Old Town, Lansing, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old Town
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ingham |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.44 sq mi (1.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 860 ft (262 meters) ft (228 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 1,654 |
| • Density | 3,708.5/sq mi (1,431.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
48906
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| Area code(s) | 517 |
| FIPS code | 26-80700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1615125 |
| Website | http://www.iloveoldtown.org/ |
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North Lansing Historic Commercial District
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| Location | E. Grand River Ave. and Turner St., Lansing, Michigan |
| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, Vernacular Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001029 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1976 |
Located in the northern end of Lansing, Michigan, Old Town overlooks the Grand River and a winding bike trail. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the North Lansing Historic Commercial District, the district was established in the mid-19th century.
History
The first settler in North Lansing, later known as Lower Town and now Old Town, was John W. Burchard, an attorney from Mason. He built the first log cabin in Lansing in 1843 on land purchased from James Seymour. He built a dam across the Grand River later that year and hoped to build a mill, but drowned at the dam in 1844 while inspecting a break. A mill was built there later by James Seymour.
The North Lansing area grew when Lansing became the capital of Michigan in 1847, adding commercial and industrial businesses. By the 1870s, North Lansing was thriving. Franklin Street, now Grand River Avenue, was the "main street" of the commercial district, sporting banks, shops, groceries, churches, mills, a passenger and freight railroad station, manufacturing, and a sturdy middle class to support the commerce. By the mid 1900s, however, Upper Town and Middle Town were attracting more people and business; North Lansing lost its status as a commercial/industrial powerhouse. The North Lansing Historic Commercial District, which included 44 buildings, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
In more recent years, the area now known as Old Town has sought to revitalize itself through programs like Michigan Main Street.
Cultural events
Old Town hosts a number of annual cultural events, including:
- Old Town BluesFest: a two-day free blues music festival that happens every year in September.
- Lansing JazzFest: a two-day free jazz music festival that happens every year in August.
- Scrapfest: an art festival that focuses on up-cycled and repurposed artwork where 10% of proceeds go to charity that happens every summer.
