Gaylord, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Gaylord is a city in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,681. It is the county seat
of Otsego County
. The city is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
; it is by far the smallest settlement serving as the location of an active Roman Catholic cathedral
in the United States.
Gaylord styles itself as an "Alpine
Village" and the city center features many buildings with Tyrolean traverse
style motifs. Receiving abundant snowfall and experiencing mild summer temperatures, for many years the area around Gaylord has become known for its many skiing
and golf
resorts, one of the largest such concentrations in the Midwest. The city has a sister city: Pontresina
, Switzerland
and features an annual event in July known as the Alpenfest. Participants are encouraged to dress in traditional Swiss stylings.
of 2000, there were 3,681 people, 1,584 households, and 888 families residing in the city. The population density
was 932.8 per square mile (359.8/km²). There were 1,773 housing units at an average density of 449.3 per square mile (173.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.50% White, 0.30% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.
There were 1,584 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 79.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,770, and the median income for a family was $36,654. Males had a median income of $33,264 versus $19,815 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,313. About 8.8% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
and competes in the Big North Conference along with the five other large high schools in that area of the state. Its 2007 enrollment of 1,076 pupils places it in Class A (large schools) of the Michigan High School Athletic Association
. St. Mary Cathedral School is a Pre K-12 school which, despite its small size, has a successful athletic tradition. It is the only private school in the nine-member Ski Valley League and its 2007 high school enrollment of 110 places it in MHSAA's Class D.
WMJZ, "Eagle" 101.5 FM, features an adult hits
format and is the primary local (Gaylord/Otsego County-focused) commercial radio station. Also licensed to Gaylord are WBLW
88.1 FM and WPHN 90.5 FM (Northern Christian Radio
), which both feature non-commercial Christian religious programming, and WSRT 106.7 FM, an adult contemporary music station (formerly WKPK "The Peak," a locally legendary top 40 station) which, although licensed to Gaylord, is based in Traverse City.
Gaylord is also served by radio and TV broadcasts from Traverse City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Cadillac, Grayling, Houghton Lake, Cheboygan, and Alpena.
has an office responsible for issuing public, aviation and marine forecasts for northern Michigan and surrounding waters. It is equiped with a NEXRAD
weather radar
and twice a day (00 and 12 UTC
) launch a weather balloon
sounding the atmosphere.
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"....
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,681. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Otsego County
Otsego County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,301 people, 8,995 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
. The city is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Northern Michigan region of the United States. It comprises the twenty-one most northern counties of the lower peninsula of the state, and includes the cities of Traverse City,...
; it is by far the smallest settlement serving as the location of an active Roman Catholic cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in the United States.
Gaylord styles itself as an "Alpine
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
Village" and the city center features many buildings with Tyrolean traverse
Tyrolean traverse
A Tyrolean traverse is a method of crossing through free space between two high points on a rope without a hanging cart or cart equivalent. This is used in a range of mountaineering activities: rock climbing, technical tree climbing, caving and water crossings. A zip-line is in essence a Tyrolean...
style motifs. Receiving abundant snowfall and experiencing mild summer temperatures, for many years the area around Gaylord has become known for its many skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
resorts, one of the largest such concentrations in the Midwest. The city has a sister city: Pontresina
Pontresina
Pontresina is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History and name:The city was first mentioned in medieval Latin documents as pontem sarasinam in 1137. In 1237 it was mentioned as de Ponte Sarraceno and in 1303 as ponte sarracino...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and features an annual event in July known as the Alpenfest. Participants are encouraged to dress in traditional Swiss stylings.
Geography
- According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census BureauThe 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 4 square miles (10.4 km²) of which less than 0.1 km² (0.25%) is water. - Gaylord experiences heavy lake effect snowLake effect snowLake-effect snow is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake water, providing energy and picking up water vapor which freezes and is deposited on the leeward shores...
during the winter and is in the middle of the Northern Michigan snowbeltSnowbeltSnowbelt is a term describing of a number of regions near the Great Lakes in North America where heavy snowfall in the form of lake-effect snow is particularly common. Snowbelts are typically found downwind of the lakes, principally off the eastern and southern shores...
. - Highway signs denote that Gaylord rests on the 45th parallel line -- halfway between the equator and the North Pole. This is one of 29 places (six are in Michigan) in the U.S.A. where such signs are known to exist.
- It is considered to be part of Northern MichiganNorthern MichiganNorthern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
. - Hartwick Pines State ParkHartwick Pines State ParkHartwick Pines State Park is a 9,672 acre State Park in the US state of Michigan, located in Crawford County near Grayling and Interstate 75. It is the third largest state park on Michigan's Lower Peninsula and the state's fifth-biggest park overall...
is just 28 miles (45.1 km) to the south, and is one of the last remaining stands of old growth virgin Eastern white pineEastern White PinePinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
forest. - The Huron-Manistee National ForestsHuron-Manistee National ForestsThe Huron-Manistee National Forests are two national forests combined in 1945 for administration purposes and which comprise of public lands, including of wetlands, extending across the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. The Huron-Manistee National Forests provide recreation opportunities...
is nearby. - Gaylord Regional Airport is located at 1100 Aero Drive, Gaylord, MI 49735. (989) 732-4218 Phone. It is owned and operated by the County of Otsego. The Airport is licensed by the Michigan Aeronautics Commission as a General Utility Airport. It is listed as a tier one airport in all categories of the Michigan Airport System Plan.
Major highways
 |
I-75 Interstate 75 Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border... passes to the west of the city and connects with the Mackinac Bridge Mackinac Bridge The Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the non-contiguous Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the bridge is the third longest in total suspension in the world and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages... to the north and Saginaw Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan... and Detroit Detroit, Michigan Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... to the south |
 |
I-75 Business Loop or BL I-75 is a loop route running through Gaylord. It follows the former route of US-27 U.S. Route 27 U.S. Route 27 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana... , in part, and was commissioned in 1986. The highway returns to I-75 Interstate 75 Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border... . |
 |
M-32 M-32 (Michigan highway) M-32 is a state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an east–west route running from M-66 in East Jordan to US Highway 23 in Alpena. It runs via Gaylord and Atlanta through forested terrain... passes east–west through the city. Although it is not a true 'cross-peninsular' highway—crosses the lower peninsula from Lake Michigan Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron... to Lake Huron Lake Huron Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States... —it is close. |
 |
C-42 terminates at M-32 west of the city. It originates at US-131 in Alba Alba, Michigan Alba is an unincorporated community located in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on U.S. Highway 131 just north of Mancelona. Half of the community is in Star Township and half is in Chestonia Township... . |
| |
F-42 begins at BL I-75 (Old US-27) south of the city and proceeds easterly to M-32 southeast of Gaylord. |
| |
F-44 begins at M-32 east of the city and continues easterly through Sparr to F-01. |
| Old US-27 | The former route of US-27 U.S. Route 27 U.S. Route 27 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana... is a major north–south local route through the city and the rest of Otsego County. |
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 3,681 people, 1,584 households, and 888 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 932.8 per square mile (359.8/km²). There were 1,773 housing units at an average density of 449.3 per square mile (173.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.50% White, 0.30% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.33% 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 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.
There were 1,584 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% 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, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 79.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,770, and the median income for a family was $36,654. Males had a median income of $33,264 versus $19,815 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 $17,313. About 8.8% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Gaylord has two high schools: Gaylord High School, which is one of the largest high schools in Northern MichiganNorthern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
and competes in the Big North Conference along with the five other large high schools in that area of the state. Its 2007 enrollment of 1,076 pupils places it in Class A (large schools) of the Michigan High School Athletic Association
Michigan High School Athletic Association
-About:The Michigan High School Athletic Association is a service organization for high school sports in Michigan and is headquartered in East Lansing...
. St. Mary Cathedral School is a Pre K-12 school which, despite its small size, has a successful athletic tradition. It is the only private school in the nine-member Ski Valley League and its 2007 high school enrollment of 110 places it in MHSAA's Class D.
Elected officials
City of Gaylord offices are at 225 W. Main Street, Gaylord, MI 49735 (989) 732-4060- City Manager: Thidrek Joe Duff
- Mayor: John Jenkins
- City Council: Todd Sharrard; Joe Wambold; William Tholl; Jerry Campbell; Steve Johnson; Patrick Mankowski; Bill Blaker
Famous people from Gaylord
- Kurt A. David - Former professional basketball player, bestselling author, and TV host/executive producer of the From Glory Days TV Show.
- Gaylord is the childhood home of the "father of information theoryInformation theoryInformation theory is a branch of applied mathematics and electrical engineering involving the quantification of information. Information theory was developed by Claude E. Shannon to find fundamental limits on signal processing operations such as compressing data and on reliably storing and...
", Claude Shannon.
- Don Campbell - Famous scale model builder, producing large scale models in steel of heavy construction, mining and agricultural material.
Recreation
- Cross country skiing is an important tourist activity near Gaylord. With two of the top-rated cross country venues in Michigan, namely Hartwick Pines State ParkHartwick Pines State ParkHartwick Pines State Park is a 9,672 acre State Park in the US state of Michigan, located in Crawford County near Grayling and Interstate 75. It is the third largest state park on Michigan's Lower Peninsula and the state's fifth-biggest park overall...
Trails and Mason Tract Pathway nearby. Forbush corners in nearby Frederic, MichiganMichiganMichigan 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"....
is a world-recognized center for education and training in cross country skiing, and benefits from early and late snow due to a 'snow belt micro climate.' Accomplished amateur ski racer David Forbush designed, maintains, and grooms "one of the finest privately owned systems in the Midwest." - Fishing in the local lakes and rivers is abundant. Gaylord offers fly fishingFly fishingFly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
and anglingAnglingAngling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
on the edge of some world class streams, rivers and lakes. Particularly notable are two nearby rivers which parallel each other: the Au Sable RiverAu Sable River (Michigan)The Au Sable River in Michigan runs approximately through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at Oscoda. It is considered one of the best brown trout fisheries east of the Rockies and has been designated a blue ribbon trout stream by the...
which runs East to Lake HuronLake HuronLake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
and the Manistee RiverManistee RiverThe Manistee River in the U.S. state of Michigan, runs approximately 232 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the villages of Sharon, Smithville, Mesick, and enters Lake Michigan at Manistee. It is considered, like the nearby Au Sable River, to be one of the best trout fisheries east...
which runs West to Lake MichiganLake MichiganLake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. Trout are driven to a feeding frenzy by prolific and multiple insect hatches. - As is true in the rest of Michigan, White tail deer huntingHuntingHunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
is locally considered to be a 'sacrament' and the firearms deer opener (November 15) its 'holy day of obligation.' A lack of classroom turnout on this day has led to the cancellation of school, which is listed on school calendars as "firearms safety day." With a large percentage of Otsego County owned by federal and state government, and open to the public, it is a hunter's dream. Various terrain types yield trophy bucks, and other fauna, from squirrels to waterfowl. Gaylord is a sportmen's paradise. - Snow shoeing and snow mobile riding are activities that fit right in to the local weather and topography.
- Because it is in the snow belt due to the lake effect snow and has prodigious snowfall, nearby skiSkiA ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
resorts are active. - Additionally, snowmobileSnowmobileA snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
riding is a popular activity. The North Central State TrailNorth Central State TrailThe North Central State Trail is a recreational rail trail serving a section of the northern quarter of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Following a route generally parallel to Interstate 75, the trail goes northward from the Michigan town of Gaylord to the top of the Lower...
north to Mackinaw CityMackinaw City, MichiganMackinaw City is a village in Emmet and Cheboygan counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census the population was 859. The name "Mackinaw City" is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually a village...
is a Rails to trails converted remnant of a spur line of the Michigan Central RailroadMichigan Central RailroadThe Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
that used to serve Gaylord.
Recurrent local events
There are a number of local events. A calendar is available. They include:- Wings Over Gaylord - Air Show - third weekend in June.
- Gaylord Alpenfest - third weekend in July. Burning of the Boogg!, Parade on Saturday, car show, carnival rides.
- Oktoberfest - first weekend in October.
Media
- The Gaylord Herald Times serves the area.
WMJZ, "Eagle" 101.5 FM, features an adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
format and is the primary local (Gaylord/Otsego County-focused) commercial radio station. Also licensed to Gaylord are WBLW
WBLW
WBLW is a radio station broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Gaylord, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 2000....
88.1 FM and WPHN 90.5 FM (Northern Christian Radio
Northern Christian Radio
Northern Christian Radio is a group of non-commercial FM radio stations, based in Gaylord, Michigan.In the early 1980s a group of Christian men began to explore the possibility of starting a Christian radio station for Northern Michigan...
), which both feature non-commercial Christian religious programming, and WSRT 106.7 FM, an adult contemporary music station (formerly WKPK "The Peak," a locally legendary top 40 station) which, although licensed to Gaylord, is based in Traverse City.
Gaylord is also served by radio and TV broadcasts from Traverse City, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Cadillac, Grayling, Houghton Lake, Cheboygan, and Alpena.
Others
South of town, the US National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
has an office responsible for issuing public, aviation and marine forecasts for northern Michigan and surrounding waters. It is equiped with a NEXRAD
NEXRAD
NEXRAD or Nexrad is a network of 159 high-resolution Doppler weather radars operated by the National Weather Service, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United States Department of Commerce...
weather radar
Weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type . Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the...
and twice a day (00 and 12 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
) launch a weather balloon
Weather balloon
A weather or sounding balloon is a balloon which carries instruments aloft to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed by means of a small, expendable measuring device called a radiosonde...
sounding the atmosphere.