Tecumseh, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Tecumseh, Michigan
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Tecumseh, Michigan


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Lenawee

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 14.0
area_land_km2 = 13.4
area_water_km2 = 0.6
area_total_sq_mi = 5.4
area_land_sq_mi = 5.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 8574
population_density_km2 = 640.7
population_density_sq_mi = 1659.4

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 245
elevation_ft = 804
latd = 42 |latm = 0 |lats = 22 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 56 |longs = 58 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 49286
area_code = 517
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-79120GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1614652GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Tecumseh is a small city in Lenawee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated where M-50 crosses the River Raisin, a few miles east of M-52. Tecumseh is about 60 miles SW of Detroit, 25 miles south of Ann Arbor and 40 miles north of Toledo, OH.

As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,574. The city is surrounded on three sides by Tecumseh Township, but is politically independent. Raisin Township borders the southern edge of the city.

History

The boundaries of Lenawee County were laid out by a proclamation of the Territorial Governor, Lewis Cass on September 10, 1822. Lenawee remained attached to Monroe County, out of which it was formed, until an act of the Territorial Legislature passed on December 26, 1826, organized the county government. The first settlement in the county was made two years earlier, on May 21, 1824, in Tecumseh. The settlers, consisting of fifteen men, eleven women, and six children, all came from Jefferson County, New York. In 1823, Musgrove Evans had located the land and persuaded General Joseph W. Brown and the others to move to the site. Brown and Evans, along with Austin Eli Wing purchased land there and platted the village of Tecumseh in 1824. These founders appealed to Governor Cass to locate the county seat of Lenawee at Tecumseh. This was accomplished by an act of the Territorial Legislature on June 30, 1824, even though county government would not be organized for another year and a half. Tecumseh would remain the county seat until 1838, when it was transferred to Adrian. The Township of Tecumseh was organized on April 12, 1837, initially encompassing the entire northern third of the county.

Among the noteworthy events which have occurred in Tecumseh is the world famous Dynamic Kernels tithing project. A local mill owner, Perry Hayden, planted a cubic inch of wheat and donated 10% of the harvest to the church and replanted the remainder. He continued this for the following 6 years, resting on the 7th. The amount of land needed for the final crop exceeded 2000 acres. Henry Ford donated much of the necessary land as did many local farmers. The project received much attention including a feature in Life magazine.

A horse, Don Juan, that belonged to the General George Armstrong Custer is buried in Tecumseh, the horse having been sent to a friend living there after the General's death.

One of the village's most well-known manufacturers is Tecumseh Products. Founded by the Herrick family during the early part of the 20th century, Tecumseh Products initially began business manufacturing refrigeration compressors. Today, Tecumseh is known as the "refrigeration capitol of the world."

Geography

Tecumseh is located in Southeast Michigan. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14.0 km²), of which, 5.2 square miles (13.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (4.26%) is water.

Highways

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Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 8,574 people, 3,499 households, and 2,337 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,659.4 per square mile (640.3/km²). There were 3,651 housing units at an average density of 706.6/sq mi (272.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 0.19% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.40% of the population.

There were 3,499 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $58,239. Males had a median income of $39,672 versus $27,630 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,797. About 3.5% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city of Tecumseh is home to Tecumseh Public Schools which includes 1 traditional high school (grades 9-12), 1 alternative high school, 1 middle school (grades 5-8), and 4 elementary schools (grades K-4).

The Tecumseh High School Girl's Softball Team won both the 2007 and 2008 division II state championships.

The Tecumseh High School Men's Lacrosse Team won the 2002 state championship

Other facts

Infamous American serial killer Henry Lee Lucas murdered his mother in Tecumseh on January 12, 1960.

Points of interest

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Tecumseh Area Historical Museum

Hidden Lake Gardens

ee also

William Tecumseh Sherman

References

*Millard, Alfred L., " [http://name.umdl.umich.edu/arh7753.0001.001 Early history of Lenawee County and of the city of Adrian from the first settlement of the county] " Adrian, Mich.: Times and Expositor Steam Print, 1876. Republished Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Library, 2005.
*Bonner, Richard Illenden. " [http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bad0968.0001.001 Memoirs of Lenawee County, Michigan: from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Lenawee County] ". Madison, Wisconsin: Western Historical Association, 1909. Republished Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Library, 2005.
* Knapp, John I. with Richard Illenden Bonner" [http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bad0970.0001.001 Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich.] " Adrian, Mich.: The Times printing company, 1903. Republished Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Library, 2005.
*" [http://name.umdl.umich.edu/BAD0971.0001.001 Portrait and biographical album of Lenawee County, Mich.] " Chicago: Chapman brothers, 1888. Republished Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Library, 2005.

External links

* [http://www.tecumseh.mi.us/tecumseh/index.asp City of Tecumseh government]
* [http://www.historictecumseh.org/ Tecumseh Area Historical Society]
* [http://www.lenconnect.com/ The Daily Telegram]
* [http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=2078 The Tecumseh Herald]
* [http://www.lenawee.mi.us/ Lenawee County government site]
* [http://www.lenaweehistory.com/ Complete text of "History of Lenawee County" published in 1909 by the Western Historical Society]
* [http://www.visitlenawee.com/ Lenawee County Conference & Visitors Bureau]