Lowell, Michigan

Lowell, Michigan
City
Location of Lowell, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°56′1″N 85°20′31″W / 42.93361°N 85.34194°W / 42.93361; -85.34194Coordinates: 42°56′1″N 85°20′31″W / 42.93361°N 85.34194°W / 42.93361; -85.34194
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Kent
Government
• Mayor	Michael DeVore
• City Manager	Michael Burns
Area [1]
• Total	3.10 sq mi (8.03 km2)
• Land	2.88 sq mi (7.46 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2)
Elevation	636 ft (194 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	3,783
• Estimate  (2019)[5]	4,171
• Density	1,448.26/sq mi (559.18/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	49331
Area code(s)	616
FIPS code	26-49540[3]
GNIS feature ID	0631155[4]
Website	www.lowellmi.gov

Downtown Lowell Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Show map of MichiganShow map of the United StatesShow all
Location	Roughly along Main St. bet. Hudson and Washington, Lowell, Michigan
Coordinates	42°56′4″N 85°20′16″W / 42.93444°N 85.33778°W / 42.93444; -85.33778
Built	1904
Architect	McDole, Shaw, et al.; Vinton, Colonel H.H., et al
Architectural style	Late Victorian, Art Deco
NRHP reference No.	99001539 [6]
Added to NRHP	December 09, 1999

Lowell is a city in Kent County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,783 at the 2010 census. The city is in the northern portion of Lowell Township, but is politically independent. Lowell's economy is a mix of manufacturing, restaurants and locally owned businesses.

Lowell is situated just north of where the Flat River meets the Grand River. The Flat River bisects downtown with main street crossing the river and connecting the east and west portions of the business district.

History[]

The earliest modern residents of the Flat River and Grand River were the Grand River Ottawa, who established several villages along the Grand River. In the first decades of the 19th century, the village was led by Wabiwindego and Keewaycooshcum, and later by Cobmoosa.^[7] In the 1830s, Cobmoosa purchased the land under the Ottawa village in the name of his father, fur trader Antoine Campau.^[8] The Ottawa remained at their village on the Flat River until 1858, when they moved to a reservation at Manistee, Michigan.^[9]

The modern city of Lowell was founded in 1831 by Daniel Marsac as a trading post with this existing Ottawa village, built on the south bank of the Grand River.^[10] During the first years of his trading post, Marsac lived with the Grand River Ottawa leader Wabiwindego.^[11] In 1847, he purchased land on the north side of the river and platted it as "Dansville". In 1851, a post office was established there named "Lowell" after the township. The community was replatted in 1854 and renamed after the post office. It incorporated as a village in 1861.^[12]

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.10 square miles (8.03 km²), of which, 2.88 square miles (7.46 km²) is land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km²) is water.^[13]

Lowell is bordered by Vergennes Township on the north; Lowell Township on the west, south and east; and Boston Township in Ionia county is one-half mile east of the eastern Lowell city limit.

Demographics[]

2010 census[]

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 3,783 people, 1,457 households, and 962 families living in the city. The population density was 1,313.5 inhabitants per square mile (507.1/km²). There were 1,581 housing units at an average density of 549.0 per square mile (212.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.1% White, 1.3% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 1,457 households, of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.0% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.3% male and 53.7% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 4,013 people, 1,492 households, and 1,008 families living in the city. The population density was 1,391.2 per square mile (538.0/km²). There were 1,564 housing units at an average density of 542.2 per square mile (209.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.21% White, 0.57% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.

There were 1,492 households, out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,326, and the median income for a family was $49,145. Males had a median income of $36,525 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,843. About 4.4% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation[]

North Country Trail[]

Lowell is the home of the North Country Trail Association.^[15] In the Lowell area, the trail runs just north of downtown and along portions of the Flat River.

Education[]

Lowell Area Schools is the local school district. Bushnell and Cherry Creek elementary schools serve the city itself. Lowell Middle School and Lowell High School serve the entire school district.^[16]

Notable people[]

• William Seward Burroughs I, adding machine inventor, founder of the Burroughs Corporation and grandfather of Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs lived in Lowell in the 1860s and graduated from Lowell High School.
• Cobmoosa, operated a trading post where Lowell now exists.^[17]
• Mike Dumas, professional football player (retired)
• Mabel Gillespie, farmer, teacher, journalist, politician, lived in Lowell from 1958 to 1967.^[18]
• Ernest R. Graham (architect), designer of Chicago landmarks such as the Wrigley Building, Shedd Aquarium, etc., born in Lowell.
• Jennie Harris Oliver, poet, born in Lowell.^[19]
• Dave Hildenbrand, Michigan politician^[20]
• Anthony Kiedis, Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer.
• Howard Henry Peckham, professor and historian, Lowell High School graduate.^[21]
• Ann Rule, author of true crime novels, born in Lowell, Michigan^[22]
• Glendon Swarthout, novelist, graduated from Lowell High School.
• Daniel Vosovic, fashion designer, Lowell High School graduate.^[23]

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, Lowell has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.^[24]

References[]

External links[]

• Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
• Lowell Area Schools
• Discover Lowell
• Lowell Community Wellness