LAPEER, MICHIGAN

'Lapeer' is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,072. It is the county seat of Lapeer County⁶. Most of the city was incorporated from land that was formerly in Lapeer Township, though portions were also annexed from Mayfield Township and Elba Township. The city government is politically independent of all three townships. Lapeer is located in southern Michigan, east of Flint, on the Flint River.

Contents

Geography

Notable features

Demographics

Notable residents

Transportation

External links

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.4 km² (5.6 mi²), all land.

Notable features

For the past 16 years, Lapeer has been a Tree City USA, and has many parks throughout the city, including along the riverside. The parks include a 2.2 mile paved foot path that winds through some of the parks, through wooded areas, and across ponds.
Adjacent to Lapeer’s downtown business district on Nepessing Street, is the Piety Hill Historic District, 29 properties that are largely nineteenth-century dwellings; one-sixth of the buildings are churches. A significant number of the structures are Greek Revival in style, dating from the 1830's through the 1850's. More info
The city is also home to many other historical buildings, including the old Lapeer County Courthouse, which was built in 1846, and is the oldest in the state. When this was written, the courthouse was used for one hearing a year so that the courthouse would remain Michigan's oldest courthouse still in use. It has been preserved as a historic landmark. Some of the other historic buildings include the old post office, several churches, City Hall, the Pix Theatre, and the Marguerite DeAngeli Library

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 9,072 people, 3,443 households, and 1,979 families residing in the city. The population density was 631.1/km² (1,635.5/mi²). There were 3,658 housing units at an average density of 254.5/km² (659.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.91% White, 5.95% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.33% of the population.
There were 3,443 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,526, and the median income for a family was $42,872. Males had a median income of $36,731 versus $24,552 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,608. About 8.5% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
'Most Common Employment:'
Manufacturing 26.4%
Educational, Health 24.5%
Retail 10.3%
'Unemployment Rate:'
3.3% (2000 Census)
'Average Commute Time'
for City Residents: 26.8 minutes
'
Growth Rate:'
16.9% (10th highest in Michigan for comparable cities)

Notable residents

★ Danelle Gay, Miss Michigan USA 2006

★ Marguerite de Angeli, Newbery Award winner

★ Jim Slater, hockey player, Atlanta Thrashers

★ Kirk Gibson, retired baseball player, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers

★ Terry Knight, singer, DJ, manager, Terry Knight and the Pack, Grand Funk Railroad

★ Tom Wargo, professional golfer

★ Jake Long, Offensive Lineman, Michigan Wolverines

Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Lapeer, operating its Blue Water daily in both directions between Chicago and Port Huron, Michigan.

External links

★ City of Lapeer

★ Lapeer County

★ State of Michigan

★ Lapeer Chamber of Commerce

★ PIX Theatre