Mecosta, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Mecosta is a village in Mecosta County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 440 at the 2000 census
. The village is within Morton Township
. Mecosta Township
, which is also in Mecosta county, is located several miles to the west.
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 440 people, 167 households, and 112 families residing in the village. The population density
was 384.7 per square mile (149.0/km²). There were 200 housing units at an average density of 174.8 per square mile (67.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 88.18% White, 2.27% African American, 0.45% Native American, 1.36% from other races
, and 7.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.
There were 167 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples
living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 111.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,857, and the median income for a family was $30,208. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,620. About 17.3% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
. Kirk resided at Piety Hill, currently the location of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
.
Mecosta County, Michigan
Mecosta County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. The county is named after Chief Mecosta, the leader of the Potawatomi Native American tribe that once traveled the local waterways in search of fish and game. Chief Mecosta was one of the signers the Treaty of Washington in 1836. The easily...
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 440 at 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 within Morton Township
Morton Township, Michigan
Morton Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,597 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* Canadian Lakes is an unincorporated community in the southwest part of the township....
. Mecosta Township
Mecosta Township, Michigan
Mecosta Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,435 at the 2000 census. The Village of Mecosta, which is also in Mecosta County, is in Morton Township, several miles to the east.-Geography:...
, which is also in Mecosta county, is located several miles to the west.
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.
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 440 people, 167 households, and 112 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 384.7 per square mile (149.0/km²). There were 200 housing units at an average density of 174.8 per square mile (67.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 88.18% White, 2.27% African American, 0.45% Native American, 1.36% 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 7.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.
There were 167 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% 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, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 111.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,857, and the median income for a family was $30,208. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $22,500 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 $14,620. About 17.3% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
Mecosta was home to American political theorist, historian, social critic, literary critic, and fiction author Russell KirkRussell Kirk
Russell Kirk was an American political theorist, moralist, historian, social critic, literary critic, and fiction author known for his influence on 20th century American conservatism. His 1953 book, The Conservative Mind, gave shape to the amorphous post–World War II conservative movement...
. Kirk resided at Piety Hill, currently the location of the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal is a nonprofit educational organization based out of Mecosta, Michigan. It was founded in order to continue the legacy of Dr. Russell Kirk, an American political theorist, historian, social critic, literary critic, and fiction author...
.