DeWitt, Michigan

DeWitt is the name of a city in Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population of the city was 4,507 at the 2010 census.

DeWitt, Michigan
City
Location of DeWitt, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°50′10″N 84°34′32″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyClinton
Government
 • TypeMayor–council[1]
 • MayorSue Leeming [2]
Area
 • Total2.98 sq mi (7.72 km2)
 • Land2.84 sq mi (7.35 km2)
 • Water0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2)
Elevation
830 ft (253 m)
Population
 • Total4,507
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
4,808
 • Density1,694.75/sq mi (654.29/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
48820
Area code(s)517
FIPS code26-22120[6]
GNIS feature ID0624400[7]
Websitewww.dewittmi.org

The city is located north of Interstate 69, and west of US Highway 127, just north of Lansing.

History

DeWitt was named after DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York during the 1820s. It was first settled by Captain David Scott, who moved there from Ann Arbor in 1833, and platted the land. The State Legislature formally created DeWitt Township on March 23, 1836. The first township meeting was held at the house of Captain Scott on April 8, 1836. A gentleman by the name of Welcome J. Partelo was named the township's first Supervisor at that meeting.

It did not take long for the state to divide DeWitt Township into the many townships that we recognize today. In 1837, the township was split in half by a north–south line; the western half became Watertown Township. Two years later, the township was again split in half by an east–west line, and the northern half became Bingham Township. One day later, the governor approved an act, which split the remaining township area in half by an east–west line, and the eastern half became Ossowa Township (renamed Bath Township in 1857). The final split of the township came in 1841 when the northern half of the remaining land became Olive Township. In four years, DeWitt Township went from encompassing the entire county to its current boundary.

The county seat for Clinton County was also located in DeWitt Township from the inception of the county. The county seat remained in DeWitt Township until December 1857 when it was moved to high Hall, in the village of St. Johns, until a new courthouse could be built.

In the early 1900s, the Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway opened the community to a new era of prosperity. It was not until 1929 when the town was incorporated as a village, and then was no longer under the full jurisdiction of the township.[8]

The area that is now the city was first incorporated as a village in 1929.

On October 21, 1930, a great fire swept though the downtown business district, destroying eight historic and business buildings. This included the destruction of the Clinton House/Hotel, which was a regionally famous establishment. The fire devastated the community, stagnating business growth once again. However, residential development did not slow, and thus DeWitt began its evolvement into the bedroom community that it is today.

The Village of Dewitt was incorporated into a city in 1965.

The DeWitt area was ranked as the 75th best place to live in the United States by CNN Money in 2005.[9]

Notable people

Dewitt is the home of gymnast Jordyn Wieber, who was part of the gold medal winning women's gymnastics team at the 2012 London Olympics.

Dewitt was the home of Medal of Honor recipient Oscar G. Johnson, who was given the nation's highest military honor for his acts of valor in September 1944 when he single-handedly fought off attacking Nazis and saved his unit.

Youtuber and voice actor SungWon Cho grew up in DeWitt.

Geography

DeWitt is on the Looking Glass River, a tributary of the Grand River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.99 square miles (7.74 km2), of which 2.86 square miles (7.41 km2) is land and 0.13 square miles (0.34 km2) is water.[10]

Education

The city is home to the following schools, which are divided among grade levels:

  • Fuerstenau Early Childhood Center (Pre-K)
  • Schavey Road Elementary School (Kindergarten and 1st grade)
  • Scott Elementary School (2nd and 3rd grades)
  • Herbison Woods School (4th and 5th grades)
  • DeWitt Middle School (6th-8th grades)
  • DeWitt High School (9th-12th grades)

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880284—
1930476—
194065136.8%
195082426.6%
19601,23850.2%
19701,82947.7%
19803,16573.0%
19903,96425.2%
20004,70218.6%
20104,507−4.1%
Est. 20194,808[5]6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 4,507 people, 1,732 households, and 1,314 families living in the city. The population density was 1,575.9 inhabitants per square mile (608.5/km2). There were 1,808 housing units at an average density of 632.2 per square mile (244.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 1.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 1,732 households, of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.1% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 32.4% were from 45 to 64; and 9.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 4,702 people, 1,624 households, and 1,307 families living in the city. The population density was 1,641.3 per square mile (634.8/km2). There were 1,661 housing units at an average density of 579.8 per square mile (224.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 1.02% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.55% of the population.

There were 1,624 households, out of which 50.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $69,174, and the median income for a family was $78,935. Males had a median income of $51,409 versus $35,545 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,997. About 3.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, DeWitt has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[11]

gollark: From RFTools.
gollark: Powercells, probably.
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gollark: How can I tell why an advanced carpenter isn't advanced carpenting?
gollark: Also the orechid.

References
  1. "DeWitt, City > Elected Officials". City of DeWitt. Retrieved Dec 15, 2019.
  2. "DeWitt, City > Elected Officials > Mayor". City of DeWitt. Retrieved Dec 15, 2019.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. DeWitt History Timeline Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine,
  9. Best places to live: DeWitt, MI, CNN.
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  11. Climate Summary for DeWitt, Michigan

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