Mason, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mason, Michigan | |
 |
|
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ingham |
| Settled | 1836 |
| Incorporated | 1865 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Leon Clark |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km²) |
| - Land | 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) 0% |
| Elevation | 919 ft (280 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 6,714 |
| - Density | 1,466.6/sq mi (566.2/km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 48854 |
| Area code(s) | 517 |
| FIPS code | 26-52180[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0631694[2] |
| Website: http://www.mason.mi.us | |
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,714, with an estimated population of 8,056 as of 2006. It is the county seat of Ingham County[3]. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital, with the capital of Lansing also in Ingham County. Despite being the county seat, many county offices and courtrooms are located in Lansing.
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1836 Charles Noble knew that Michigan would be seeking a central location for a a new capital when it became a state. He purchased an area of forest, cleared twenty acres, and founded Mason Center. "Center" was soon dropped. However, in 1847, the state instead chose Lansing Township 12 miles northward to be its capital due its potential for water power. However, Noble did manage to make Mason the county seat instead. Up into the 1900's, the local Ojibwa tribe roaming freely within the town was commonplace. Ingham County's first courthouse was built in 1843, and was replaced in 1858, and then again in 1905. In 1865, Mason was incorporated as a village and in 1875 the town became a city. At this point, Mason was the center of local matters, even more than Lansing. In 1877, Lansing attempted to take the status of county seat for itself, but the two cities made an agreement that moved some county offices and courts to Lansing. In the 1900's, Mason began producing baby formula and creams for its industrial stength. Today, it produces Dart cups and Leer parts, and cows can still be seen grazing within the city limits.[4]
[edit] Geography
Mason is located at .[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), almost all of which is land; no noteworthy portion of the city is covered by water, save for a thin tributary of the Grand River.
Mason sits upon the The Mason Esker, which is one of the longest eskers in the western hemisphere[6]
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,714 people, 2,806 households, and 1,826 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,466.6 per square mile (566.0/km²). There were 2,961 housing units at an average density of 646.8/sq mi (249.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.98% White, 0.64% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.74% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.
There were 2,806 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,790, and the median income for a family was $53,519. Males had a median income of $41,081 versus $26,266 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,866. About 1.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of interest
- Mason Branch of the Capital Area District Library [1]
- Mason Area Historical Museum [2]
- Mason Skate Park [3]
- Ingham County Fairgrounds [4]
[edit] Celebrations and festivals
- Down Home Days, a Thursday through Sunday festival, centerd on the third Saturday in September. Beginning in 1973, the outdoor Courthouse Show features arts, crafts, and other booths on Saturday around the courthouse.
- Spring Fling, a Friday through Sunday festival, centered on the first Saturday in May. Beginning in 1983, the outdoor Courthouse Show features arts, crafts, and other booths on Saturday around the courthouse.
- Ingham County Fair.
- Mason Steam Show, a steam engine show.
- Mason Aviation Days.
[edit] Famous residents and businesses
- According to The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X spent part of his childhood in Mason. He was placed in a juvenile home in Mason in 1939 and completed 8th grade at Mason High School, where historical accounts indicate he received straight-"A" grades. [5] A famous anecdote of Malcolm X's life tells of a teacher who discouraged Malcolm of his dream of becoming a lawyer because of his race. However, sources vary on whether this was a Mason teacher. Malcom was taught public speaking by a lawyer in Mason by the name of Howard McCowan.
- Former Mason resident Ltc. Amos Steele was one of the (relatively) few Union soldiers to be killed during Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.[6] Steele Street is named after Amos Steele, which would make Steele Street Elementary School indirectly named after him.
- Mason is home to Kristin Haynie, a point guard with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs. Haynie, a 2001 Mason High School graduate, was a 2005 first-round WNBA draft pick after leading Michigan State to the women's NCAA national championship game.
- Mason is home to Dart Container, the largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers in the world. Dart is known for being vertically integrated, and is one of the largest privately owned corporations in Michigan.
- John W. Longyear moved to Mason in 1844, where he taught school and studied law.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Shultz, Todd: Michigan History Magazine, issue January/February 2008, page 50.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ (1952) Field Manual of Soil Engineering. Michigan. State Highway Dept, 8. “The longest esker in Michigan is called the Mason esker and it extends from the outskirts of Lansing to a point beyond Mason”
[edit] External links
- Mason, Michigan is at coordinates Coordinates:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
