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Charlotte, Michigan
City
Eaton County Courthouse
Eaton County Courthouse
Location of Charlotte, Michigan
Location of Charlotte, Michigan
Country United States
State Michigan
County Eaton
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
Area
 • Total 6.50 sq mi (16.83 km2)
 • Land 6.45 sq mi (16.71 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
909 ft (277 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 9,074
 • Estimate 
(2019)
 9,090
 • Density 1,409.08/sq mi (544.07/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
48813
Area code(s) 517
FIPS code 26-14820
GNIS feature ID 0623117
Website http://www.charlottemi.org/

Charlotte ( shar-LOT) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County.

Charlotte is in the central portion of the county, on the boundary between Eaton Township and Carmel Township, though politically independent of both. Interstate 69 serves the city, and connects it to the state capital of Lansing. It is located 21.5 miles (34.6 kilometers) from downtown Lansing.

History

In 1832 George Barnes purchased the land that would become Charlotte from the U.S. Government. Barnes in turn sold the land to Edmond B. Bostwick, a land speculator from New York City three years later in 1835. Bostwick then sold portions of the land to H.I. Lawrence, Townsend Harris, and Francis Cochran. These four created the village which they named after Edmond Bostwick's wife Charlotte. Jonathan Searles became the first postmaster on March 17, 1838.

Charlotte was incorporated as a village on October 10, 1863, and as a city on March 29, 1871. At various times Charlotte had the unofficial names of Eaton Centre, and Carmel. It was designated as the county seat when Eaton County was organized in 1837; however, due to a lack of population and buildings, county functions were conducted at Bellevue until 1840.

The Dolson automobile was manufactured in Charlotte from 1904 to 1907.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.50 square miles (16.83 km2), of which 6.45 square miles (16.71 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.

Charlotte is situated on gently rolling prairie. The Battle Creek River has its northern bend in the south part of the city, entering from the southeast and exiting to the southwest. The northern part of the city is part of the Thornapple River watershed.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870 2,253 —
1880 2,910 29.2%
1890 3,867 32.9%
1900 4,092 5.8%
1910 4,886 19.4%
1920 5,126 4.9%
1930 5,307 3.5%
1940 5,544 4.5%
1950 6,606 19.2%
1960 7,657 15.9%
1970 8,244 7.7%
1980 8,251 0.1%
1990 8,083 −2.0%
2000 8,389 3.8%
2010 9,074 8.2%
2019 (est.) 9,090 0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,074 people, 3,661 households, and 2,291 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,406.8 inhabitants per square mile (543.2/km2). There were 3,997 housing units at an average density of 619.7 per square mile (239.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White.

There were 3,661 households, of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

Transportation

Grand Trunk Depot, Charlotte, Michigan
Grand Trunk Depot, Charlotte, Michigan built in 1885.

Highways

  • I-69
  • BL I-69
  • M-50
  • M-79

Air

  • In the northeast corner of the city is the Fitch H. Beach Airport.
  • Scheduled passenger carrier flights are available at Capital Region International Airport, near the northeast corner of Eaton County.

Rail

  • Charlotte was once serviced by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad and the Michigan Central Railroad. The original Michigan Central Railroad depot still stands at 430 N. Cochran Ave. and at various times has operated as a restaurant, ice cream parlor, and coffee shop.
  • Currently Canadian National Railway and the Charlotte Southern Railroad provide rail service to the city.

City Parks

The city of Charlotte has many wonderful parks. City Parks are open May 1 thru October 31. These include: Bennett Park (1225 S. Cochran), Dean Park (526 W. Stoddard), Gateway Park (N. Cochran and Packard), Lincoln Park (Lincoln St. and W. Shepherd), Oak Park (230 St. Clinton/Seminary St.), Snell Park (Upland and E. Shepherd), Southridge Park (312 W. Third), and U.S. Veterans Memorial Park (1501 S. Cochran).

Lincoln Park contains a Skate Park and Disc Golf Course. By the water tower nearby (at 619 W. Shepherd) there is a sled hill and ice skating rink, as well as a small outdoor dirt track for RC racing (aka Lincoln Park Raceway; added late 2013).

Tennis Courts and Gobel Football field are located at 1149 S. Cochran.

A popular sled hill known locally as Kane's Hill (named after the Kane family who lived nearby and operated Kane's Heating Services) is located on Gale St. between Church St. and E. Lovett St.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Charlotte has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.


Economy

Spartan Motors, an automobile design company that designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, government services, defense, and delivery and service markets, is based in Charlotte.

Education

Charlotte Public Schools operates Galewood Early Elementary for developmental kindergarten and kindergarten students, operates Parkview Elementary School and Washington Elementary School for first through third grade, and operates Charlotte Upper Elementary for fourth grade and fifth grade students. Charlotte Middle School serves seventh and eighth grade students while Charlotte High School serves ninth through twelfth grade students. The district also operates the Weymouth Child Development Center as a childcare facility.

There are two parochial schools in the city. Charlotte Adventist Christian School serves grades 1 through 8 and is owned and operated by the Charlotte Seventh-day Adventist Church and is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system. St. Mary Elementary School is run by Saint Mary Catholic Church and serves K-8 students and Preschool.

There is one alternative education school known as the Relevant Academy of Eaton County. In addition, special needs children are served by the Eaton Intermediate School District.

For post-secondary students, Olivet College is 10.4 miles (16.7 km) to the south and Michigan State University is 25.2 miles (40.6 km) to the northeast. The University of Michigan is located 82.1 miles (132.1 km) southeast. Lansing Community College is located 22 miles (35 km) to the northeast, and features cooperative relationships with a number of other universities around the state.

Further education/training can also be obtained at the Southridge Vocational Center.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Charlotte (Míchigan) para niños

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