Mount Pleasant

History

Until the mid-19th century, this area was occupied by historical bands of the Ojibwa people, known by English speakers as the Chippewa. In the early decades of the century, they ceded vast amounts of land to the United States government, which wanted to enable settlement by European Americans.

The federal Graduation Act of 1854 allowed settlers to purchase land from the government at discount rates, and the first white settlers began to arrive in what became Mount Pleasant. Under the Treaty of 1855, the Ojibwa bands (Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation) from the Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black rivers were relocated to land in Isabella County (Isabella Indian Reservation).

Many non-natives soon moved to Mount Pleasant, predicting prosperous relations with the natives. The Homestead Act of 1862 also attracted many new settlers to Mount Pleasant, including new European immigrants, They worked to develop their stake on free lands offered by the US government in exchange for their labor in developing it for residence and agriculture.

The village and future city developed. In 1875, a devastating fire started at the Fancher Building on the north corner of Broadway and Main streets. It moved east down Broadway, destroying several buildings. Seven years later another fire would damage buildings on the south side of Broadway.

In 1879 the first library was established in Mt. Pleasant. Known as "The Library, Literary, and Musical Association of Mount Pleasant," its first books were made up of the personal book collections of the board members.

In 1890, W.A. Jordan started Mount Pleasant Business College. Expanding in 1892, the school changed its name to Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, as it incorporated a curriculum of teacher training. It was the origin of what is now Central Michigan University. The Mt. Pleasant main campus is the largest of 8 CMU locations in the state, with just over 10,000 undergrad students living on campus or campus affiliated housing in the fall of 2022. [1]

On January 3, 1893, the U.S. government opened an Indian boarding school called the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. Indian children were forced to give up their cultural ways and assimilate to using the English language and adopting European-American culture. The school operated for 40 years, closing in 1933.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.83 square miles (20.28 km2), of which 7.74 square miles (20.05 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) is water. The Chippewa River runs through the city. Mount Pleasant is located approximately 61 miles (98 km) north of Lansing, Michigan's state capital, along US 127.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Mount Pleasant had a population of 21,688. The median age was 24.1 years. 14.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.8 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,986 households in Mount Pleasant, of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 25.7% were married-couple households, 28.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 8,956 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.7%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 26,016 people, 8,376 households, and 3,100 families living in the city. The population density was 3,361.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,297.8/km2). There were 8,981 housing units at an average density of 1,160.3 per square mile (448.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 3.9% African American, 2.0% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 8,376 households, of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 63.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 22 years. 11% of residents were under the age of 18; 53.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.8% were from 25 to 44; 11.9% were from 45 to 64; and 7.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,946 people, 8,449 households, and 3,126 families living in the city. The population density was 3,327.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,284.6/km2). There were 8,878 housing units at an average density of 1,138.5 per square mile (439.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.12% White, 3.67% African American, 1.54% Native American, 2.85% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.

There were 8,449 households, out of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 63.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% 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 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 11.5% under the age of 18, 54.1% from 18 to 24, 16.9% from 25 to 44, 10.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,572, and the median income for a family was $43,927. Males had a median income of $32,004 versus $23,869 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,177. About 11.4% of families and 37.2% of the population (student population skews this statistic) were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

US 127 is a major north–south route connecting with Lansing and Jackson to the south and with Clare and Grayling to the north.

Bus. US 127 (Mission Street) is a loop route traveling through the heart of the city, connecting with US 127 at each end.

M-20 continues east to Midland and Bay City and west toward Big Rapids.

Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport is located 2 mi (3.2 km) northeast of the central business district.

Education

Central Michigan University

Mid Michigan Community College-Mount Pleasant Campus

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Mount Pleasant Public Schools including Mount Pleasant High School

Sacred Heart Academy, private Catholic school

Local media

Newspapers

The Morning Sun (Daily)

Central Michigan Life (Published Monday and Thursday during the academic year)

The Pulse - aka Central Michigan Pulse (Weekly - Published on Thursdays)

Radio stations

WMMI (830 AM) - Country music (licensed to Shepherd)

WCMU (89.5 FM) - CMU Public Radio

WMHW-FM (91.5 FM) - CMU College Student Radio/The Mountain (Adult Album Alternative)

WCEN-FM (94.5 FM) - The Moose - Country music (licensed to Hemlock; formerly located in Mount Pleasant)

WCFX (95.3 FM) - 95-3 CFX "Todays Hits' - Top 40 (licensed to Clare)

W266BU (101.1 FM) - CMU College Student Radio/The Beat (Rhythmic Contemporary) (repeats WMHW-FM's HD2 signal)

WCZY-FM (104.3 FM) - My 104-3 'Central Michigan's Best Variety') -Adult Hits

NOAA Weather Radio KZZ33)

162.525 MHz) serves Clare Gratiot Isabella Mecosta Midland Montcalm And Osceola Counties

TV stations

WCMU (Channel 14) - PBS

Notable people

James "Gerbs" Bauer, astronomer

Mark Beard, racing driver

Ryan Brehm, 3-time NCAA champion golfer

Paul Carey, baseball broadcaster, Detroit Tigers

Tom Crean, college basketball coach

Dick Enberg, sports broadcaster

John Engler, former Governor of Michigan

Isaac A. Fancher, mayor of Mount Pleasant and state politician

Cindy Figg-Currier, pro golfer

William S. Hammack. engineering, YouTube personality engineerguy

Len Kasper, baseball broadcaster, Chicago Cubs

Matt LaFleur, head coach, Green Bay Packers

Mike LaFleur, head coach, Arizona Cardinals

Grace McArthur, folk artist

James E. McBryde, Michigan state legislator and salesman

Sara Murray, CNN political correspondent

Dan Pohl, pro golfer

Kelly Robbins, pro golfer

Dan Schafer, musician and songwriter

John William Tebbel, journalist, editor, writer, teacher, and media historian.

Sister cities

Okaya, Japan

Valdivia, Chile