Luna Pier, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Luna Pier is a small city in Monroe County
of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Ohio
border along the coast of Lake Erie
. It was established in the early 1900s and incorporated as a city in 1963. It functioned primarily as a resort for people living in the greater Toledo
, Ohio
and Metro Detroit
area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,483.
Its most prominent feature is a large crescent-shaped pier made of concrete, approximately 800 ft (243.8 m) long and reaching around 200 feet (61 m) out into Lake Erie. The pier is flanked by sandy beaches and man-made rock and concrete embankments. On most days, the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant
in Port Clinton can be seen from the pier. Also visible, are the Toledo Harbor Light and shipping channel.
Luna Pier, now established with mainly year round residents, attracts tourists interested in fishing, the public beach, bike trails, public boat ramp, marinas, ball fields, lake front scenery and the small-town atmosphere. The city is served by Mason Consolidated Schools
.
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (9.36%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,483 people, 592 households, and 406 families residing in the city. The population density
was 956.9 per square mile (369.4/km²). There were 661 housing units at an average density of 426.5 per square mile (164.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.48% White, 1.01% Native American, 0.94% from other races
, 0.20% African American, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.03% of the population.
There were 592 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,909, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $40,850 versus $25,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,325. About 10.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
's J.R. Whiting Generating Plant, which is located just south of Luna Pier. At one point the plant's smoke was removed from the city seal at the insistence of some residents due to environmental concerns. However, most versions of the seal still retain the smoke seen in Mr. Calengor's original artwork.
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
of 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"....
. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
border along the coast of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
. It was established in the early 1900s and incorporated as a city in 1963. It functioned primarily as a resort for people living in the greater Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,483.
Its most prominent feature is a large crescent-shaped pier made of concrete, approximately 800 ft (243.8 m) long and reaching around 200 feet (61 m) out into Lake Erie. The pier is flanked by sandy beaches and man-made rock and concrete embankments. On most days, the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.Nuclear power plants are usually...
in Port Clinton can be seen from the pier. Also visible, are the Toledo Harbor Light and shipping channel.
Luna Pier, now established with mainly year round residents, attracts tourists interested in fishing, the public beach, bike trails, public boat ramp, marinas, ball fields, lake front scenery and the small-town atmosphere. The city is served by Mason Consolidated Schools
Mason Consolidated Schools
Mason Consolidated Schools is a public school district in Erie Township, Michigan. The district includes all of Erie Township and a small portion of La Salle Township to the north...
.
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 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (9.36%) 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 1,483 people, 592 households, and 406 families residing in the city. 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 956.9 per square mile (369.4/km²). There were 661 housing units at an average density of 426.5 per square mile (164.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.48% White, 1.01% Native American, 0.94% 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...
, 0.20% African American, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.03% of the population.
There were 592 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,909, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $40,850 versus $25,750 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 city was $19,325. About 10.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
Official Seal of the City of Luna Pier
The Official Seal of the City of Luna Pier was drawn by Charles D. Calengor in 1964 or 1965. Mr. Calengor was an art teacher at the Luna Pier School, and had moved to teaching art at Mason High School at the time he created the city's seal. The home shown in the left side of the seal was Mr. & Mrs. Calengor's own home, which still exists on Lakewood Drive. On the right side of the seal can be seen Consumers EnergyConsumers Energy
Consumers Energy is a public utility that provides natural gas and electricity to more than 6 million of Michigan's 10 million residents. It serves customers in all 68 of the state’s Lower Peninsula counties. It is a division of CMS Energy. Its headquarters is in Jackson.-History:The company was...
's J.R. Whiting Generating Plant, which is located just south of Luna Pier. At one point the plant's smoke was removed from the city seal at the insistence of some residents due to environmental concerns. However, most versions of the seal still retain the smoke seen in Mr. Calengor's original artwork.
Events
- Annual City-Wide Yard Sale & Fireworks, 1st Saturday in July
- Annual Kids' Day (Bike & Pet Parade, Luna Pier Idol Contest, Cardboard Boat Race), 3rd Saturday in August
- Annual Luna Pier Art Festival & Classic Car Show, 4th Saturday in August