Coldwater, Michigan

Coldwater is a city in Coldwater Township, Branch County, Michigan, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945.[6] It is the county seat of Branch County,[7] located in the center of the southern border of Michigan.

Coldwater, Michigan
City
Downtown Historic District
Location of Coldwater within Branch County, Michigan
Coordinates: 41°56′24″N 85°0′0″W
Country United States
State Michigan
CountyBranch
Founded1861
Government
 • MayorThomas Kramer
Area
 • Total9.99 sq mi (25.87 km2)
 • Land9.65 sq mi (25.00 km2)
 • Water0.34 sq mi (0.88 km2)
Elevation
965 ft (294 m)
Population
 • Total10,945
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
12,215
 • Density1,265.67/sq mi (488.69/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
49036
Area code(s)517 Exchanges: 278,279
FIPS code26-17020[4]
GNIS feature ID0623568[5]
Websitewww.coldwater.org

History

American settlers did not move into the area until around 1830, with many arriving from New York and New England.[8] Coldwater was incorporated as a village in 1837, and then incorporated by the legislature as a city in 1861.[9] It was designated in 1842 as the county seat of Branch County.[8]

Geography

The Coldwater River flows into the city from the south, originating from Coldwater Lake. The Coldwater chain of lakes also has an outlet called the Sauk River, which flows from its north end (near Quincy) and then through the south side of the city of Coldwater. Both combine to form a series of shallow, connected lakes on the city's west side.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.27 square miles (21.42 km2), of which 8.03 square miles (20.80 km2) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) is water.[10]

Climate

National Weather Service records show that average January temperatures are a maximum of 28.9 °F and a minimum of 14.3 °F. Average July temperatures are a maximum of 81.4 °F and a minimum of 59.9 °F. There are an average of 8.5 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 145.2 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high temperature of 115 °F was on July 12, 2011, and the record low temperature was -23 °F on January 4, 1981.

Precipitation averages 35.66 inches annually. There is measurable precipitation on an average of 142.1 days. The wettest year was 1905 with 46.12 inches and the driest year was 1930 with 18.01 inches. The most precipitation in one month was 10.90 in May 1989. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 5.37 inches on June 26, 1978.

Coldwater has a climate that is borderline between categories Dfa (hot summer) and Dfb (long, warm summer) in the Köppen climate classification.

Snowfall averages 54.5 inches annually. There is measurable snowfall on an average of 34.6 days. The snowiest season was 1977-78 when 84.8 inches fell, including 50.7 inches in January 1978. A blizzard that month included 17.0 inches of snow on January 26, 1978.[11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18704,381—
18804,6816.8%
18905,24712.1%
19006,21618.5%
19105,945−4.4%
19206,1142.8%
19306,73510.2%
19407,3439.0%
19508,59417.0%
19608,8803.3%
19709,1553.1%
19809,4613.3%
19909,6071.5%
200012,69732.2%
201010,945−13.8%
Est. 201912,215[3]11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 10,945 people, 4,255 households, and 2,628 families living in the city. The population density was 1,363.0 inhabitants per square mile (526.3/km2). There were 4,827 housing units at an average density of 601.1 per square mile (232.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.5% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 3.2% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of the population.

There were 4,255 households, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.2% were non-families. 32.4% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 35.2 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 12,697 people, 4,058 households, and 2,520 families living in the city. The population density was 1,562.5 per square mile (603.0/km2). There were 4,370 housing units at an average density of 537.8 per square mile (207.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% White, 8.42% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 3.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.52% of the population.

There were 4,058 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.9% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,913, and the median income for a family was $41,107. Males had a median income of $31,577 versus $22,088 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,833. About 6.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

Several seasonal annual festivals are held in Coldwater. The Ice Festival held in January features ice carvings, a chili-tasting competition, and other family activities.[13] The Strawberry fest held in June features many different foods made from strawberries and arts and crafts.[14] The Apple Fest held in September features home-baked goods made from apples and various arts and crafts.[15][16]

Tourism

The Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater was built in 1882; it is the second-oldest theater in Michigan. It was converted to a movie theater in the 1930s. In the 1960s a campaign began to restore its original use as a theater for live performances with the eventual goal of restoring its French Empire architecture. It is now a venue for a variety of cultural activities.[17]

The Wing House was built in 1875; it is now operated as a historical museum by the Branch County Historical Society.[18] The Little River Railroad offers rides behind a 1911-built steam locomotive, departing from the city's historic 1883 depot.[19]

Education
Waterworks Park in Coldwater, Michigan
  • Coldwater Community Schools, public school district for Coldwater
  • Pansophia Academy, charter school, grades K-12
  • St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, grades K-5
  • Legg Middle School, grades 6-8. Part of Coldwater Community Schools.
  • Branch Area Career Center, vocational training to high school students
  • Coldwater High School, grades 9-12. Part of Coldwater Community Schools.

Aside from the usual public and parochial schools, Coldwater has a branch of Kellogg Community College and Baker College.

Media

The newspaper published in Coldwater is The Daily Reporter.

Coldwater has radio stations WTVB and WNWN, whose studios are located south of town on Business Loop 69 that are part of the Kalamazoo radio area. There are no television stations broadcasting from within the county; Coldwater gets its television signals from the Kalamazoo-Grand Rapids-Battle Creek and Lansing-Jackson SMSAs in Michigan.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Air

Memorial Airport serves general aviation only.

Major highways
  • I-69. Coldwater is accessible from exits 10 (BL I-69, Fenn Road), 13 (US 12/BL I-69), and 16 (Jonesville Road). The city has expanded since 1967 when I-69 was completed in the area to incorporate the urban sprawl at exit 13.
  • BL I-69 runs through downtown Coldwater.
  • US 12 continues west to Sturgis and east toward the Hillsdale area.
  • M-86 runs west to Three Rivers.

Mass transit

Coldwater public bus transportation is provided by Branch Area Transit Authority (BATA).

Rail

Coldwater has an east-west railroad, but this is essentially a relic of one that led to Chicago and Detroit.

Notable people

Sister cities
gollark: There are the naïve enthusiastic people who go buy consumer IoT devices and them replace then when they inevitably stop being supported, the grizzled sysadmin/developer types who have seen the horrors of modern computing and don't trust it, the mystical few who are competent enough to run their own stuff and have it work, and people who want to be/think they are that but who spend all their time recompiling the kernel on their smart fridge.
gollark: https://pics.me.me/i-work-in-it-which-is-the-reason-our-house-41514357.png
gollark: There are multiple kinds of tech enthusiast.
gollark: A lot of the time you're just doing boring drudgery integrating other already-existing things, which will soon be significantly automated I think. Sometimes you actually need to spend time thinking about clever algorithms to do a thing, or how to make your thing go faster, or why your code mysteriously doesn't work, which is harder.
gollark: It's mentally challenging, sometimes, but obviously not particularly physically hard.

See also

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. WTVB (2011). "Branch County Census Figures Released". WTVB AM 1590 News. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. "A Brief History of Coldwater". City of Coldwater. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  9. "Historic Dates of Coldwater". City of Coldwater. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  11. "UIUI.edu". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. "COLDWATER ICE FESTIVA". Michigan Apple Committee. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  14. "Strawberry Fest and Car Show". Events Media Network, Inc. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  15. "Events". Michigan Apple Committee. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  16. "Festivals". Coldwater Country Conference & Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  17. "Tibbits Opera House". Tibbits Opera House. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  18. "Wing House Museum". Wing House Museum. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  19. "Little River Railroad". Little River Railroad. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  20. "AUTO RACING;Brayton Killed in Crash During Indy 500 Practice". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  21. Frank, Louis Frederick (1915). The Medical History of Milwaukee: 1834-1914. Germania Publishing Company. p. xx. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  22. The Society (1908). Historical Collections, Volume 14. The Society. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  23. "Hawley Harvey Crippen". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  24. "Coldwater, Michigan". City-Data.com. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  25. Collin, Rev. Henry P. (1906). A TWENTIETH CENTURY History and Biographical Record OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN. REV. HENRY P. COLLIN, M. A. p. 622. Retrieved 21 June 2014. Samuel Etheridge coldwater mi.
  26. "Michigan woman declared world's oldest". The Blade. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  27. Michigan. Legislature, and Ellsworth, Fannie (1905). In Memory of Hon. Cyrus Gray Luce: Ex-governor of the State of Michigan : Proceedings of the Senate and the House of Representatives : Biographical Sketch by Mrs. Fannie E. Newberry. authority of the Legislature. p. 73. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  28. "Pierson Family Papers 1821-1996". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.
  29. Ashlee, Laura R. (2005). Traveling Through Time: A Guide to Michigan's Historical Markers. University of Michigan Press. p. 52. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  30. "Coldwater, Michigan". City-Data.com. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  31. "Tim Welke – Crew Chief – 3". MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved June 17, 2014.


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