Allegan, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Allegan
City
Locust Street, downtown
Location of Allegan, Michigan
Allegan, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Allegan, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States Allegan, Michigan Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Allegan
Area
• Total	4.26 sq mi (11.03 km2)
• Land	3.85 sq mi (9.96 km2)
• Water	0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2)
Elevation	653 ft (199 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,222
• Density	1,357.77/sq mi (524.18/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	49010
Area code	269
FIPS code	26-01260
GNIS feature ID	0619961
Website	http://www.cityofallegan.org/

Allegan is a city in Michigan, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Allegan County, Michigan. In 2020, about 5,222 people lived there.

Allegan is located about 40 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. It is also about 30 miles northwest of Kalamazoo. The city is part of Allegan Township, but it runs itself.

History of Allegan

Allegan was founded by a group of men in 1833. These men included Elisha Ely, Samuel Hubbard, Charles Christopher Trowbridge, Pliny Cutler, and Edmund Monroe. They thought the area was perfect for businesses. This was because of the Kalamazoo River, which could provide water power. It also allowed for easy water travel. By 1835, a dam and a sawmill were already built.

How Allegan Got Its Name

The name Allegan was created in 1837 by a historian named Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. He wanted it to sound like a Native American word. The downtown area was bought from the government. Allegan became a village in 1838 and a city in 1907.

The Famous One-Lane Bridge

In 1886, a special one-lane bridge was built over the Kalamazoo River. It connected the main highway (M-89) to the downtown area. Over time, the bridge became old and needed repairs. People wanted to tear it down. But in 1983, a group of people worked hard to raise money and save it. Now, this unique one-lane bridge is a symbol of Allegan. You can even see it in the city's logo!

Allegan's Car History

In 1914, Allegan played a small part in the early car industry. A company here started making a race car called the Cornelian automobile. It was made by Howard E. Blood and Louis Chevrolet. However, not many of these cars were made, less than 100 in total.

Geography and Climate

Allegan covers a total area of about 4.26 square miles (11.03 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small part being water.

Allegan's Weather

Allegan has a climate with big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are usually warm to hot and can be humid. Winters are cold, and sometimes very cold. This type of weather is called a humid continental climate.

Population Information

Recent Population Numbers

According to the 2020 United States census, Allegan had 5,222 people. Most residents were White. There were also people who identified as Black or African American, Asian, Native American, or from two or more races. About 6.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In the census of 2010, there were 4,998 people living in Allegan. There were almost 2,000 households. The average age of people in the city was about 34.6 years old.

Economy and Jobs

The biggest employer in Allegan is Perrigo. This company makes a lot of over-the-counter medicines that you can buy without a prescription. Perrigo started in Allegan in 1887. Other companies that used to be in Allegan include Haworth, which makes seats, and Rockwell.

Allegan also has a small airport called Padgham Field. It is used for general aviation.

Arts and Culture in Allegan

Second Street Bridge

River Front Walk

The Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre first opened its doors in 1919. It used to be a place where horses were kept! The theater showed movies and had live shows called vaudeville acts. In the 1930s, it got a cool new look called Art Deco. The theater closed in the 1980s but was bought and fixed up in 1990. Sadly, the roof fell in during a rainstorm in 1997, but it was rebuilt. The Regent Theatre has one of the largest movie screens in Michigan.

Art Groups

• Allegan Community Players: This is a group that puts on theater plays.
• Allegan Area Arts Council: This group was started in 1997. They help support and organize different art activities in the area.

Local News

The local newspaper in Allegan is called Allegan County News. It has been publishing news since 1858.

City Services

Allegan has a hospital that is open 24 hours a day, called Allegan General Hospital. The city also has its own police department. The Sheriff's Department for Allegan County is also located in Allegan. Allegan County has 24 townships. Most of these townships have their own schools, emergency services, and local police.

Famous People From Allegan

Many interesting people have connections to Allegan:

• Ray Luther "Dad" Hale: A baseball pitcher for teams like the Boston Beaneaters. He was born in Allegan.
• Clare Hoffman: A congressman from Michigan. He practiced law in Allegan.
• Arthur Marsh: He was the chairman of the Michigan Republican Party for a few years. He was from Allegan.
• Frank Miller: Another baseball pitcher who played for teams like the Chicago White Sox. He was born in Allegan.
• George Munger: A soldier in the 4th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. He was from Allegan.
• Egbert Starr Newbury: A journalist who founded Newbury Park, California. He was born in Allegan.
• Clara Elsene Peck: A talented painter and illustrator. She was born in Allegan.
• Benjamin D. Pritchard: An officer in the Union Army during the Civil War. He lived in Allegan.
• Alanson Weeks: A football player and medical doctor. He was born in Allegan.
• Boss Weeks: A football player who was a quarterback for the University of Michigan's famous "Point-a-Minute" teams. He later coached football at other colleges and lived in Allegan.

See Also

In Spanish: Allegan (Míchigan) para niños