Dowagiac, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dowagiac, Michigan
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
The historic Dowagiac Station on Depot Drive
|
|||
|
|||
Location within Cass County
|
|||
 Dowagiac, Michigan
Location in Michigan
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Michigan | ||
| County | Cass | ||
| Platted | 1848 | ||
| Incorporated | 1863 (village) 1877 (city) |
||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.53 sq mi (11.74 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.45 sq mi (11.53 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 761 ft (232 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 5,721 | ||
| • Density | 1,284.75/sq mi (496.05/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Code |
49047
|
||
| Area code(s) | 269 | ||
| FIPS code | 26-22880 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0624843 | ||
Dowagiac (pronounced də-WAH-jak) is a city located in Cass County, in the state of Michigan, United States. In 2020, about 5,721 people lived there. It is part of the larger South Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan area.
The city is found where four different townships meet: Wayne, LaGrange, Pokagon, and Silver Creek. The name Dowagiac comes from the Potawatomi word dewje'og, which means "fishing water" or "fishing near home water". Dowagiac is also the main center for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and is part of their reservation.
Contents
Discovering Dowagiac's Past
Early Beginnings
Dowagiac was first planned out in 1848. It became a village in 1863 and then a city in 1877.
The Orphan Train Story
In 1854, Dowagiac was the last stop for the very first group of children brought to the Midwest on the Orphan Train. These trains helped move orphaned children from New York City to new homes in other parts of the country.
Exploring Dowagiac's Geography
Dowagiac covers about 4.54 square miles (11.76 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary
The Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary is a special place covering 235 acres (about 0.95 square kilometers). It is dedicated to protecting Michigan's unique natural areas. This includes rare plants and animals that live there.
The Dowagiac River
The Dowagiac River starts as a small stream called the "Dowagiac Drain" in Van Buren County. It grows as other streams join it. North of Dowagiac city, the river flows through the "Dowagiac Swamp". West of the city, the "Dowagiac Creek" joins it, making the river larger.
Local Climate
| Climate data for Dowagiac, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1953–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 63 (17) |
72 (22) |
85 (29) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
88 (31) |
77 (25) |
72 (22) |
103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.1 (−0.5) |
34.2 (1.2) |
44.4 (6.9) |
57.4 (14.1) |
68.6 (20.3) |
78.0 (25.6) |
81.5 (27.5) |
79.7 (26.5) |
73.5 (23.1) |
60.9 (16.1) |
47.2 (8.4) |
36.2 (2.3) |
57.7 (14.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.7 (−4.6) |
25.9 (−3.4) |
34.8 (1.6) |
46.4 (8.0) |
57.9 (14.4) |
67.4 (19.7) |
70.8 (21.6) |
69.0 (20.6) |
62.1 (16.7) |
50.3 (10.2) |
39.0 (3.9) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
48.1 (8.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 16.2 (−8.8) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
35.5 (1.9) |
47.1 (8.4) |
56.9 (13.8) |
60.0 (15.6) |
58.2 (14.6) |
50.6 (10.3) |
39.7 (4.3) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
22.5 (−5.3) |
38.4 (3.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) |
−23 (−31) |
−13 (−25) |
6 (−14) |
19 (−7) |
30 (−1) |
38 (3) |
36 (2) |
26 (−3) |
13 (−11) |
4 (−16) |
−20 (−29) |
−23 (−31) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.10 (79) |
2.41 (61) |
2.44 (62) |
3.69 (94) |
4.19 (106) |
4.26 (108) |
4.09 (104) |
4.12 (105) |
3.38 (86) |
4.33 (110) |
2.90 (74) |
2.82 (72) |
41.73 (1,060) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 15.0 | 11.5 | 10.2 | 11.4 | 11.8 | 10.3 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 11.1 | 11.4 | 13.2 | 133.3 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Dowagiac
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,181 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,932 | 63.6% | |
| 1880 | 2,100 | 8.7% | |
| 1890 | 2,806 | 33.6% | |
| 1900 | 4,151 | 47.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,088 | 22.6% | |
| 1920 | 5,440 | 6.9% | |
| 1930 | 5,550 | 2.0% | |
| 1940 | 5,007 | −9.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,542 | 30.7% | |
| 1960 | 7,208 | 10.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,583 | −8.7% | |
| 1980 | 6,307 | −4.2% | |
| 1990 | 6,409 | 1.6% | |
| 2000 | 6,147 | −4.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,879 | −4.4% | |
| 2020 | 5,721 | −2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 5,879 people living in Dowagiac. The population density was about 1,318 people per square mile. Most residents were White (73.5%), followed by African American (14.3%) and Native American (3.0%). About 5.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 32 years old. About 29.1% of residents were under 18.
Getting Around Dowagiac
Air Travel
Dowagiac has its own airport, the Dowagiac Municipal Airport. It has a long paved runway for private planes. There is also a grass runway.
Major Roads
The city is located where two main roads, M-51 and M-62, meet. M-51 connects Dowagiac to Niles in the southwest and to I-94 in the northeast. M-62 links Dowagiac to Cassopolis in the southeast.
Bus Services
Dowagiac DART is a local bus service that started in 1975. It helps people get around Dowagiac and also serves Southwest Michigan College. The buses operate from a special building that used to be a train station.
Train Connections
Dowagiac is served by Amtrak trains. You can take a train from Dowagiac to Chicago or Detroit every day. The historic train station is in the downtown area. While you can't check luggage here, you can bring up to two suitcases and personal items on board. This station is also famous as the place where the first Orphan Train children arrived.
Learning in Dowagiac
Local Schools
Dowagiac is part of the Dowagiac Union School District. This district includes several elementary schools:
- Justus Gage Elementary
- Kincheloe Elementary
- Patrick Hamilton Elementary
- Sister Lakes Elementary
It also has:
- Dowagiac Middle School
- Dowagiac Union High School
Higher Education
Dowagiac is home to Southwestern Michigan College (SMC). This is a two-year college where students can live on campus.
Famous People from Dowagiac
Many interesting people have come from Dowagiac, including:
- Dave Behrman – A football player for Michigan State and the Buffalo Bills.
- Philo D. Beckwith – The founder of the Round Oak Stove Company and a former Mayor of Dowagiac.
- Dickinson Bishop – A businessman who survived the sinking of the Titanic.
- David Cargo – He served as the Governor of New Mexico from 1967 to 1971.
- James Heddon – He invented the artificial fishing lure.
- Judith Ivey – A Tony Award-winning actress.
- Franz Jackson – A talented saxophonist and clarinet player.
- Webb Miller (journalist) – A journalist and author nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
- Caleb Murphy – A football player for Ferris State and the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
- Carrie Newcomer – A well-known singer-songwriter.
- William Alden Smith – A former US Senator.
- Chris Taylor – An Olympic medalist in wrestling.
See also
In Spanish: Dowagiac para niños
