Downtown Lansing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Downtown Lansing
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Central Business District
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Downtown Lansing, Michigan
along Michigan Avenue |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ingham |
| City | Lansing |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.09 sq mi (2.48 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 870 ft (270 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 820 ft (250 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 4,847 |
| • Density | 4,407.9/sq mi (1,701.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
48915, 48933, 48912, 48906
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| Area code(s) | 517 |
Downtown Lansing is the main central area of Lansing, the capital city of Michigan. It's located in the middle-west part of the city, right next to the Grand River. This busy area is where Michigan's government buildings are. It also has three colleges, places for sports, museums, fun entertainment, shops, and more and more people are choosing to live there.
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A Look Back in Time
The area we now call downtown Lansing was part of the city's very first plan. In 1847, Lansing was chosen to be Michigan's capital. This specific area, then known as Middle Town, was picked for the state capitol building.
However, another older business area called Old Town (or Lower Town) was the main business spot for about ten more years. Things changed quickly for Middle Town. A bridge was built over Michigan Avenue in 1848. Also, the post office moved there in 1851. These changes helped Middle Town grow fast.
What Makes Downtown Unique?
Downtown Lansing's exact borders are described by two main groups. Downtown Lansing Inc. is a group that helps improve businesses. Their definition of downtown is smaller. It includes only the main office buildings. This area goes from Larch Street in the east to St. Joseph Street in the south. It reaches Capitol Avenue in the west and Shiawassee Street in the north.
A part of this area, about 16 blocks, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 31, 2009. This means it's a special place with important history.
The Downtown Lansing Neighborhood Association has a wider idea of downtown. They say it goes from the Grand River in the east to I-496 in the south. It reaches MLK Boulevard in the west and Oakland Avenue in the north. This larger area includes parts of other neighborhoods too.
Learning and Libraries
Downtown Lansing is a great place for learning. It has three important places for higher education.
Colleges and Universities
The biggest college here is Lansing Community College. In 2020-21, almost 15,000 students attended classes there. You can find Cooley Law School just south of the capitol building. This is one of the largest law schools in the entire country. A law school is where students go to learn how to become lawyers.
Davenport University also has a campus downtown. It's a private university. They are currently moving to a new building near the capitol.
Amazing Libraries
Downtown Lansing is home to several large libraries. The main library for the Capital Area District Library is located on Kalamazoo Street and Capitol Avenue. This is where many people go to borrow books and use computers.
The Library of Michigan & Historical Center is also downtown. It's on Kalamazoo Street. This library also holds the Archives of Michigan and the State Law Library. These places keep important historical records and legal documents.
The Thomas E. Brennan Law Library is part of Cooley Law School. It's located at Kalamazoo and Washington Square. This is one of the biggest law libraries in the country. It has many books and resources for studying law.
