Armada, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Armada, Michigan
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Village
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| Motto(s):
"A Rich Past and a Bright Future"
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Location within Macomb County
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 Armada, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Armada, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Macomb |
| Township | Armada |
| Government | |
| • Type | Village council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.74 sq mi (1.91 km2) |
| • Land | 0.74 sq mi (1.91 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 745 ft (227 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,684 |
| • Density | 2,284.94/sq mi (881.96/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
48005
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| Area code(s) | 586 |
| FIPS code | 26-03520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397987 |
Armada (pronounced ar-MAH-duh) is a small village in Macomb County, which is in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 1,684 people lived there. The village is located inside Armada Township. It is most famous for its yearly Armada Fair.
Contents
History of Armada Village
The first person to buy land in the area that became Armada Township was John Proctor in 1825. By 1832, twenty-three more families had bought land in this rural area. Until that year, the area was part of Ray Township.
Founding Armada Township
In 1832, a meeting was held to create a separate township. The idea won by two votes, and Armada Township was formed. Legend says that during the discussion to name the new township, a man named Hosea Northrup shouted out "Armada!" The name was accepted.
Early Days of the Village
The village of Armada was founded in 1833 by Elijah Burke. It was first called "Burke's Corners" after him. The village started to grow when people improved an old Native American trail. This happened in the early 1830s. This road soon became an important path for people moving between Romeo and Port Huron, Michigan. Today, this road is known as Armada Ridge Road.
Burke's Corners was briefly renamed "Honeoye." This was after the New York hometown of some new settlers. When the village officially became a village in the late 1860s, it was named "Armada." This was the same name as the township. By then, about 800 people lived in the village.
Life in the Late 1800s and Early 1900s
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Armada was a busy place. It had a stagecoach stop and an opera house. There were also seven grocery stores, three hotels, and three hardware stores. The village had a lumberyard, a grain mill, and a bakery. Five doctors and several blacksmith shops also served the community.
Education and Library
The first school in Armada was a one-room schoolhouse. It was located at Selleck's Corners. Soon, many schools were built across the township. In the 1940s, these small schools joined together. Children were then bused into town to attend the larger schools.
Armada showed its interest in education in the early 1900s. They asked the Carnegie Foundation for money to build a public library. Andrew Carnegie helped towns that would also provide money for construction. These towns also had to promise to pay for the library's daily costs. The residents of Armada asked for $8,000 to build a permanent township library. The Armada Free Public Library was built in 1915. It is still used today.
Community Life and Transport
Many social groups existed in Armada. These included fraternal organizations, a literary club, and a science club. The Armada Cornet Band also provided entertainment.
The Michigan Air Line Railway connected Armada to other cities. Passengers and goods used the train station at Church Street. A local company delivered goods to businesses using horses and wagons.
Community Spirit
In 2014, the village faced a difficult time. The community came together to support each other. In July 2019, Reader's Digest magazine voted Armada the "Nicest Place in Michigan." It was also a finalist for the magazine's "50 Nicest Places in America" story.
Geography of Armada
Armada is located in the northern part of Macomb County. It is about 18 miles north of Mount Clemens, which is the county seat. It is also about 28 miles southwest of Port Huron. Downtown Detroit is about 39 miles south-southwest.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village covers about 0.74 square miles (1.91 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land. The East Branch of Coon Creek flows through the center of the village. This creek is part of the Clinton River system, which flows into Lake St. Clair.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 494 | — | |
| 1880 | 556 | 12.6% | |
| 1890 | 638 | 14.7% | |
| 1900 | 863 | 35.3% | |
| 1910 | 748 | −13.3% | |
| 1920 | 711 | −4.9% | |
| 1930 | 840 | 18.1% | |
| 1940 | 865 | 3.0% | |
| 1950 | 961 | 11.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,111 | 15.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,352 | 21.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,392 | 3.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,548 | 11.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,573 | 1.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,730 | 10.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,684 | −2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 1,730 people living in Armada. There were 607 households and 425 families. The village had about 2,276 people per square mile (879 people per square kilometer). There were 656 homes, with about 863 homes per square mile (333 homes per square kilometer).
Most people in the village were White (98.0%). A small number were African American (0.3%), Native American (0.1%), or Asian (0.1%). About 2.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Of the 607 households, 40.2% had children under 18 living with them. About 55.7% were married couples. Around 10.7% had a female head of household with no husband. About 30.0% were not families. Also, 25.7% of all households had only one person living there. About 11.9% had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.73 people. The average family had 3.30 people.
The average age in the village was 38.6 years. About 27.9% of residents were under 18. Around 8.3% were between 18 and 24. About 24% were between 25 and 44. Another 24.8% were between 45 and 64. Finally, 15.1% were 65 years or older. The village had slightly more females (52.7%) than males (47.3%).
Attractions in Armada
- A country fair has been held in the village every August since 1872.
- A Halloween festival called Armada-geddon takes place every year. It is held on the second Saturday in October. This event celebrates fall, fun, and spooky things. It includes a 5k walk/run, a street fair with crafts and food, and games for children. In the evening, there is a lighted Halloween Parade.
Notable People from Armada
- Dick Enberg, a famous sports announcer, went to high school in Armada.
- Martha Griffiths, who was the 59th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, lived and died in Armada.
- Ben Stephens, an American baseball pitcher, died in Armada.
See also
In Spanish: Armada (Míchigan) para niños
