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Cheboygan, Michigan facts for kids

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Cheboygan, Michigan
Kingston Theater in Downtown Cheboygan
Kingston Theater in Downtown Cheboygan
Location within Cheboygan County
Location within Cheboygan County
Cheboygan, Michigan is located in Michigan
Cheboygan, Michigan
Cheboygan, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Country United States
State Michigan
County Cheboygan
Area
 • Total 6.93 sq mi (17.94 km2)
 • Land 6.80 sq mi (17.60 km2)
 • Water 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Elevation
591 ft (180 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 4,867
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,686
 • Density 689.52/sq mi (266.23/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49721
Area code(s) 231
FIPS code 26-15000
GNIS feature ID 0623135

Cheboygan ( shi-BOY-gən) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,876. It is the county seat of Cheboygan County.

The name of the city shares the name of the county and probably has its origin from the Cheboygan River, although the precise meaning is no longer known. It may have come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, the origin may have been "Chabwegan," meaning "a place of ore."

The city is at the mouth of the Cheboygan River on Lake Huron. U.S. Highway 23 (US 23) connects with Interstate 75 (I-75) at Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge, about 15 miles (24 km) to the northwest. Rogers City is about 41 miles (66 km) to the southeast. M-27 runs south from the city along the north shore of Mullett Lake to I-75 at Indian River about 18 miles (29 km) to the southwest. M-33 runs due south along the east shore of Mullett Lake to M-68 about 20 miles (32 km) to the south.

History

On this 1876 map, Duncan City is shown as a separate city east of Cheboygan in Cheboygan County.
On this 1876 map, Duncan City is shown as a separate city east of Cheboygan in Cheboygan County.

Cheboygan was originally an Ojibwe settlement. In 1844, Jacob Sammons, a cooper from Fort Mackinac, chose the old native camping ground (then called "Shabwegan") as the site for his cabin. He recruited other settlers, and a post office named "Duncan" was established in 1846. It was made the county seat in 1853.

Duncan or Duncan City was given a post office in 1850 as a result of the building of sawmills in this area. Duncan was made the county seat in 1853 and the location of the federal land office in 1855. The county seat shifted to Cheboygan in about 1870. Later Duncan was included within the expanded boundaries of Cheboygan.

The area became known as Cheboygan in 1870. It was incorporated as a village in 1871. Rail maps in 1876 show planned rail service for Cheboygan, but due to various setbacks, rail did not arrive there until 1881. There was a theater built in town in 1877.

Cheboygan was incorporated as a city (versus a village) in 1889.

In approximately 1890, Cheboygan became the home port for ferryboats to nearby Bois Blanc, an island in the Straits of Mackinac. The Kristen D is a ferry which operates between Cheboygan and Bois Blanc Island. Early in the 20th century, it was home to the pioneering brass era cyclecar maker, Flagler.

In 1944, Cheboygan became the home port of the former U.S. Coast Guard cutter and icebreaker Mackinaw, serving from 1944-2006. Beginning in 2006, the port continued this role as the home dock of the new Mackinaw, a successor cutter.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.00 square miles (18.13 km2), of which 6.80 square miles (17.61 km2) is land and 0.20 square miles (0.52 km2) is water.

Climate

The climate is described as Humid Continental by the Köppen Climate System, abbreviated as Dfb

Climate data for Cheboygan, Michigan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −2
(28)
−2
(28)
2
(35)
10
(50)
17
(62)
23
(73)
26
(78)
25
(77)
20
(68)
14
(57)
5
(41)
0
(32)
12
(52)
Average low °C (°F) −11
(12)
−13
(8)
−8
(17)
−1
(30)
4
(39)
10
(50)
13
(55)
12
(53)
9
(48)
3
(37)
−1
(30)
−7
(19)
0
(32)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 43
(1.7)
33
(1.3)
43
(1.7)
58
(2.3)
69
(2.7)
66
(2.6)
69
(2.7)
74
(2.9)
89
(3.5)
69
(2.7)
61
(2.4)
48
(1.9)
720
(28.4)
Source: Weatherbase

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 2,269
1890 6,235 174.8%
1900 6,489 4.1%
1910 6,859 5.7%
1920 5,642 −17.7%
1930 4,923 −12.7%
1940 5,673 15.2%
1950 5,687 0.2%
1960 5,859 3.0%
1970 5,553 −5.2%
1980 5,106 −8.0%
1990 4,999 −2.1%
2000 5,295 5.9%
2010 4,867 −8.1%
2019 (est.) 4,686 −3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
2009-0618-CheboyganMuseum
The Cheboygan County Historical Museum Complex, originally built as the Cheboygan County Sheriff Residence with attached jail cells (1882) and the New Jail addition (1912-14).
2009-0618-Cheboygan-CarnegieLibrary
Carnegie Free Library building; the first building constructed in Cheboygan to serve specifically as a library. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie donated $15,000 for the building in 1908. It was completed in 1913, and served as the city library until 1966.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,867 people, 2,025 households, and 1,164 families residing in the city. The population density was 715.7 inhabitants per square mile (276.3/km2). There were 2,415 housing units at an average density of 355.1 per square mile (137.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 1.0% African American, 4.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 2,025 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.5% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% 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 2.84.

The median age in the city was 40.8 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

Tourist attractions

2009-0618-CheboyganOperaandmore
Opposite views of the Opera House, which now also houses the City Hall, police headquarters and fire station.

Transportation

State trunklines

  • US 23
  • M-27
  • M-33
  • I-75 is about 10 miles (16 km) away, but the city is listed as a destination for four interchanges

County-designated highways

  • C-64
  • C-66
  • F-05

Trails

  • North Central State Trail
  • North Eastern State Trail

Bus

  • Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Bay City, Michigan. This route doubles as the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service for the area.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cheboygan para niños

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