Lansing, Michigan: Difference between revisions
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Three major [[interstate]]s and one U.S. Highway serve the Lansing area including: [[I-96]], [[I-69]], [[I-496]], and [[U.S. 127]]. One can get almost anywhere in lower Michigan in 1.5 hours by car, including [[Metro Detroit]], the Tri-Cities, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Battle Creek. |
Three major [[interstate]]s and one U.S. Highway serve the Lansing area including: [[I-96]], [[I-69]], [[I-496]], and [[U.S. 127]]. One can get almost anywhere in lower Michigan in 1.5 hours by car, including [[Metro Detroit]], the Tri-Cities, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Battle Creek. |
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[[Amtrak]] provides intercity passenger rail service, at a stop in nearby [[East Lansing]], on the ''Blue Water'' line from [[Chicago]] to [[Port Huron]]. |
[[Amtrak]] provides intercity passenger rail service, at a stop in nearby [[East Lansing]], on the ''Blue Water'' line from [[Chicago]] to [[Port Huron, Michigan]]. |
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[[Lansing Capital City Airport]], located north of Lansing, provides commercial air service to the city. |
[[Lansing Capital City Airport]], located north of Lansing, provides commercial air service to the city. |
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Revision as of 14:59, 15 November 2005
Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, located mostly in Ingham County; a small portion extends into adjacent Eaton County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 119,128.
Overview
Lansing is located in the south central part of the lower peninsula where the Grand River meets the Red Cedar River. The city occupies most of what had formerly been part of Lansing Charter Township. It has also annexed adjacent tracts of land in Delta Charter Township and Windsor Township in Eaton County to the west and Delhi Charter Township in Ingham County to the south. The city also controls two non-contiguous tracts of land through conditional land transfer agreements with Meridian Charter Township and Alaiedon Township in Ingham County to the southeast.
Lansing boasts several institutions of higher education. Michigan State University, "the pioneer land grant college", located in neighboring East Lansing, Michigan, has the largest land campus in the United States and is home to several nationally and internationally recognized academic and athletic programs. It is also the home of the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, a leading arts and theatre venue in the United States. The Thomas M. Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation and is located in downtown Lansing. Lansing Community College is one of the largest and most academically recognized community colleges in the nation and has approximately 35,000 students. Lansing has an historic City Market that is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the United States. Lansing has two downtowns, the business and govenrnment center with the State Capital, and historic Old Town, which was recently renovated. Lansing Old Town is known for its lively arts and culture. REO Town, just south of downtown, is the area most recently gentrified and is becoming an entertainment haven for young urban professionals.
The Lansing metropolitan area is unique in that there are three medical schools, two laws schools, a Big Ten Conference university (Michigan State), the State Capitol (all three branches of government), a State Appellate Court, a Federal Court, the Michigan State Library and Historical Center, to name a few attributes, all within an area of less than 200,000 people.
History
- 1847 - The state capital is moved from Detroit to Lansing Township.
- 1859 - The City of Lansing is officially incorporated.
- 1879 - New State Capitol dedicated. The structure cost $1,510,130. In 1992, the State Capitol was totally renovated back to its original grandeur and is generally recognized as one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the United States.
- 1897 - Ransom E. Olds drives his first car down a Lansing street. He would later found Oldsmobile, which became a General Motors division in 1908.
- 2004 - Last Oldsmobile rolls off the assembly line at Lansing Car Assembly on April 29.
- 2005 - Lansing closes GM assembly plant in Lansing and is scheduled to reopen a state of the art facility in nearby Delta Charter Township in 2006.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 91.3 km² (35.2 mi²). 90.8 km² (35.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.57% water.
The Grand River, the largest river in Michigan, flows through downtown Lansing, and the Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Grand River, flows through the campus at Michigan State University.
There are two lakes in the area, Park Lake and Lake Lansing, both northeast of the city. Lake Lansing is approximately 500 acres (200 hectares) in size and is a summer favorite for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen. Michigan State University Sailing Club and the Lansing Sailing Club are located on Lake Lansing, where sailing regattas are hosted throughout the summer.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 119,128 people, 49,505 households, and 28,366 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,312.3/km² (3,399.0/mi²). There are 53,159 housing units at an average density of 585.6/km² (1,516.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 65.28% White, 21.91% Black, 0.80% Native American, 2.83% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.54% from other races, and 4.60% from two or more races. 9.98% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 49,505 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% are married couples living together, 17.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.08.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,833, and the median income for a family is $41,283. Males have a median income of $32,648 versus $27,051 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,924. 16.9% of the population and 13.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.2% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Economy
As the state capital, the city employs many in the area. Lansing is the seat of all three branches of state government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Additionally, many of the departments of state are headquartered in Lansing.
General Motors has offices in Lansing and several manufacturing facilities immediately outside of the city. The Lansing area is headquarters to three major national insurance companies: Auto Owners Insurance Company, Jackson National Life, and the Accident Fund.
Michigan State University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and Lansing Community College are significant employers in the region.
Law and government
An elected Mayor leads the city government, currently Tony Benavides. A city council comprises representatives of individual wards and at-large members.
2005 Mayoral race
On November 8, 2005, a mayoral race was held between incumbent Tony Benavides and State Senator Virg Bernero. Bernero won with 12,925 votes; Benevides garnered 8,052.[1] Mayor-elect Virg Bernero will take office in January 2006
Colleges and universities
- Lansing Community College
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Davenport University
- Michigan State University is in nearby East Lansing.
- Great Lakes Christian College is in nearby Delta Township.
Virg Bernero was elected mayor of Lansing, Michigan on Nov. 8, 2005.
Culture
The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra has been entertaining generations of Lansing area residents since 1929. The current maestro, Gustav Meier, has been with the Orchestra since 1979.
The Greater Lansing Ballet Company is an award winning ballet and dance company located in Lansing.
The Michigan Princess riverboat has lunch, dinner, and entertainment cruises throughout the summer and fall on the Grand River in Lansing. The Michigan Princess is the only triple-deck riverboat in the state of Michigan.
The Riverwalk Theatre (formerly the Okemos Barn Theatre) and the Boarshead Theatre are nationally acclaimed theatres located in downtown Lansing. In addition to these two theatres, the Lansing area has numerous other theatres and theatre companies.
The Lansing Jazz Fest and the Old Town Blues Fest play host to the leading musicians in their respective fields and are two of the larger music festivals held each year in the state.
Historic Lansing Old Town is the original downtown in Lansing and many of the architecturally significant buildings date to the mid-1800's. Old Town has been restored and is the epicenter for food, culture, music and the arts in Lansing.
Historic REO Town is the birthplace of the automobile in the United States. Ransom Eli Olds built factories along Washington Avenue more than 100 years ago. Today the factories are gone, but the history remains. Restaurants, nightclubs and shops now line the streets.
The Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, the Kresge Art Museum, the MSU Museum, and the Abrams Planetarium are highly acclaimed cultural destinations located on the campus of Michigan State University.
Sports
The Lansing Lugnuts is a Minor League Baseball team. The Lugnuts are one of the most successful franchises in the history of Minor League Baseball in the United States. The team plays home games at Oldsmobile Park, an all-brick stadium built in the mid-1990s, in downtown Lansing with a capacity audience of approximately 12,000 fans.
The Lansing Cricket Club is a cricket team in the city.
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School has a rugby football team in Lansing.
The Lansing Sailing Club and Michigan State University Sailing Club have facilities on nearby Lake Lansing where sailing regattas are held throughout the summer months.
Many residents of Lansing attend Michigan State University athletic events. In addition to more traditional sports, Michigan State University has a sport rowing team, and the crew often practices and competes on the Grand River in Lansing.
Transportation
Three major interstates and one U.S. Highway serve the Lansing area including: I-96, I-69, I-496, and U.S. 127. One can get almost anywhere in lower Michigan in 1.5 hours by car, including Metro Detroit, the Tri-Cities, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Battle Creek.
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service, at a stop in nearby East Lansing, on the Blue Water line from Chicago to Port Huron, Michigan.
Lansing Capital City Airport, located north of Lansing, provides commercial air service to the city.
Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides public transit to the Lansing and East Lansing area.
Famous natives
- Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz - Human Rights Activist
- Magic Johnson - NBA star
- Steven Seagal - actor
- John Smoltz - NL Baseball Star
- Muhsin Muhammad - NFL Star
- Stevie Wonder - Musician
- Rashad Evans - Mixed Martial Arts fighter
- Greg Raymer - 2004 World Series of Poker champion
- Larry Page - Co-Founder of Google.com is from nearby East Lansing
External links
Municipalities and communities of Ingham County, Michigan, United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
