Gaastra, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gaastra, Michigan
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Location within Iron County
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 Gaastra, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Iron |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Land | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,621 ft (494 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 316 |
| • Density | 193.15/sq mi (74.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
49927
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| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-31160 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0626580 |
Gaastra is a small city located in Iron County, Michigan. It's in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 316 people lived there. This makes Gaastra one of Michigan's smallest cities.
History of Gaastra
The land where Gaastra now stands was first bought in 1879. A person named Alfred Kidder from Marquette made this first purchase. Over the years, the land changed hands several times.
In 1908, a building contractor and real estate expert named Douwe Gaastra bought the land. He then planned out the town. The city was named after him.
A post office opened in Gaastra on September 26, 1914. Olaf A. Olson was the first postmaster. Gaastra became an official village in 1919. Later, in 1949, it became a city. Olaf A. Olson retired as postmaster in 1953.
Geography of Gaastra
Gaastra is located in Iron County, Michigan. The city covers a total area of about 1.64 square miles (4.24 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the city limits.
Population and People
The number of people living in Gaastra has changed over the years. Here's how the population has looked:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 911 | — | |
| 1930 | 755 | −17.1% | |
| 1940 | 773 | 2.4% | |
| 1950 | 575 | −25.6% | |
| 1960 | 582 | 1.2% | |
| 1970 | 479 | −17.7% | |
| 1980 | 404 | −15.7% | |
| 1990 | 376 | −6.9% | |
| 2000 | 339 | −9.8% | |
| 2010 | 347 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 316 | −8.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Gaastra's Population in 2010
In 2010, a census counted 347 people living in Gaastra. There were 151 households and 102 families. The city had about 211 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in Gaastra in 2010 were White (98.3%). A small number were Native American (0.6%) or from two or more races (1.2%). About 1.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Gaastra in 2010 was 46.7 years old.
- About 23.3% of residents were under 18 years old.
- About 25.9% were 65 years or older.
- More females lived in Gaastra than males in 2010. About 55.6% were female and 44.4% were male.
