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Elk Rapids, Michigan
Village
Village of Elk Rapids
Downtown Elk Rapids on River Street
Downtown Elk Rapids on River Street
Location within Antrim County
Location within Antrim County
Elk Rapids, Michigan is located in Michigan
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Country United States
State Michigan
County Antrim
Township Elk Rapids
Platted 1852
Incorporated 1900
Government
 • Type Village council
Area
 • Total 2.01 sq mi (5.20 km2)
 • Land 1.65 sq mi (4.27 km2)
 • Water 0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2)
Elevation
597 ft (182 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 1,642
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,615
 • Density 978.79/sq mi (377.86/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49629
Area code(s) 231
FIPS code 26-25320
GNIS feature ID 0625459

Elk Rapids is a village in Antrim County in the state of Michigan. The population was 1,642 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Elk Rapids Township, about 15 miles (24 km) north of Traverse City. It is physically split by the Elk River, which runs between nearby Elk Lake and Grand Traverse Bay.

History

Elk Rapids Michigan Welcome Sign
Welcome sign

Elk Rapids began as a small port on the Grand Traverse Bay in the 1840s. It was platted in 1852 with the name of Stevens. Because of its location, the town quickly became a major resort center, which highly contributed to its growth during the period. In the 1870s, the Elk Rapids Iron Works began on the east side of the town. Within 30 years of the Iron Works' founding, Elk Rapids had become the county seat of Antrim County (which Bellaire took from Elk Rapids in 1880). The town also boasted a cement plant, a chemical plant, a depot on the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, and a population of nearly 2000. It was incorporated as a village in 1900.

Through the 1890s-1910s, the town was a thriving commercial center with many shops and hotels lining River Street (Elk Rapids' main street). This "heyday" did not last long; the Iron Works and all the other industrial operations had ceased by 1916, leaving the town economically depressed. Elk Rapids remained this way until the 1950s, when the town experienced a boom in tourism due to its location on the then newly constructed US 31.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.01 square miles (5.21 km2), of which, 1.65 square miles (4.27 km2) of it is land and 0.36 square miles (0.93 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 620
1910 1,673
1920 684 −59.1%
1930 615 −10.1%
1940 690 12.2%
1950 889 28.8%
1960 1,015 14.2%
1970 1,249 23.1%
1980 1,504 20.4%
1990 1,626 8.1%
2000 1,700 4.6%
2010 1,642 −3.4%
2019 (est.) 1,615 −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,642 people, 791 households, and 478 families residing in the village. The population density was 995.2 inhabitants per square mile (384.2/km2). There were 1,179 housing units at an average density of 714.5 per square mile (275.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.6% White, 0.7% African American, 1.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 791 households, of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.63.

The median age in the village was 52.4 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.3% were from 25 to 44; 30.9% were from 45 to 64; and 28.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Elk Rapids (Míchigan) para niños

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