Onekama, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Onekama is a village in Manistee County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 647 at the 2000 census
. The village is located on the shores of Portage Lake and is surrounded by Onekama Township
. The town's name is derived from "oneka-ma-engh", a native phrase for "portage". Some local business people have produced sweatshirts, t-shirts, and bumper stickers with the symbols "1," , a common mispronunciation.
, the village has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all land.
, first established in 1845, at the western end of Portage
, at the outlet of Portage Creek. In 1871, when landowners around the land-locked lake became exasperated with the practices of the Portage Sawmill, they took the solution into their own hands and dug a channel through the narrow isthmus, opening a waterway that lowered the lake by 12 to 14 feet and brought it to the same level as Lake Michigan
. When this action dried out Portage Creek on 14 May 1871, the settlement, which had only the week before been designated as Onekama with a Post Office under that name, moved to the previously submerged land at the northwestern shore of the lake near an earlier settlement called "Brookfield".
In 1880, the first public buildings were built in the new village. These included the Pierce Grist Mill and The Gibert Brothers' Saw Mill. In 1882, the first school was built next to the present-day Congregational Church. In 1883, a large summer hotel, The Glen House, was built near the Glen, with its three mineral springs that were believed to have medicinal value.
The village was incorporated in 1891 and included the earlier settlement known as Brookfield, creating a long narrow village about 1.5 miles long with the business section on the flat, former lake bottom and residences on the higher land.
In 1889, a branch of the Manistee and Northeastern Railroad was extended to the village.
of 2000, there were 647 people, 239 households, and 152 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,083.9 per square mile (416.3/km²). There were 315 housing units at an average density of 527.7 per square mile (202.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 85.16% White, 0.15% African American, 0.46% Native American, 13.14% from other races
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.79% of the population.
There were 239 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.66.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 115.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,091, and the median income for a family was $47,500. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $15,455 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,718. About 9.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.
Manistee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,527 people, 9,860 households, and 6,714 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 14,272 housing units at an average density of 26 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 647 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 located on the shores of Portage Lake and is surrounded by Onekama Township
Onekama Township, Michigan
Onekama Township is a civil township of Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,514 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* The Village of Onekama is located within the township on the northeast side of Portage Lake...
. The town's name is derived from "oneka-ma-engh", a native phrase for "portage". Some local business people have produced sweatshirts, t-shirts, and bumper stickers with the symbols "1," , a common mispronunciation.
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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all land.
History
The predecessor of the village of Onekama was the settlement of Portage at Portage PointPortage Point
Portage Point is an unincorporated summer resort area of Onekama Township, Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes the site of the first town on Portage Lake at It is located on the narrow strip of land between Portage Lake and Lake Michigan developed by the Portage Point...
, first established in 1845, at the western end of Portage
Portage Lake (Michigan)
Portage Lake is a natural lake, located in Onekama Township in Manistee County, Michigan. The village of Onekama, Michigan is situated at the northeastern end of the lake.-History:...
, at the outlet of Portage Creek. In 1871, when landowners around the land-locked lake became exasperated with the practices of the Portage Sawmill, they took the solution into their own hands and dug a channel through the narrow isthmus, opening a waterway that lowered the lake by 12 to 14 feet and brought it to the same level as 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...
. When this action dried out Portage Creek on 14 May 1871, the settlement, which had only the week before been designated as Onekama with a Post Office under that name, moved to the previously submerged land at the northwestern shore of the lake near an earlier settlement called "Brookfield".
In 1880, the first public buildings were built in the new village. These included the Pierce Grist Mill and The Gibert Brothers' Saw Mill. In 1882, the first school was built next to the present-day Congregational Church. In 1883, a large summer hotel, The Glen House, was built near the Glen, with its three mineral springs that were believed to have medicinal value.
The village was incorporated in 1891 and included the earlier settlement known as Brookfield, creating a long narrow village about 1.5 miles long with the business section on the flat, former lake bottom and residences on the higher land.
In 1889, a branch of the Manistee and Northeastern Railroad was extended to the village.
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 647 people, 239 households, and 152 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 1,083.9 per square mile (416.3/km²). There were 315 housing units at an average density of 527.7 per square mile (202.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 85.16% White, 0.15% African American, 0.46% Native American, 13.14% 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 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.79% of the population.
There were 239 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.66.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 115.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,091, and the median income for a family was $47,500. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $15,455 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 $16,718. About 9.3% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.