Eaton Rapids, Michigan

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


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

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 9.0
area_land_km2 = 8.8
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 3.5
area_land_sq_mi = 3.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5330
population_density_km2 = 608.8
population_density_sq_mi = 1576.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 265
elevation_ft = 869
latd = 42 |latm = 30 |lats = 24 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 39 |longs = 20 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 48827
area_code = 517
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-24540GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0625314 [gnis|0625314]
website =
footnotes =

Eaton Rapids is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,330 at the 2000 census.

The city is located in the south of Eaton Rapids Township, on the boundary with Hamlin Township, though it is politically independent of both townships.

History

Eaton Rapids was first founded by American settlers in 1835. The land was attractive to these pioneers because it only cost $1.25 an acre. People were first brought to the city by its location on the river and its appealing timber. Within the first year a sawmill was created. Soon Eaton Rapids was a bustling village with promising agricultural opportunities. Eaton Rapids was referred to as the Saratoga of the west. [ [http://www.eatonrapidsmi.net/history.html Eaton Rapids homepage] ]

In 1927, Oldsmobile President Irving Jacob Reuter and his wife Janet built Meadowvue, an English Tudor mansion, at which they lived for nine years. Mr. Reuter was also a financier and inventor. The Reuters donated substantial sums to charity.

The property was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing, and became the home of its first Bishop, the Most Reverend Joseph H. Albers as his private residence. [ [http://www.dioceseoflansing.org/bishop/history.html Archdiocese of Lansing home page and history] ] The home was later sold to CJ and Mille Sumner who furnished the home with antiques and opened the home as an unusually ornate Adult Foster Care Home which they named "Ivy Manor". The home was sold again in 1990 and made into a Bed and Breakfast. In 1991 it was listed in the state List of Registered Historic Places in Michigan. [ [http://www.englishinn.com/History.htm English Inn history page] ] The original convert|10000|sqft|m2|sing=on building, complete with many of the original antique furnishings, and is 15 acres of garden and pastoral countryside located on the river, are open to the public as a restaurant and bed and breakfast and are a tourist destination. See Irving Jacob Reuter.

Geography

Eaton Rapids is on the northward course of the Grand River as it flows from Jackson to Lansing, where it turns westward, at its confluence with the Spring Brook. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²), of which, 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.15%) is water.

Geographic features

*Grand River

Transportation

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,330 people, 2,067 households, and 1,399 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,576.9 per square mile (608.9/km²). There were 2,168 housing units at an average density of 641.4/sq mi (247.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.12% White, 0.38% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 2,067 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 27.4% 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 2.57 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,769, and the median income for a family was $48,239. Males had a median income of $37,582 versus $29,440 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,446. About 3.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.eatonrapidschamber.com/ Eaton Rapids Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.ci.eaton-rapids.mi.us Official Eaton Rapids, City Web Site]