Belding, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belding, Michigan
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Belding City Hall in January 2015
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Location of Belding, Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ionia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.91 sq mi (12.71 km2) |
| • Land | 4.72 sq mi (12.23 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.47 km2) |
| Elevation | 771 ft (235 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,938 |
| • Density | 1,256.99/sq mi (485.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
48809, 48887
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| Area code(s) | 616 |
| FIPS code | 26-06900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1625907 |
Belding is a city located in Ionia County, Michigan. It is completely surrounded by Otisco Township, Michigan. In 2020, about 5,938 people lived there.
Contents
History of Belding
The first person to settle in the area that would become Belding was Levi Broas in 1838. This was six years before John Green, who later gave his name to another area, arrived. The community had a few different names over the years. It was first called Broas Rapids, then Patterson Mills. During the time when logging was very important, it was even known as Hog Wallow. The name Belding was chosen in 1871 to honor the Belding family, who were very important to the city's growth.
Geography of Belding
Belding covers a total area of about 12.71 square kilometers (4.90 square miles). Most of this area, about 12.23 square kilometers (4.72 square miles), is land. The rest, about 0.47 square kilometers (0.18 square miles), is water.
Belding's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 562 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,730 | 207.8% | |
| 1900 | 3,282 | 89.7% | |
| 1910 | 4,119 | 25.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,911 | −5.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,140 | 5.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,089 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,436 | 8.5% | |
| 1960 | 4,887 | 10.2% | |
| 1970 | 5,121 | 4.8% | |
| 1980 | 5,634 | 10.0% | |
| 1990 | 5,969 | 5.9% | |
| 2000 | 5,877 | −1.5% | |
| 2010 | 5,757 | −2.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,938 | 3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 5,757 people living in Belding. The city had 2,161 households, with many families among them. The population density was about 1,219.7 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Belding were White (95.2%). Other groups included African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 5.0% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Belding was 33.7 years old. About 28.7% of residents were under 18, and 12.7% were 65 or older. The city had a slightly higher number of females (52.4%) than males (47.6%).
Historical Places to Visit
Belding has some interesting historical sites that tell the story of the city.
Belding Museum at the Belrockton
The Belding Museum is located in a historic building called the Belrockton. Locals often call it "The Bel." This building is a special Michigan Historical Site. It was built in 1906.
The Belrockton was one of three boarding houses built by the Belding Brothers and Company. These houses were for the young women who worked in their silk factories. The company was a major silk maker in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Because of this, Belding was known as the "Silk City of the World."
The Belrockton could house 100 people. After the silk mills closed in 1935, the building was used as a training center. Later, it became a recreation center. The city bought it in 1950 to use as a community center. Since 1987, it has been home to the Belding Museum, which still hosts many local events.
Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library
The Alvah N. Belding Memorial Library is located at 302 E. Main Street. Belding's first public library started in 1890. It was created by a group of women from the Ladies Literary Club. They collected books from their own homes and bought others with money from events like strawberry festivals.
The early library was in a room above a store. After a big fire in 1893, it moved to different places, including City Hall. In 1914, Alvah N. Belding, from the Belding & Bros. Company, decided to build a new library for the city. The city council accepted his generous offer in 1917 and promised to keep the building as a library forever.
Education in Belding
Public schools in Belding are managed by Belding Area Schools.
Gus Macker Basketball Tournament
Belding is also famous for hosting the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament. When this tournament was at its most popular, Belding's population would grow by about 100,000 temporary visitors during the Macker weekends!
Notable People from Belding
- Marie Zeigler, a player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
See also
In Spanish: Belding para niños
