Manchester, Michigan Explained

Manchester, Michigan
Official Name:City of Manchester
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Michigan#USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Label:Manchester
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Michigan
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Washtenaw
Government Type:Council–manager
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Patricia Vailliencourt
Leader Title1:Clerk
Leader Name1:Brittany Kuhnle
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1833
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1867 (village)
2023 (city)
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:5.81
Area Land Km2:5.51
Area Water Km2:0.31
Area Total Sq Mi:2.24
Area Land Sq Mi:2.13
Area Water Sq Mi:0.12
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:2037
Population Density Km2:369.82
Population Density Sq Mi:957.69
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation M:274
Elevation Ft:899
Coordinates:42.1494°N -84.0339°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code(s)
Postal Code:48158
Area Code:734
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:26-50660[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0631375

Manchester is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,037 at the 2020 census.[3] The city is located within Manchester Township.

Settled as early as 1833, Manchester incorporated as a village in 1867.[4] On November 7, 2023, 66 percent of village residents voted in favor of incorporating Manchester as an autonomous city.[5] Manchester officially became a city on November 15, 2023 with the mayor and city councilmembers sworn into office on November 20, 2023.[6]

History

Chicago Road

In 1824 the United States Congress passed the General Survey Act, intended to create and maintain military roads through what was then the west of the country. One third of the funds allocated went to build a road between the strategic army posts of Detroit and Fort Dearborn, at the little town of Chicago. Known as the Chicago Road, it followed the old Sauk Trail and opened the entire area for settlement.

Also in 1824, the land around today's Manchester was surveyed by John Mack, who noted it as being "a good mill seat." John Gilbert, who had recently completed work on sections of the Erie Canal, agreed with John Mack, and on May 10, 1826 he purchased of land along the Raisin River at that location.[7]

Early village history

Originally from upstate New York, John Gilbert resettled to Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1831. In 1832, he decided to turn his attention to the extensive land tracts he held in the area. He commissioned the construction of a grist mill along the River Raisin upon the land he had purchased in 1826. The original plat of the village of Manchester was prepared by surveyor Hiram Burnham and dated 1833, but was not formally filed until March 25, 1835. The location was chosen to take advantage of water power from the river and named after Manchester, New York.[7]

Soulesville

In 1833, James Soule purchased a large tract of land about 1miles downstream from Manchester.[8] He built a small settlement he named Soulesville. Though the two settlements initially competed against each other, on March 16, 1867, both settlements were incorporated into the village of Manchester.[9] The Manchester Village Office and Manchester Public Library are located on the site of the former settlement.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Manchester has a total area of 2.24sqmi, of which 2.13sqmi is land and 0.12sqmi (5.35%) is water.[1]

The River Raisin flows through the city.

Major highways

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 2,091 people, 938 households, and 570 families living in the village. The population density was 986.3PD/sqmi. There were 1,029 housing units at an average density of 485.4/sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 938 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the village was 41.3 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.8% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,160 people, 900 households, and 584 families living in the village. The population density was 1201.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 949 housing units at an average density of 528sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the village was 98.24% White, 0.37% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 900 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $46,974, and the median income for a family was $56,875. Males had a median income of $43,438 versus $27,396 for females. The per capita income for the village was $24,113. About 4.3% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Michigan Lutheran Seminary first opened in Manchester 1885 but moved to Lansing two years later.[11] [12]

Manchester is served by its own school district, Manchester Community Schools. The district contains three schools—Luther C. Klager Elementary School, Riverside Intermediate School, and Manchester Junior & Senior High School—all of which are located within the city boundaries. The district serves a very large area that includes portions of several neighboring townships.[13]

Notable people

External links

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. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  3. Web site: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Manchester village, Michigan. United States Census Bureau. July 6, 2012.
  4. Book: Walter . Romig . Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities . Paperback . 1973 . October 1, 1986 . . 978-0-8143-1838-6 . Detroit, Michigan. 346.
  5. News: . MLive . Washtenaw County gained a city, elected new leadership during Nov. 7 election . 8 November 2023 . November 10, 2023 .
  6. https://vil-manchester.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/December-2023-Newsletter.pdf
  7. Web site: dhowell . Major John Gilbert – The Founder of Manchester (Part 1 of 2) . Manchester Area Historical Society . 2008-07-11 . 2013-10-17.
  8. Web site: dhowell . Soulesville . Manchester Area Historical Society . 2007-04-20 . 2013-10-17.
  9. Web site: dhowell . Burr Oak Openings . Manchester Area Historical Society . 2007-04-20 . 2013-10-17.
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-11-25.
  11. Book: Scheuerlein, Don H.. Like A Seed That Is Sown: An Abridged History of Michigan Lutheran Seminary–1885-1982. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Essay File. 1982. Mequon, Wisconsin. 1–4.
  12. Book: Zeiger, William E.. Michigan Lutheran Seminary: Past, Present, and Future. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Essay File. 2008. Mequon, Wisconsin. 4–5.
  13. Web site: Michigan Geographic Framework. Washtenaw County School Districts. https://web.archive.org/web/20140821052228/http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_WASHTENAW%20COUNTY.pdf . 2014-08-21 . live. 15 November 2013. July 22, 2021.
  14. Web site: BEAMAN, Fernando Cortez, (1814–1882) . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . February 23, 2014.
  15. Web site: Patrick Chapin Hall of Fame. Magic.gg . May 16, 2024.
  16. Web site: Nick Davis. Pro-Football.com . February 23, 2014.
  17. Web site: Michigan Governor John Burley Swainson . National Governors Association. February 23, 2014.