Mason, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,714. It is the county seat of Ingham County6, despite the fact that the state capital, Lansing, is also located in Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital.
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[edit] Geography
Mason is located at GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.9 km² (4.6 mi²). 11.9 km² (4.6 mi²) of it is land and no noteworthy portion of it is covered by water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 6,714 people, 2,806 households, and 1,826 families residing in the city. The population density was 566.0/km² (1,466.6/mi²). There were 2,961 housing units at an average density of 249.6/km² (646.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.98% White, 0.64% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.74% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.
There were 2,806 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,790, and the median income for a family was $53,519. Males had a median income of $41,081 versus $26,266 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,866. About 1.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of Interest
- Mason Branch of the Capital Area District Library [2]
- Mason Area Historical Museum [3]
- Mason skate park [4]
[edit] Famous Residents and Businesses
- According to The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X spent part of his childhood in Mason. He was placed in a juvenile home in Mason in 1939 and completed 8th grade at Mason High School, where historical accounts indicate he received straight-"A" grades. [5] A famous anecdote of Malcolm X's life tells of a teacher who discouraged Malcolm of his dream of becoming a lawyer because of his race. However, sources vary on whether this was a Mason teacher.
- Former Mason resident Ltc. Amos Steele was one of the (relatively) few Union soldiers to be killed during Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Steele Street and Steele Street Elementary School are named after Amos Steele.
- Mason is home to Dart Container, the largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers in the world. Dart is known for being vertically integrated, and is one of the largest privately owned corporations in Michigan.
- Mason is home to Kristin Haynie, a point guard with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs. Haynie, a 2001 Mason High School graduate, was a 2005 first-round WNBA draft pick after leading Michigan State to the women's NCAA national championship game.
[edit] External links
- City of Mason
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
