Hersey, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Hersey is a village in Osceola County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 374 at the time of the 2000 census
. The village is located within Hersey Township
.
after the great fire
. It was founded by Delos A. Blodgett, a banker, lumber baron, and philanthropist. His family was a major benefactor in the Grand Rapids
area via the Blodgett Hospital and the Grand Rapids Home for Kids.
The Hersey General Store, which was established in 1869, was lost to an arson fire on Labor Day 2008. The commercial district now consists of the renovated Hersey Roller Mills Store, and reopened Hersey Party Store.
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
The Hersey River
flows into the Muskegon River
at Hersey.
of 2000, there were 374 people, 139 households, and 97 families residing in the village. The population density
was 343.4 per square mile (132.5/km²). There were 169 housing units at an average density of 155.2 per square mile (59.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.59% White, 0.53% Native American, 0.80% Asian, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 139 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,929, and the median income for a family was $46,000. Males had a median income of $25,694 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,584. About 8.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.
on the western side, and to Evart
on the eastern. The village and a locally-run campground, Blodgett Landing, are located at the confluence of the Hersey
and Muskegon
rivers, two of the best trout streams in the state of Michigan. Located on the eastern edge of town lies a bridge with a clearance of 20 feet (6 m) over the Muskegon River. This bridge-jumping-enthusiast's dream has long been a popular bridge-jumping site for youngsters and older on hot summer days.
Osceola County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households, and 6,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile . There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 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 374 at the time of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The village is located within Hersey Township
Hersey Township, Michigan
Hersey Township is a civil township of Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,846 at the 2000 census. The village of Hersey is located within the township.-Geography:...
.
History
Hersey is a small rural community that started as a lumber town in the early 19th century and was a major supplier of lumber to the Muskegon Lumber Yards and played an important role in rebuilding ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
after the great fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
. It was founded by Delos A. Blodgett, a banker, lumber baron, and philanthropist. His family was a major benefactor in the Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
area via the Blodgett Hospital and the Grand Rapids Home for Kids.
The Hersey General Store, which was established in 1869, was lost to an arson fire on Labor Day 2008. The commercial district now consists of the renovated Hersey Roller Mills Store, and reopened Hersey Party Store.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
The Hersey River
Hersey River
The Hersey River is a stream in the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises in Lincoln Township in northwest Osceola County at the junction of Hersey Creek and the East Branch Hersey Creek at . For approximately the first two miles, the river flows southward just east of U.S. Route...
flows into the Muskegon River
Muskegon River
The Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan,...
at Hersey.
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 374 people, 139 households, and 97 families residing in the village. 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 343.4 per square mile (132.5/km²). There were 169 housing units at an average density of 155.2 per square mile (59.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.59% White, 0.53% Native American, 0.80% Asian, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 139 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,929, and the median income for a family was $46,000. Males had a median income of $25,694 versus $19,375 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 village was $15,584. About 8.8% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.
Recreation
The Rails to Trails bike and winter sports path passes through Hersey, running immediately to Reed CityReed City, Michigan
Reed City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,430. It is the county seat of Osceola County.It is the home town of author Timothy James Bazzett.-Geography:...
on the western side, and to Evart
Evart, Michigan
Evart is a city in Osceola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The city lies on the northern edge of Evart Township and is partially within neighboring Osceola Township.-History:...
on the eastern. The village and a locally-run campground, Blodgett Landing, are located at the confluence of the Hersey
Hersey River
The Hersey River is a stream in the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises in Lincoln Township in northwest Osceola County at the junction of Hersey Creek and the East Branch Hersey Creek at . For approximately the first two miles, the river flows southward just east of U.S. Route...
and Muskegon
Muskegon River
The Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan,...
rivers, two of the best trout streams in the state of Michigan. Located on the eastern edge of town lies a bridge with a clearance of 20 feet (6 m) over the Muskegon River. This bridge-jumping-enthusiast's dream has long been a popular bridge-jumping site for youngsters and older on hot summer days.