Grand Ledge is a city in the US state of Michigan. The town is mostly located in Eaton County, although a small part extends to Clinton County, and sits on the Grand River 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers) directly west of downtown Lansing. The population is 7,786 in the 2010 census. The city is famous for, and named for, 300-million-year-old rocks, sandstone and quartzite rocks that climb 60 feet (18 m) above the Grand River and used by recreational mountain climbers.
Video Grand Ledge, Michigan
History
Native American Settlement
Native Americans living around the Grand River near the shore are descendants of Pottawatomi, Chippewa, and Ottawa. They dug a lump in the river, mined coal on the banks of the river, and hunted deer, turkeys, foxes, and bears. They also fished for black bass. Their name for the edge is translated into English as "Big Rocks".
White Settlement
Based on preliminary notes, Hugh Heward was the first white man to explore this area with a river and recorded his findings. His journal describes sandstone edges as having high banks, some pine trees and heavy wood with the best places to make syrup and some small islands. In 1847 Henry Trench settled in what became the center of the city of Grand Ledge. However, after a few years he returned to the east. In 1850 settlers named their village Grand Ledge, and established the Post Office. In 1869, a train reached the northern end of the village. In 1871, the village was founded by the state of Michigan.
The Resort Era
The 1870s saw the emergence of Grand Ledge as a Michigan resort destination. Upon arrival of the railway, John Burtch founded the Seven Islands Resort in 1872. The resort opened with the Dolly Varden transport vessel and a small boarding house on Second Island. Several mineral wells were also drilled and a local doctor explained about the medicinal qualities of water. In 1877 S.M. Hewings bought Seven Islands Resort and the following year built the Island House Hotel on Second Island. In 1880, Julian Scott Mudge bought the Seven Islands Resort. To minimize the flood damage from the Grand River, Mudge built a new dam in 1887. In 1888, Railroad Trestle or High Bridge was built to carry trains south of the river and Grand Ledge became the second city in Michigan, after Lansing, to get electric lights. At that time an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 visitors come to the Seven Islands Resort every year.
Golden Age
In 1891 Mudge built a roller coaster on the Islands. It is believed to be the first coaster in Michigan. Located on the first island under the bridge is an animal park with bears and deer. The second island became the resort's resort center and hosted the hotel with its Victorian square tower, picnic area and fountain. The second and third islands join together through a causeway and a large built pavilion that serves as a ballroom and theater for Vaudeville's first action. The resort also features a merry-go-round and a stage. Mudge's most notable improvement is the construction of a building he calls "The Round House". The three-storey pagoda tower was built right on the edge of Pulau Dua; half of the tower foundations are on the island and half built into the river. During development, he guarded the purpose of an unusual secret structure. This led to much speculation in the local community. Mudge has finally revealed the grand plan behind his Round House design. The tower was designed to play a second story with a slow pace, while the third story is played faster and topped off by a centrifugal swing that will be spinning adventure riders over the river. The fourth, fifth, and sixth islands are left wild and the seventh is the favorite picnic spot by sailors. A total of 75 ships sailed the Great River at Grand Ledge and the river boat boat waded up and down the river between the second island and the dam. The dam, built in 1887, ensures an appropriate water level for the operation of steamers. A total of nine hotels provide accommodation for visitors and Pere Marquette Railroad offers travel rates to Seven Island Resort, which according to early records, is second in popularity only to Petoskey.
Flooding Spring '93 and Mudge's Folly
Severe floods damaged the Roundhouse in 1893. In the final stages of construction during the devastating spring floods, large amounts of winter ice pushed buildings from their foundations and nearly toppled over. Although the building was kept, the mechanisms of the destroyed building and building potential never occurred. The Round House remains somewhat and becomes the most recognizable symbol of the entire resort era. "This building has been called Mudge's Folly.This has a double meaning.While ignorance can be an expensive and stupid business, it can also describe beautiful structures built as ornaments, but without a real purpose."
Maps Grand Ledge, Michigan
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ​​3.65 square miles (9.45 km 2 ), where 3.57 square miles (9,25 km 2 ) is ground and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km 2 ) is water.
Transportation
Highway
- M-43 is connected to Lansing on the east.
- M-100 functions as a connector to I-96 in the north and I-69 in the south.
Airport
The Abrams Municipal Airport (FAA LID: 4D0 ) is a city-owned public airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) north of the Grand Ledge business district district. The airport is accessible by road from the Eaton Highway, and is located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) south of Interstate 96, just east of the M-100.
Demographics
census 2010
At the 2010 census, there were 7,786 people, 3,357 households, and 2,063 families living in the city. Population density was 2,181.0 inhabitants per square mile (842.1/km 2 ). There are 3,656 housing units with an average density of 1,024.1 per square mile (395.4/km 2 ). City's racial makeup is 94.4% White, 0.9% African American, 0.5% Native Americans, 0.8% Asia, 0.1% Pacific Island, 0.9% of other races, and 2.5 % of two or more races. Hispanic or Latin from any race of 4.6% of the population.
There are 3,357 households that 31.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43,1% are married couples living together, 13,6% have unmarried women's households, 4.7% housewife without wife's presence, and 38.5% are non-family. 33.1% of all households are individuals and 13.5% have a single person who is 65 or older. The average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 2.93.
The average age in the city is 38.8 years. 24.3% of the population is under 18 years of age; 9% were between 18 and 24; 25.7% are from 25 to 44; 27% are from 45 to 64; and 14.1% were 65 years old or older. City gender makeup is 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
census 2000
In the 2000 census, there were 7,813 people, 3,262 households, and 2,123 families living in the city. Population density was 2,199.2 per square mile (849.8/km²). There are 3,405 housing units with an average density of 958.4 per square mile (370.3/km ²). City's racial makeup is 96.33% White, 0.44% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Island, 0.78% of other races, and 1.46 % of two or more races. Hispanic or Latin of any race is 2.61% of the population.
There are 3,262 households where 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% are married couples living together, 13.0% have non-husbands female households, and 34.9% are not family. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city, the population is spread by 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% years or more. The average age is 35 years. For every 100 women, there are 92.2 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 87.3 men.
The average income for households in the city is $ 47,043, and the average income for families is $ 55,727. Men have an average income of $ 44,255 compared to $ 29,503 for women. The per capita income for the city is $ 22,438. About 6.3% of families and 9.3% of the population are below the poverty line, including 12.5% ​​of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those aged 65 and older.
Education
The Grand Ledge school district was founded in 1886. The district consists of a 125-square-mile (320 km) area centered 10 miles (16 km) west of Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. In the school district is the City of Grand Ledge, the community of Delta Mills, Mulliken, Wacousta and Eagle, as well as most Delta Cities. The school district, which is mainly in Eaton County, also covers parts of Clinton and Ionia. Schools in the Grand Ledge district consist of two early childhood centers and kindergartens, four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The Grand Ledge High School Mascot is a Comet. The total population of districts is 31,000.
Rock climbing
Oak Park at Grand Ledge is one of the few places to climb in Michigan, making it a popular destination for local climbers. Sandstone cliffs along the river have nearly 100 routes ranging from base (5.2) to very difficult (5.13).
Famous people
- Paul Baribeau, musician
- Reid Boucher, NHL player
- Frank Fitzgerald, Governor of Michigan
- Frank M. Fitzgerald, lawyer and legislator
- John Warner Fitzgerald, jurist
- John Wesley Fitzgerald, entrepreneur and legislator
- Matt Greene, the NHL player
- Al Horford, NBA player
References
External links
- The official city of the Grand Ledge website
- Trade Chamber of the Grand Ledge Area
- Grand Ledge Public School
- Grand Ledge Public School - SPORTS
- Grand Ledge Teacher
- Historic Grand Ledge Opera House
- Historical Society of Grand Ledge Area
- Annual Victoria Day Event
- Michigan History Center
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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