Lowell, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lowell, Michigan
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| City of Lowell | |
Historic district along Main Street (M-21)
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| Nickname(s):
"Sidewinders”
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Location within Kent County
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 Lowell, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Lowell, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Kent |
| Founded | 1831 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.10 sq mi (8.03 km2) |
| • Land | 2.88 sq mi (7.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.22 sq mi (0.57 km2) |
| Elevation | 640 ft (200 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,142 |
| • Density | 1,438.19/sq mi (555.29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49331
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| Area code(s) | 616 |
| FIPS code | 26-49540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626644 |
Lowell is a city in Kent County, in the state of Michigan, USA. In 2020, about 4,142 people lived there.
Lowell is part of the larger Grand Rapids metropolitan area. It is about 15 miles (24 km) east of Grand Rapids. The city is mostly surrounded by Lowell Township. However, Lowell city and Lowell Township are run separately.
The city is located where the Flat River meets the Grand River. The downtown area of Lowell is a special historic place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Discovering Lowell's Past
The first people to live near the Flat River and Grand River were the Grand River Odawa. They built villages along the Grand River. In the early 1800s, leaders like Wabiwindego, Keewaycooshcum, and later Cobmoosa led these villages.
In the 1830s, Cobmoosa bought the land where the Odawa village was. He bought it in the name of his father, Antoine Campau, who was a fur trader. The Odawa people stayed in their village on the Flat River until 1858. Then, they moved to a special area called a reservation in Manistee, Michigan.
How Lowell Began
The modern city of Lowell started in 1831. A man named Daniel Marsac set up a trading post. This post was built on the south bank of the Grand River. It was a place for trading goods with the Odawa village.
For the first few years, Marsac lived with the Odawa leader Wabiwindego. In 1847, Marsac bought land on the north side of the river. He planned out a town there and called it "Dansville."
In 1851, a post office opened in Dansville. It was named "Lowell" after the township. The community was planned again in 1854 and renamed Lowell, after the post office. It officially became a village in 1861.
Lowell's Location and Landscape
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Lowell covers about 3.10 square miles (8.03 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 2.88 square miles (7.46 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.22 square miles (0.57 square kilometers), is water.
Lowell is also home to the North Country Trail Association. This trail is a long path for hiking. In the Lowell area, the trail runs just north of downtown. It also follows parts of the Flat River.
Main Roads in Lowell
M-21 is a major road that goes east and west through the middle of Lowell.
Lowell's Weather
Lowell has a humid continental climate. This means it has big changes in temperature throughout the year. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, and sometimes very cold.
People of Lowell
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 547 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,503 | 174.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,538 | 2.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,829 | 18.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,736 | −5.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,761 | 1.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,730 | −1.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,919 | 10.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,944 | 1.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,191 | 12.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,545 | 16.2% | |
| 1970 | 3,068 | 20.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,707 | 20.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,983 | 7.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,013 | 0.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,783 | −5.7% | |
| 2020 | 4,142 | 9.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 3,783 people living in Lowell. There were 1,457 households, which are groups of people living together. About 962 of these were families.
Most people in Lowell were White (94.1%). There were also African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 3.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Fun and Games in Lowell
Lowell has several parks where people can relax and play.
| Lowell Parks | Location |
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| Creekside Park | Located in the 1600 block of Gee Dr. |
| Recreation Park | Located in the 300 block of S. Broadway St. |
| Richards Park | Located in the 300 block of N. Hudson St. |
| Stoney Lakeside Park | Located in the 1200 block of Bowes Rd. |
| Lowell Dog Park | Located in the 1200 block of Bowes Rd. |
Learning in Lowell
Lowell Area Schools is the local school district. Bushnell and Cherry Creek elementary schools are in the city. Lowell Middle School and Lowell High School serve the whole school district.
Famous People from Lowell
Many interesting people have connections to Lowell:
- William Seward Burroughs I was an inventor. He invented the adding machine. He lived in Lowell in the 1860s.
- Cobmoosa was a Native American leader. He ran a trading post where Lowell is today.
- Mike Dumas was a professional football player.
- Mabel Gillespie was a farmer, teacher, journalist, and politician.
- Ernest R. Graham was an architect. He designed famous buildings in Chicago.
- Jennie Harris Oliver was a poet.
- Dave Hildenbrand is a Michigan politician.
- Anthony Kiedis is the lead singer of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
- Howard Henry Peckham was a professor and historian.
- Ann Rule was an author who wrote true crime novels.
- John Addison Scott was a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral.
- Glendon Swarthout was a novelist.
- Daniel Vosovic is a fashion designer.
See also
In Spanish: Lowell (Míchigan) para niños
