Freeland, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Freeland, Michigan
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Freeland, Michigan


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

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 17.4
area_land_km2 = 17.3
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 6.7
area_land_sq_mi = 6.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5147
population_density_km2 = 297.2
population_density_sq_mi = 769.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 189
elevation_ft = 620
latd = 43 |latm = 31 |lats = 27 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 7 |longs = 25 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 48623
area_code = 989
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-30540GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0626455gnis|0626455website =
footnotes =

Freeland is an unincorporated community in Tittabawassee Township, Saginaw County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place (CDP) used for statistical purposes. As of the 2000 census, the community population was 5,147.

It is the location of MBS International Airport, which serves three major nearby cities: Saginaw, Bay City and Midland.

It is also the location of the Saginaw County Correctional Facility, which is a level I, II and IV maximum security prison.

History

The place was home to Native Americans long before the arrival of settlers of European ancestry. In the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw, in which the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomi ceded a large portion of land including Saginaw County to the United States federal government. In that treaty, within the ceded territory, several tracts were reserved for specific groups of Chippewa. One such tract, Black Bird's Village, consisted of 6,000 acres (24 km²) on the Tittawabassee (named as the Tetabawasink river in the text of the treaty), very near to the present location of Freeland. [Mills, James Cooke. "History of Saginaw County". Saginaw, Michigan: Seemann & Peters, 1918. [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;q1=Freeland;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAD1040.0001.001;didno=BAD1040.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000038 p. 12] , [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;q1=Freeland;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAD1040.0001.001;didno=BAD1040.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000043 17] , [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;q1=Freeland;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAD1040.0002.001;didno=BAD1040.0002.001;view=image;seq=00000399 381] to 385.] cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | authorlink=Walter Romig | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | origyear= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | id = ISBN 0-8143-1838-X] [Moore, Charles. "History of Michigan". Chicago, : The Lewis publishing company, 1915. p. [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;q1=Freeland;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAC8762.0002.001;didno=BAC8762.0002.001;view=image;seq=00000331 907] ]

In the 1850s, lumbering outposts developed in the area, one of which was called "Loretta", which was given a post office named "Jay" in April 1856. The office was named for the first postmaster, Jefferson Jaqruth. This outpost was very nearly at the geographical center of Tittawabasse Township. Another settlement was placed just a little to the north. in 1867, one resident of the second locale, George Truesdale, instigated moving the post office from Loretta to his settlement, which retained the name of Jay for several years afterwards.

The name of Freeland comes from "Mammy Freeland" who operated a popular tavern on the river, frequented by lumbermen and rivermen who enjoyed the large number of prostitutes that Mammy Freeland kept there, the men came to refer to the entire settlement as Freeland. The name of the post office was changed to Freeland in January 1879. It was also a station on the Pere Marquette Railroad. By another account (Moore), the Freeland family name was prominent in business and politics of the area.

During World War II, the airport was used to hold German prisoners of war.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,147 people, 1,441 households, and 1,115 families residing in the community. The population density was 769.7 per square mile (297.1/km²). There were 1,527 housing units at an average density of 228.3/sq mi (88.1/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 82.86% White, 13.04% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.17% of the population.

There were 1,441 households out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the community the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 43.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 161.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 182.6 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $55,455, and the median income for a family was $67,083. Males had a median income of $50,225 versus $33,306 for females. The per capita income for the community was $20,470. About 2.7% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/0,1607,7-119-1381_1388-5263--,00.html Saginaw Correctional Facility]
* [http://www.freeland.k12.mi.us/education/dept/dept.php?sectiondetailid=1934 Miller Empey Room]