholm announced Scottville as the community chosen by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to take part in the Cool Cities Michigan Main Street program...
received a similar award to take part in the Cool Cities
Cool Cities Initiative
Cool Cities Initiative is an initiative started by Governor Jennifer Granholm to spur growth and investment in Michigan during a period of economic decline. The Initiative was proposed in 2003 in response to students attending college in Michigan and then seeking employment out of state...
Michigan Main Street program.
Municipal status
Caro residents voted in favor of changing to the status of a city on November 3, 2009. Village President Tom Striffler was elected to the position of mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. Elected to the city council were Mike Henry, Rick Lipan, Joe Greene, Charlotte Kish, Amanda Langmaid, and Richard Pouliot. The first meeting of the new city council was held on November 13.