Tawas City, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Tawas City is a city along Lake Huron
in the Lower Peninsula
of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the city population was 2,005. It is the county seat
of Iosco County
. The city is adjacent to Tawas Township
but is administratively autonomous.
of 2000, there were 2,005 people, 760 households, and 484 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,174.4 per square mile (452.7/km²). There were 969 housing units at an average density of 567.6 per square mile (218.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.55% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 760 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $37,235. Males had a median income of $28,789 versus $24,563 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,061. About 8.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
is located in nearby Baldwin Township
. Both are considered to be an especially good locale for birding. and are listed as Important bird area
s. It is said to be the most important "migrant trap" in the Saginaw Bay
area. A fairly complete list of migratory birds that frequent the area is available.
Current as of January 2010
is a local public school district. Emanuel Lutheran School is a private parochial elementary school in Tawas City, serving approximately 70 students in grades K-8. It is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
.
, the cable system serving Iosco County, offers most major channels from that market, along with Alpena
's CBS
affiliate, WBKB-TV
, as well as CBC Television
programming from CBMT
in Montreal
.
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...
in the Lower Peninsula
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...
of 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"....
. As 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 city population was 2,005. 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 Iosco County
Iosco County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 27,339 people, 11,727 households, and 7,857 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 20,432 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
. The city is adjacent to Tawas Township
Tawas Township, Michigan
Tawas Township is a civil township of Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,684 at the 2000 census. Tawas City is adjacent to the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
but is administratively autonomous.
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 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (20.47%) is water. - 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...
.
Major highways
US 23 runs along the Lake Huron shore, and is a proximate connector to I-75, which would be an approach to the city from the south. It has been designated the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, and runs along (or parallels) the Lake Huron shore.
M-55M-55 (Michigan highway)M-55 is a state trunkline highway in the northern part of the US state of Michigan. M-55 is one of only three state highways that extend across the Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan; the others are M-46 and M-72. The highway crosses through rural forest and farmlands to connect...
is one of only three state highways that extend across the U.S. state of Michigan's Lower Peninsula from 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...
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...
. Its east end terminates in Tawas City at the junction of US 23.
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 2,005 people, 760 households, and 484 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 1,174.4 per square mile (452.7/km²). There were 969 housing units at an average density of 567.6 per square mile (218.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.55% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.30% 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 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 760 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $37,235. Males had a median income of $28,789 versus $24,563 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 $16,061. About 8.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Local attractions
The City is on Tawas Bay, and Tawas Point State ParkTawas Point State Park
Tawas Point State Park is a Michigan state park located in Northern Michigan near the city of East Tawas. It is just over an hour drive from the Saginaw and Bay City area and a little over three hours from the Detroit area. The park contains situated on the end of a sand spit that forms Tawas Bay...
is located in nearby Baldwin Township
Baldwin Township, Iosco County, Michigan
Baldwin Township is a civil township of Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,726.-Geography:...
. Both are considered to be an especially good locale for birding. and are listed as Important bird area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
s. It is said to be the most important "migrant trap" in the Saginaw Bay
Saginaw Bay
Saginaw Bay is a bay within Lake Huron located on the eastern side of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms the space between Michigan's Thumb region and the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw Bay is in area...
area. A fairly complete list of migratory birds that frequent the area is available.
Administration
- Mayor: Duane Walters
- Clerk: Michelle Westcott
- Treasurer: Annette Corey
- Zoning Administrator: Annge Klinger
Current as of January 2010
Education
Tawas Area SchoolsTawas Area Schools
Tawas Area Schools is a public school district in the U.S. state of Michigan serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and draws its approximately 1,470 students from the cities of East Tawas and Tawas City as well as Alabaster Township, Baldwin Township, Grant Township, Sherman Township,...
is a local public school district. Emanuel Lutheran School is a private parochial elementary school in Tawas City, serving approximately 70 students in grades K-8. It is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a North American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of 2008, it had a baptized membership of over 389,364 in more than 1,290 congregations,...
.
Area radio stations
- WIOSWIOSWIOS is a radio station broadcasting a format of adult standards and talk. Licensed to Tawas City, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 1958....
(1480 AM) - Adult standardsAdult standardsAdult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
(Tawas City) - WJOJWLGHWLGH is a non-commercial, contemporary Christian FM radio station located in Lansing, Michigan. The station, which broadcasts on 88.1 MHz FM, is owned by Superior Communications which is in turn owned by Jennifer and Edward Czelada.The station is officially licensed to operate in Leroy Township,...
(89.7 FM) - Contemporary Christian (HarrisvilleHarrisville, MichiganHarrisville is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alcona County. The population was 493 at the 2010 census. The city is surrounded by Harrisville Township, but is administratively autonomous...
) - WCMBWCMU-FMWCMU-FM is a radio station in the United States, broadcasting at FM 89.5 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The station, owned by Central Michigan University, is a National Public Radio member station, airing a large amount of classical and jazz music along with a variety of other programming...
(95.7 FM) - CMU Public Radio (OscodaOscoda, MichiganOscoda is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan located on the northern side of the Au Sable River where it enters Lake Huron. The community of Au Sable is on the other side of the river. Oscoda is in Oscoda Township in Iosco County, and not in Oscoda County, which is to the...
) - WWTHWWTHWWTH and WHAK , Thunder Country, are a pair of radio stations broadcasting a country music format to northeastern lower Michigan. Additionally, the group has a translator, W231BF,...
(100.7 FM) - CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
(OscodaOscoda, MichiganOscoda is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan located on the northern side of the Au Sable River where it enters Lake Huron. The community of Au Sable is on the other side of the river. Oscoda is in Oscoda Township in Iosco County, and not in Oscoda County, which is to the...
) - WQLBWQLBWQLB and WKJZ are a pair of radio stations known as "HITS FM" playing music from the 1960s through the 1980s...
(103.3 FM) - Classic hitsClassic hitsClassic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
(Tawas City) - WKJCWKJCWKJC is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Tawas City, Michigan, United States, it first began broadcasting in 1980 at 103.9. WKJC is locally programmed....
(104.7 FM) - CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
(Tawas City) - WHST (106.1 FM) - ReligiousChristian radioChristian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
Television
Tawas City and Iosco County are part of the Flint-Saginaw-Bay City television market; Charter CommunicationsCharter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
, the cable system serving Iosco County, offers most major channels from that market, along with Alpena
Alpena, Michigan
Alpena is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Alpena County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located in the city. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census...
's CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate, WBKB-TV
WBKB-TV
WBKB-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Alpena area of Michigan's Northern Lower Peninsula. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter south of Hubbard Lake near M-72 in Alcona County. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 10 and...
, as well as CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
programming from CBMT
CBMT
CBMT-DT is the CBC's television station in Montreal, Quebec. Programming on CBMT is seen on a network of more than 50 rebroadcasters throughout Quebec and in three communities in northern Manitoba: Brochet, Poplar River, and Shamattawa.-History:...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
Newspapers
- The Iosco County News-Herald is the newspaper of record for Iosco County.
- The Oscoda Press is a weekly newspaper serving northern Iosco County and southern Alcona County
- Daily editions of The Alpena NewsAlpena NewsThe Alpena News is a general daily newspaper in the City of Alpena, Michigan. USA. It has an approximate circulation of 10,000, and is published by Ogden Newspapers Inc. News reports are available on line. The paper was founded in 1902. The paper currently has between 20 to 50 employees.It is...
, Detroit Free PressDetroit Free PressThe Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
and The Detroit NewsThe Detroit NewsThe Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
are also available throughout the area, as well as the Bay City TimesBay City TimesThe Bay City Times is a newspaper published in Bay City, Michigan, United States, published Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, with a Tuesday edition jointly-published with The Saginaw News. The paper is published by Booth Newspapers, owned by Advance Publications...
and The Saginaw NewsThe Saginaw NewsThe Saginaw News is a newspaper publication based in Saginaw, Michigan, owned by Booth Newspapers, a division of Advance Publications. Published on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays , the paper has approximately 50,000 readers each day...
.