DeWitt, Michigan
Encyclopedia
DeWitt is a city in Clinton County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 4,507 at the 2010 census.
, Governor of New York
during the 1830s. It was first settled by Captain David Scott, who moved there from Ann Arbor
in 1833, and platted the land. The State Legislature formally created DeWitt Township
on March 23, 1836. The first township meeting was held at the house of Captain Scott on April 8, 1836. A gentleman by the name of Welcome J. Partelo was named the township’s first Supervisor at that meeting.
It did not take long for the State to divide DeWitt Township into the many townships that we recognize today. In 1837, the township was split in half by a North/South line with the western half becoming Watertown Township. Two years later, the township was again split in half by an East/West line with the northern half becoming Bingham Township. One day later, the Governor approved an act, which split the remaining township area in half by a North/South line with the eastern half becoming Ossowa Township (renamed Bath Township in 1843). The final split of the township came in 1841 with the northern half of the remaining land becoming Olive Township. In four short years, DeWitt Township went from encompassing the entire County to its current boundary.
The county seat for Clinton County was also located in DeWitt Township from the inception of the County. The county seat remained in DeWitt Township until December 1857 when it was moved to Plumstead Hall, in the village of St. Johns
, until a new courthouse could be built.
In the early 1900s, the Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway
opened the community to a new era of prosperity. It was not until 1929 when the town was incorporated as a village, and then was no longer under the full jurisdiction of the township.
The area that is now the city was first incorporated as a village in 1929.
On October 21, 1930 a great fire swept though the downtown business district, destroying eight historic and business buildings. This included the destruction of the Clinton House/Hotel, which was a regionally famous establishment. The fire devastated the community, stagnating business growth once again. However, residential development did not slow, and thus DeWitt began its evolvement into the bedroom community that it is today.
The Village of DeWitt was incorporated into a city in 1965.
The DeWitt area was ranked as the 75th best place to live in the United States by CNN Money in 2005.
, a tributary of the Grand River
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.70%) is water.
Fuerstenau Early Childhood Center (Pre-K and K)
Schavey Road Elementary School (1st and 2nd Grade)
Scott Elementary School (3rd and 4th Grade)
Herbison Woods School (5th and 6th Grade)
DeWitt Junior High School (7th and 8th Grade)
DeWitt High School (9th-12th Grade)
To view more information about each school, visit the DeWitt Public Schools link using the External Links feature.
of 2000, there were 4,702 people, 1,624 households, and 1,307 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,641.3 per square mile (634.8/km²). There were 1,661 housing units at an average density of 579.8 per square mile (224.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 1.02% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.55% of the population.
There were 1,624 households out of which 50.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $69,174, and the median income for a family was $78,935. Males had a median income of $51,409 versus $35,545 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $26,997. About 3.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Clinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 4,507 at the 2010 census.
History
DeWitt was named after DeWitt ClintonDeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
, Governor of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
during the 1830s. It was first settled by Captain David Scott, who moved there from Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 1833, and platted the land. The State Legislature formally created DeWitt Township
DeWitt Charter Township, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,143 people, 4,839 households, and 3,450 families residing in the township. The population density was 383.5 per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 161.7 per square mile...
on March 23, 1836. The first township meeting was held at the house of Captain Scott on April 8, 1836. A gentleman by the name of Welcome J. Partelo was named the township’s first Supervisor at that meeting.
It did not take long for the State to divide DeWitt Township into the many townships that we recognize today. In 1837, the township was split in half by a North/South line with the western half becoming Watertown Township. Two years later, the township was again split in half by an East/West line with the northern half becoming Bingham Township. One day later, the Governor approved an act, which split the remaining township area in half by a North/South line with the eastern half becoming Ossowa Township (renamed Bath Township in 1843). The final split of the township came in 1841 with the northern half of the remaining land becoming Olive Township. In four short years, DeWitt Township went from encompassing the entire County to its current boundary.
The county seat for Clinton County was also located in DeWitt Township from the inception of the County. The county seat remained in DeWitt Township until December 1857 when it was moved to Plumstead Hall, in the village of St. Johns
St. Johns, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,485 people, 2,994 households, and 1,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,909.1 per square mile . There were 3,148 housing units at an average density of 802.9 per square mile...
, until a new courthouse could be built.
In the early 1900s, the Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway
Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway
The Lansing, St. Johns and St. Louis Railway was an electric interurban railway which briefly operated independently in central Michigan during the early 20th century. It was the site of a failed attempt to introduce alternating current to the interurban scene....
opened the community to a new era of prosperity. It was not until 1929 when the town was incorporated as a village, and then was no longer under the full jurisdiction of the township.
The area that is now the city was first incorporated as a village in 1929.
On October 21, 1930 a great fire swept though the downtown business district, destroying eight historic and business buildings. This included the destruction of the Clinton House/Hotel, which was a regionally famous establishment. The fire devastated the community, stagnating business growth once again. However, residential development did not slow, and thus DeWitt began its evolvement into the bedroom community that it is today.
The Village of DeWitt was incorporated into a city in 1965.
The DeWitt area was ranked as the 75th best place to live in the United States by CNN Money in 2005.
Geography
DeWitt is on the Looking Glass RiverLooking Glass River
The Looking Glass River in the U.S. state of Michigan is a river flowing through the central region of the Lower Peninsula. It is about long, has no dams, and borders many wetlands and woodlots....
, a tributary of the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.70%) is water.
Education
DeWitt has an outstanding legacy in regards to education. The city is home to the following schools, which are divided among grade levels:Fuerstenau Early Childhood Center (Pre-K and K)
Schavey Road Elementary School (1st and 2nd Grade)
Scott Elementary School (3rd and 4th Grade)
Herbison Woods School (5th and 6th Grade)
DeWitt Junior High School (7th and 8th Grade)
DeWitt High School (9th-12th Grade)
To view more information about each school, visit the DeWitt Public Schools link using the External Links feature.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,702 people, 1,624 households, and 1,307 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,641.3 per square mile (634.8/km²). There were 1,661 housing units at an average density of 579.8 per square mile (224.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 1.02% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.55% of the population.
There were 1,624 households out of which 50.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $69,174, and the median income for a family was $78,935. Males had a median income of $51,409 versus $35,545 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $26,997. About 3.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.