Mason, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mason, Michigan
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| City of Mason | |
Downtown Mason from Town Square
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Location within Ingham County
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 Mason, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Mason, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ingham |
| Settled | 1836 |
| Incorporated | 1865 (village) 1875 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.13 sq mi (13.29 km2) |
| • Land | 5.11 sq mi (13.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 915 ft (279 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,283 |
| • Density | 1,620.94/sq mi (625.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
48854
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| Area code(s) | 517 |
| FIPS code | 26-52180 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626706 |
Mason is a city in the state of Michigan, USA. It is the main city and the county seat of Ingham County. This means it's where the county government offices are located.
In 2020, about 8,283 people lived in Mason. The city is named after Stevens T. Mason, who was Michigan's very first governor.
Contents
History of Mason
How Mason Started
In 1836, a man named Charles Noble had a smart idea. He thought Michigan would need a central place for its new capital when it became a state. So, he bought a big piece of forest land. He cleared about 20 acres (81,000 square meters) of it. This is how he started the settlement he called Mason Center. The "Center" part was later dropped.
Mason Becomes County Seat
In 1847, the state decided to make Lansing Township its capital instead. Lansing was about 12 miles (19 km) north of Mason. It was chosen because it had good potential for water power. Even though Mason didn't become the state capital, Charles Noble still managed to make it the county seat for Ingham County.
The first courthouse in downtown Mason was built in 1843. It was replaced in 1858. The city's economy grew quickly in its early years. There were many businesses like sawmills, factories that made carriages and carts, and shops that worked with copper. There was also a steam-powered flourmill and a company that made buffalo robes.
From Village to City
Mason became an official village in 1865. Then, in 1875, it became a city. In the 1800s, Mason was a very important place in Ingham County. Some people even thought it was more active than Lansing, the state capital.
In 1877, Lansing tried to become the county seat itself. But Mason and Lansing made a deal. Some county offices and courts moved to Lansing. In return, Mason remained the county seat. Because of this, Michigan is the only state where the capital city is not also the county seat.
Mason's Businesses and People
In the early 1900s, the local Ojibwa tribe had a noticeable presence in the town. Later, the Wyeth Corporation started making baby formula in Mason. This continued until the 1990s.
Today, Mason is home to the main office of Dart Container Corporation. This company is famous for making foam cups and containers. Other important businesses in the Mason area include Michigan Packaging Company and Gestamp Hardtech. The Ingham Intermediate School District also has facilities here. It's still common to see cattle grazing within the city limits.
Geography of Mason
Where is Mason Located?
Mason covers a total area of about 5.13 square miles (13.29 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 5.11 square miles (13.24 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water. The Sycamore Creek flows right through the city.
The Mason Esker
Mason is built on top of something called the Mason Esker. An esker is a long, winding ridge of sand and gravel. These ridges are left behind by melting glaciers. The Mason Esker is one of the longest eskers in the western part of the world!
Transportation in Mason
Roads and Buses
Mason is connected by major roads like US 127 and M-36.
The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides bus services. You can take a bus from Lansing to Mason. Route 46 runs on weekdays from downtown Lansing to the south side of Mason. There's also the Mason Connector bus, which runs on weekdays and Saturdays from south Lansing to Mason.
Airports
Jewett Field is a small airport for general aviation. It's located southeast of Mason. For bigger flights, people use Capital Region International Airport. This airport is located in the northwest part of Ingham County.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 363 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,212 | 233.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,809 | 49.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,875 | 3.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,828 | −2.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,742 | −4.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,879 | 7.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,575 | 37.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,867 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,514 | 22.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,522 | 28.7% | |
| 1970 | 5,468 | 20.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,019 | 10.1% | |
| 1990 | 6,768 | 12.4% | |
| 2000 | 6,714 | −0.8% | |
| 2010 | 8,252 | 22.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,283 | 0.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Mason?
In 2010, there were 8,252 people living in Mason. There were 3,278 households and 2,032 families. The city had about 1,618 people per square mile (625.81 people per square kilometer).
Most people in Mason are White (90.2%). There are also African Americans (5.9%), Native Americans (0.4%), and Asians (0.9%). About 3.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Age
About 30.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (44.8%) were married couples living together. About 32.6% of all households were made up of single individuals.
The average age in Mason was 37.8 years. About 21.8% of residents were under 18. About 13.5% were 65 years old or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (50.8%) and females (49.2%).
Economy of Mason
Dart Container Corporation
The Mason area is home to Dart Container Corporation. This company is the biggest maker of foam cups and containers in the world! Dart is known for being vertically integrated. This means they control many steps of their production process. It is also one of the largest privately owned companies in Michigan. Dart Container also owns the Solo brand.
Notable People from Mason
Many interesting people have connections to Mason:
- Steve Clark — A professional soccer player for Houston Dynamo in MLS. He grew up in Mason.
- Ion Cortright — A college football and basketball coach. He graduated from Mason High School in 1907.
- Alan Curtis — Born in Mason in 1934. He was a harpsichord player, music expert, and conductor of old operas.
- David Feintuch — The author of the science fiction series The Seafort Saga. He lived in Mason for a long time.
- Kristin Haynie — A former professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association. She is now a coach at Central Michigan University.
- John W. Longyear — A judge and politician. He moved to Mason in 1844 to study law and teach.
- Denny Stolz — A former college football coach. He graduated from Mason High School in 1951.
- Floyd Wilcox — Born in Mason in 1886. He was the third president of Shimer College.
- Malcolm X — A famous civil rights leader. He spent part of his childhood in Mason when he was known as Malcolm Little.
Images for kids
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Downtown Mason from Town Square
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Location within Ingham County
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A part of the Mason Esker
See also
In Spanish: Mason (Míchigan) para niños
