Howard City, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Howard City is a village in Montcalm County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 1,585 at the 2000 census
. The village is within Reynolds Township
.
ted in 1868. It was named for William A. Howard, a Detroit railroad attorney. The Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad depot opened in 1869. A post office was established on January 12, 1870, with John B. Spencer as the first postmaster. It incorporated as a village in 1873. The post office name was shortened to "Howard" on February 2, 1895, but restored to Howard City on January 19, 1899.
Main street was initially constructed on Ensley street, which was named after early settler Benjamin Ensley, but in 1883 many of the wooden buildings on Ensley street burned down. Main street was then shifted over to Edgerton street, where it still stands today. The Hudson Knife factory and The Skinner and Steenman sideboard factory were two of the earliest businesses. Later, Hudson Knife Co. went through changes and became the Joslin and eventually Olsen Knife Company, which had somewhat famous jingle "Fatty Fatty run for your life, here comes Skinny with an Olsen Knife." Howard City schools were combined with Sand Lake schools to the south in 1962, and renamed Tri County, because students from Kent, Montcalm, and Newaygo counties all attended. The school still runs under the same moniker today.
Area schools include Newaygo, Morley-Stanwood, Lakeview and Cedar Springs.
, the village has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all land.
The Howard City post office, with ZIP code 49329, also serves much of southern Reynolds Township
, as well as a large part of Winfield Township
to the east, a small area of Maple Valley Township
to the southeast, portions of Pierson Township
to the south. It also serves parts of Croton Township
to the west and Ensley Township
to the southwest in Newaygo County
.
of 2000, there were 1,585 people, 576 households, and 410 families residing in the village. The population density
was 631.5 per square mile (243.8/km²). There were 626 housing units at an average density of 249.4 per square mile (96.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.90% White, 0.19% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.95% from other races
, and 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% of the population.
There were 576 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $34,556, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $32,241 versus $22,917 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,076. About 5.7% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
Montcalm County, Michigan
-Michigan State Highways:* M-46* M-57* M-66* M-82* M-91-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,266 people, 22,079 households, and 16,183 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 25,900 housing units at an average density...
in the U.S. state
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"....
. The population was 1,585 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...
. The village is within Reynolds Township
Reynolds Township, Michigan
Reynolds Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,279 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
History
Benjamin Ensley owned the land on which he, E. W. Muenscher, and Mr. Shaw began the settlement that Muenscher platPlat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1868. It was named for William A. Howard, a Detroit railroad attorney. The Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad depot opened in 1869. A post office was established on January 12, 1870, with John B. Spencer as the first postmaster. It incorporated as a village in 1873. The post office name was shortened to "Howard" on February 2, 1895, but restored to Howard City on January 19, 1899.
Main street was initially constructed on Ensley street, which was named after early settler Benjamin Ensley, but in 1883 many of the wooden buildings on Ensley street burned down. Main street was then shifted over to Edgerton street, where it still stands today. The Hudson Knife factory and The Skinner and Steenman sideboard factory were two of the earliest businesses. Later, Hudson Knife Co. went through changes and became the Joslin and eventually Olsen Knife Company, which had somewhat famous jingle "Fatty Fatty run for your life, here comes Skinny with an Olsen Knife." Howard City schools were combined with Sand Lake schools to the south in 1962, and renamed Tri County, because students from Kent, Montcalm, and Newaygo counties all attended. The school still runs under the same moniker today.
Schools
Tri County schools, located 3 miles southwest of Howard City, is the main school district in Howard City. Schools inlude Tri County Highschool, Tri County Middle School, MacNaughten Elementary, Sand Lake Elementary and Edgerton Upper Elementary. The School mascot is the Viking. Sports include football, basketball, softball, baseball, sideline cheer, competitive cheer, golf, track and field, cross country, bowling, poms and soccer. In 2009, the varsity softball team took a District title, but fell short at regionals to Petosky.Area schools include Newaygo, Morley-Stanwood, Lakeview and Cedar Springs.
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 village has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all land.
The Howard City post office, with ZIP code 49329, also serves much of southern Reynolds Township
Reynolds Township, Michigan
Reynolds Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,279 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, as well as a large part of Winfield Township
Winfield Township, Michigan
Winfield Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,049.- Communities :...
to the east, a small area of Maple Valley Township
Maple Valley Township, Montcalm County, Michigan
Maple Valley Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,083 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
to the southeast, portions of Pierson Township
Pierson Township, Michigan
Pierson Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,866 at the 2000 census. The Village of Pierson is located within the township.- History :...
to the south. It also serves parts of Croton Township
Croton Township, Michigan
Croton Township is a civil township of Newaygo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,042 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
to the west and Ensley Township
Ensley Township, Michigan
Ensley Township is a civil township of Newaygo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,474 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...
to the southwest in Newaygo County
Newaygo County, Michigan
Newaygo County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids–Wyoming, MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,460. The county seat is White Cloud. Newaygo County was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Saginaw...
.
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 1,585 people, 576 households, and 410 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 631.5 per square mile (243.8/km²). There were 626 housing units at an average density of 249.4 per square mile (96.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.90% White, 0.19% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.95% 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 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% of the population.
There were 576 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $34,556, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $32,241 versus $22,917 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 $14,076. About 5.7% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.