Sturgis, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Sturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census
. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township
and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66
.
Sturgis has been assigned a ZIP code
of 49091.
, the city has a total area of 6 square miles (15.5 km²), all land.
and settled in what is now Sturgis. The original site of his home can be seen at Pioneer Park, maintained by the City of Sturgis. The area's population grew in size and, in 1896, the town became a city. Just north of Sturgis is Kirsch Municipal Airport.
Each year, in the third week of May, Sturgis served as the kickoff city for Michigan Week. Many prominent political figures walked in the parade annually. These included State Representative
from the 59th District Matt Lori, State Senator
from the 16th District Cameron Brown, and 6th District U.S. Representative Fred Upton
. In the past, this has also included the Governor of Michigan
- John Engler
had walked in the city's kickoff parade annually. In 2010, Sturgis ended the tradition of holding the Michigan Kick-Off, opting instead to celebrate in June, Sturgis Dam Days. Sturgis Dam Days is now held in honor of the hydro-electric dam that opened in 1911, located near Centerville, MI, but is owned by the city of Sturgis. The one hundred year anniversary of this Dam will be celebrated during the 2011 Sturgis Dam Days.
It is the headquarters for the Republicans for Environmental Protection.
The current Mayor is Barb Fisher and the Vice Mayor is Ken Malone.
Sturgis is a sister city to Wiesloch
, Germany
and Bombala, Australia
.
of 2000, there were 11,285 people, 4,293 households, and 2,726 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1894.5 PD/sqmi. There were 4,529 housing units at an average density of 760.3 /sqmi. As of 2011, the racial makeup of the city was 91% White, 1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 4.4% from other races
, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20% of the population.
There were 4,293 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,838, and the median income for a family was $43,381. Males had a median income of $29,508 versus $21,810 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,990. About 11.2% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
St. Joseph County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,422 people, 23,381 households, and 16,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 26,503 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
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 10,994 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...
. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township
Sturgis Township, Michigan
Sturgis Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,403 at the 2000 census. The City of Sturgis is located at the northeast corner of the township and is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66
M-66 (Michigan highway)
M-66 is a north–south state trunkline highway on the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Indiana state line in the south to Charlevoix in the north. M-66 is the only state highway to traverse almost the entire north–south distance of the LP. It starts as a...
.
Sturgis has been assigned a 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...
of 49091.
Geography
Sturgis is located at 41°47′57"N 85°25′09"W. 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 6 square miles (15.5 km²), all land.
Interstates
I-80Interstate 80Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
/I-90Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
(Indiana East-West Toll Road)
History
In 1827, Judge John Sturgis came to the St. Joseph Valley area in southern Michigan territoryUnited States territory
United States territory is any extent of region under the jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters including all U.S. Naval carriers. The United States has traditionally proclaimed the sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing its...
and settled in what is now Sturgis. The original site of his home can be seen at Pioneer Park, maintained by the City of Sturgis. The area's population grew in size and, in 1896, the town became a city. Just north of Sturgis is Kirsch Municipal Airport.
Each year, in the third week of May, Sturgis served as the kickoff city for Michigan Week. Many prominent political figures walked in the parade annually. These included State Representative
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
from the 59th District Matt Lori, State Senator
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
from the 16th District Cameron Brown, and 6th District U.S. Representative Fred Upton
Fred Upton
Frederick Stephen Upton is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He is a member of the Republican Party and Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The district, based in Kalamazoo, stretches along the Michigan-Indiana border in the southwestern part of the state.-Early life,...
. In the past, this has also included the Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
- John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
had walked in the city's kickoff parade annually. In 2010, Sturgis ended the tradition of holding the Michigan Kick-Off, opting instead to celebrate in June, Sturgis Dam Days. Sturgis Dam Days is now held in honor of the hydro-electric dam that opened in 1911, located near Centerville, MI, but is owned by the city of Sturgis. The one hundred year anniversary of this Dam will be celebrated during the 2011 Sturgis Dam Days.
It is the headquarters for the Republicans for Environmental Protection.
The current Mayor is Barb Fisher and the Vice Mayor is Ken Malone.
Sturgis is a sister city to Wiesloch
Wiesloch
Wiesloch is a city in Germany, in northern Baden-Württemberg. It is situated 13 kilometres south of Heidelberg.After Weinheim, Sinsheim and Leimen it is the fourth largest city of the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis and is in the north-central area near Heidelberg with its neighbouring town Walldorf...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Bombala, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
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 11,285 people, 4,293 households, and 2,726 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 1894.5 PD/sqmi. There were 4,529 housing units at an average density of 760.3 /sqmi. As of 2011, the racial makeup of the city was 91% White, 1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 4.4% 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 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20% of the population.
There were 4,293 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,838, and the median income for a family was $43,381. Males had a median income of $29,508 versus $21,810 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 $15,990. About 11.2% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Famous natives
- Actor Verne TroyerVerne TroyerVerne J. Troyer is an American stand-up comedian, actor, stuntman and performer, best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series...
was born in Sturgis, but grew up in Centreville, MichiganCentreville, MichiganCentreville is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Joseph County. The population was 1,579 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land....
. - Current state senatorMichigan SenateThe Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
Cameron S. BrownCameron S. BrownCameron S. Brown is a Republican Party politician from the U.S. state of Michigan and a former member of the Michigan Senate....
of the 16th Senate District of Michigan is from Sturgis. - Perle MestaPerle MestaPerle Skirvin Mesta was an American socialite, political hostess, and U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg ....
, socialite and Ambassador to Luxembourg, was born in Sturgis. - Walter T. KelleyWalter T. KelleyWalter T. Kelley was beekeeper who created a large bee equipment supply and queen breeding company based in Clarkson, Kentucky. Kelley also wrote extensively about apiculture and published the bee journal Modern Beekeeping.-Early life:...
, innovator of beekeepingBeekeepingBeekeeping is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans. A beekeeper keeps bees in order to collect honey and other products of the hive , to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers...
methods and materials. - Tom BodettTom BodettThomas Edward "Tom" Bodett is an American author, voice actor and radio host. He is also the current spokesman for the hotel chain Motel 6, whose commercials end with the phrase, "I'm Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we'll leave the light on for ya."-Career:...
, American Author, Voice Actor, and Radio host and also spokesperson for Motel 6