HASTINGS, MICHIGAN

'Hastings' is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,095. It is the county seat of Barry County⁶. The city borders Hastings Charter Township on the north, east, and south, though it is politically independent.

Contents

Geography

History

Demographics

External links

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.6 km² (5.3 mi²). 13.6 km² (5.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.38%) is water.

History

In 1836 three entrepreneurs named Dibble, Kingsbury and Kendall bought along the Thornapple River from Detroit banker Eurotas P. Hastings. The three platted the area into lots, and soon a small community arose. In 1843, the state legislature designated Hastings as the County Seat of Barry County. The first paper, the ''Barry County Pioneer'', began publishing in 1851, and a second paper, the ''Republican Banner'', ( which is still published today) began in 1856.
Hastings was Hastings incorporated as a village in 1855 with a population of around 300, and on March 11, 1871, officially become a city. The Barry County Courthouse, which is still in use today, was built in 1893. The city grew slowly, reaching 6,500 people in 1960 and reamining nearly flat through 1990.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 7,095 people, 2,759 households, and 1,826 families residing in the city. The population density was 522.8/km² (1,353.3/mi²). There were 2,898 housing units at an average density of 213.5/km² (552.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.14% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 2,759 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% 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 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,033, and the median income for a family was $44,886. Males had a median income of $35,226 versus $24,727 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,042. About 5.9% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

External links

★ City of Hastings