| Coldwater, Michigan | |
| Official Name: | City of Coldwater |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | top |
| Pushpin Label: | Coldwater |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States |
| Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Name1: | Michigan |
| Subdivision Name2: | Branch |
| Government Footnotes: | [1] |
| Government Type: | Council–manager |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Thomas Kramer |
| Leader Title1: | Clerk |
| Leader Name1: | Keith Baker |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1830 |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | 1837 (village) 1861 (city) |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 9.99 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 9.65 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.34 |
| Area Total Km2: | 25.87 |
| Area Land Km2: | 25.00 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.88 |
| Population Footnotes: | [3] |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 13822 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1432.33 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Coordinates: | 41.94°N -85°W |
| Elevation M: | 294 |
| Elevation Ft: | 965 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 49036 |
| Area Code: | 517 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-17020[4] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0623568 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Coldwater is a city in and county seat of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan.[5] The city had a population of 13,822 at the 2020 census.[3] The city is mostly surrounded by Coldwater Township, but the two are administered autonomously.
American settlers first moved into the area around 1830, with many arriving from New York and New England.[6] Coldwater was incorporated as a village in 1837, and then incorporated by the legislature as a city in 1861.[7] It was designated in 1842 as the county seat of Branch County.[6]
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 8.27sqmi, of which 8.03sqmi is land and 0.24sqmi is water.[8]
Under the Köppen climate classification Coldwater has a humid continental climate that is borderline between categories Dfa (hot summer) and Dfb (long, warm summer).
National Weather Service records show that average January temperatures are a maximum of 30.9°F and a minimum of 15.9°F. Average July temperatures are a maximum of 81.9°F and a minimum of 59.9°F. There are an average of 7.4 afternoons with highs of 90°F or higher and an average of 136.2 days with lows of 32°F or lower. The record high temperature of 108°F was on July 24, 1934, and the record low temperature was NaN°F on January 31, 2019.
Precipitation averages 39.12inches annually. There is measurable precipitation on an average of 145 days. The wettest year was 2018 with 47.12inches and the driest year was 1930 with 17.94inches. The most precipitation in one month was 13.07inches in August 2007. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 5.37inches on June 26, 1978.
Snowfall averages 42.7inches annually. There is measurable snowfall on an average of 27.5 days. The snowiest season was from July 1977 to June 1978 when 84.8inches fell, including 50.7inches in January 1978. A blizzard that month included 17inches of snow on January 26, 1978.
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 10,945 people, 4,255 households, and 2,628 families living in the city. The population density was 1363PD/sqmi. There were 4,827 housing units at an average density of 601.1/sqmi. 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.
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,697 people, 4,058 households, and 2,520 families living in the city. The population density was 1562.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,370 housing units at an average density of 537.8sp=usNaNsp=us. 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.
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.[10] The Strawberry fest held in June features many different foods made from strawberries and arts and crafts.[11] The Apple Fest held in September features home-baked goods made from apples and various arts and crafts.[12] [13]
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.[14]
The Wing House was built in 1875; it is now operated as a historical museum by the Branch County Historical Society.[15] The Little River Railroad offers rides behind a 1911-built steam locomotive, departing from the city's historic 1883 depot.[16]
Aside from the usual public and parochial schools, Coldwater has a branch of Kellogg Community College and Baker College.
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.
Memorial Airport serves general aviation only.
Coldwater public bus transportation is provided by Branch Area Transit Authority (BATA).
Coldwater has an east–west railroad, but this is essentially a relic of one that led to Chicago and Detroit.