Davison, Michigan Explained

Davison, Michigan
Official Name:City of Davison
Nickname:City of Flags
Pushpin Map:Michigan
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Label:Davison
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Michigan
Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Michigan
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Genesee
Government Type:Council–manager
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Tim Bishop
Leader Title1:City manager
Leader Name1:Andrea Schroeder
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:1889 (village)
1938 (city)
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:5.14
Area Total Sq Mi:1.99
Area Land Km2:5.14
Area Land Sq Mi:1.99
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Settlement Type:City
Population Total:5143
Population Density Km2:999.70
Population Density Sq Mi:2589.63
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:43.0311°N -83.5169°W
Elevation M:242
Elevation Ft:794
Postal Code Type:ZIP code(s)
Postal Code:48423
Area Code:810
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:26-19880[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0624356[3]
Unit Pref:Imperial

Davison is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Flint. The population was 5,536 at the 2000 census and fell to 5,173 by the 2010 census.[4] Davison is located within Davison Township survey township area (7N 8E), but is administratively autonomous.

Davison was named after Judge Norman Davison, a judge of Lapeer County and a delegate to state constitution convention of 1835.[5] He resided in a nearby hamlet formerly known as Davisonville, now known as Atlas.

History

Davison Station

Township section 3, 9 and 10 was Davison Station, which was first settled in 1842 by Eleazer Thurston in section 10. The line of the Chicago and Lake Huron Railroad (now Canadian National Railway) through the settlement was finished in 1871 marked the beginning of Davison Station. The first saw mill in the township was also built here that year by Dunn and Darling. The township and the settlement had in 1872 a number of firsts: doctor, L. W. Hanson, merchant Damon Stewart and tavern owned and operated by Henry S. Rising.[6] On, Davison Station post office open[7] with Stewart as the postmaster.[6] The Free Will Baptist Church, formed in 1859 at and hosted at Herrick Schoolhouse two miles away, moved to a frame church building in the village in 1872.[6]

In 1873, a cheese factory and flouring mill opened.[6] The Davison Station post office was renamed to just Davison on .[7]

Davison Village

Davison was incorporated as a village on May 20, 1889. On April 30, 1894, part of downtown, dubbed the Rotten Row, caught fire and wiped the section out. By 1895, the village had a Rosemoor Park with a race track used for horse then add cars.[8] In 1916, the village had an auditorium, a state bank, Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, four churches, the Catholic, the Methodist Episcopal, the Free Methodist and the Baptist. The estimated population was 700.[5] Rosemoor Park began in 1919 hold the county fair every year except one until 1938.

Davison City

Davison separated itself from Davison Township by incorporating as a city on . In 1943, Rosemoor Park closed permanently. The track's owner in 1946 developed a subdivision on the track property.[8]

In January 2010, it was announced that Davison City Manager Dale Martin and Davison Township, Michigan Supervisor Kurt Soper had begun preliminary meetings discussing the possibility of merging the two municipalities.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.98sqmi, all land.[9]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,173 people, 2,371 households, and 1,314 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,617.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 1.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

The 2010 census lists 2,371 households, out of which 640 (27%) had children under the age of 18 living with them, 837 (35.3%) were married couples living together, 349 (14.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 1,057 (44.6%) were non-families. 936 (39.5%) of all households were made up of individuals, and 492 (18.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.91. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% aged birth to 19, 12.1% from 20 to 29, 12.6% from 30 to 39, 13.1% from 40 to 49, 13% 50 to 59, 11.1% from 60 to 69, and 12.1% who were 70 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years.

According to the American Community Survey,[10] 2010, The median income for a household in the city was $37,793, and the mean income for a household was $48,643. The per capita income for the city was $23,132. About 14.5% of families and 17.5% of the city population were below the poverty line, with 26.6% of those being under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The municipality operates its own well water system.[11]

The city has a council-manager government, with the position of city manager currently being held by Andrea Schroeder.[12] The Davison City Council is composed of 7 members, including the mayor. The Mayor of Davison, a position currently held by Tim Bishop, is mostly titular, with most of the executive power being vested in the city manager.[13]

City Council Members

!Name!Title
Tim BishopMayor
Ron EmeryMayor Pro Tem
Daryl Simpson Councilman
Stacey KaliszCouncilwoman
Tina Shephard Councilwoman
Chris HinkleyCouncilman
David PerryCouncilman

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. May 21, 2022.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  4. Web site: Davison (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau . Quickfacts.census.gov . 2014-07-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201949/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26/2619880.html . 2014-07-14 . dead .
  5. Book: Wood. Edwin O.. History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions. 1916. Michigan Historical Commission. May 1, 2015. XXVI Villages of Genesee County.
  6. Book: Ellis. Franklin. History of Genesee County, Michigan: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. 1879. Everts & Abbott. 398–405. May 1, 2015. Davison.
  7. Ellis, David M. Michigan Postal History, The Post Offices 1805-1986. 12-Dec-1993. Via
  8. News: Acosta . Roberto . Davison group keeps hold on past as city approaches 125th birthday . June 14, 2019 . Flint Journal . Mlive Media Group . April 13, 2014.
  9. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-11-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . 2012-01-25 .
  10. Web site: American Community Survey. US Census Bureau ACSO Web Staff.
  11. News: Adams. Dominic. Flint monthly water and sewer bills highest in Genesee County by $35. April 2, 2015. The Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. June 27, 2014.
  12. Web site: City Manager Davison, MI - Official Website. 2020-10-13. www.cityofdavison.org.
  13. Web site: City Council Davison, MI - Official Website. 2020-10-13. www.cityofdavison.org.
  14. Web site: 2015 Michigan Notable Books .
  15. Web site: 'A John Sinclair Reader' — 50 years of poetry, prose .