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Hillsdale, Michigan facts for kids

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Hillsdale, Michigan
City of Hillsdale
Hillsdale County Courthouse
Location within Hillsdale County
Location within Hillsdale County
Hillsdale, Michigan is located in Michigan
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Country United States
State Michigan
County Hillsdale
Settled 1834
Incorporated 1869
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 6.13 sq mi (15.86 km2)
 • Land 5.69 sq mi (14.75 km2)
 • Water 0.43 sq mi (1.12 km2)
Elevation
1,119 ft (341 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 8,305
 • Estimate 
(2019)
8,003
 • Density 1,405.51/sq mi (542.68/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49242
Area code(s) 517
FIPS code 26-38460
GNIS feature ID 0628321

Hillsdale is the largest city and county seat of Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305.

The city is the home of Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college noted for its academics and its influence in politics and education.

Geography and Climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.19 square miles (16.03 km2), of which, 5.92 square miles (15.33 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.70 km2) is water.

The Saint Joe river begins in Hillsdale, near Lake Baw Beese, a major body of water in this city, around which is situated several parks and a beach.

Climate

Climate data for Hillsdale, MI 41°55′12″N 84°37′50″W / 41.92000°N 84.63056°W / 41.92000; -84.63056, 1981–2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 30.0
(−1.1)
34.0
(1.1)
44.0
(6.7)
58.0
(14.4)
69.0
(20.6)
78.0
(25.6)
82.0
(27.8)
80.0
(26.7)
73.0
(22.8)
60.0
(15.6)
47.0
(8.3)
34.0
(1.1)
57.4
(14.1)
Average low °F (°C) 15.0
(−9.4)
16.0
(−8.9)
24.0
(−4.4)
35.0
(1.7)
46.0
(7.8)
56.0
(13.3)
59.0
(15.0)
57.0
(13.9)
49.0
(9.4)
39.0
(3.9)
30.0
(−1.1)
20.0
(−6.7)
37.2
(2.9)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 2.36
(60)
1.97
(50)
2.32
(59)
3.31
(84)
4.13
(105)
3.90
(99)
3.78
(96)
3.82
(97)
3.78
(96)
3.15
(80)
3.07
(78)
2.32
(59)
37.91
(963)
Source: "U.S. Climate Data"

History

In 1834 the first settler of Hillsdale, Jeremiah Arnold, erected a cabin and settled there with his wife Percy Round Arnold. In 1838 the first schoolhouse was erected. The City was established in 1839 and chartered in 1869, located in the rolling, fertile hills of South Central Michigan, bordering Indiana and Ohio. Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, relocated to the city of Hillsdale in 1853. It was the first American college to prohibit in its charter any discrimination based on race, religion or sex, and became an early force for the abolition of slavery. It was also only the second college in the nation to grant four-year liberal arts degrees to women. In 1885 a high school building was dedicated on what is now West Street which now is the middle school. In the late 1800s, Hillsdale was a booming railroad town, but this came to an end when the last passenger train left Hillsdale in 1956. Dozens of beautiful Victorian homes, many of which are still occupied as private residences, line its streets. In 1908 the city opened its first public library. In 1921 it opened its first hospital and in 1934 Hillsdale Municipal Airport opened.

Transportation

Highways

  • US 12, passes about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Hillsdale
  • M-99, run diagonally northwest through the center of the city

Airports

Hillsdale Municipal Airport (KJYM) established in 1934, has a 5000' paved lighted runway with instrument approaches, hangars, tie-downs, and fuel services available.

Railroad

Indiana Northeastern Railroad serves Hillsdale.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 1,067
1860 2,177 104.0%
1870 3,518 61.6%
1880 3,441 −2.2%
1890 3,915 13.8%
1900 4,151 6.0%
1910 5,001 20.5%
1920 5,476 9.5%
1930 5,896 7.7%
1940 6,381 8.2%
1950 7,297 14.4%
1960 7,629 4.5%
1970 7,728 1.3%
1980 7,432 −3.8%
1990 8,170 9.9%
2000 8,233 0.8%
2010 8,305 0.9%
2019 (est.) 8,003 −3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,305 people, 2,970 households, and 1,686 families living in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 inhabitants per square mile (541.7/km2). There were 3,383 housing units at an average density of 571.5 per square mile (220.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 2,970 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.2% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 30.2 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 21.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 20.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

Points of interest

  • Hillsdale College
  • Hillsdale Academy
  • Hillsdale High School
  • Slayton Arboretum
  • Hillsdale Municipal Airport
  • Michindoh Conference Center

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hillsdale has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.


Notable people

  • Lee Bartlett, three-time Olympian
  • Baw Beese, Potawatomi chief
  • Will Carleton (1845-1912); reporter and poet; associated from 1860s
  • William W. Cook, legal scholar and benefactor of the University of Michigan Law School
  • Charles Doolittle, Civil War general
  • Sile Doty, thief, robber and burglar
  • Dick Estell, host and producer of The Radio Reader
  • Henry Churchill King, theologian, president of Oberlin College (1902–1927)
  • Penny Neer, collegiate and Olympic athlete
  • John Corbett O'Meara United States District Court judge
  • Jason Robards Sr., actor
  • Michael Sessions, youngest mayor elected
  • Rube Vickers (1879–1958), Major League baseball pitcher
  • Henry Waldron, politician
  • Frank "Muddy" Waters (1923–2006), Hall of Fame football coach

See also

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

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