Otsego, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otsego, Michigan
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Location of Otsego, Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Allegan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.09 sq mi (5.42 km2) |
| • Land | 2.03 sq mi (5.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 709 ft (216 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,120 |
| • Density | 2,028.56/sq mi (783.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
49078
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| Area code(s) | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-61620 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0634156 |
Otsego is a city in Allegan County, which is in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 4,120 people lived there. The city is located within Otsego Township, but it manages itself.
Otsego is found on M-89. It is about three miles (5 km) west of Plainwell and US 131. The city is also about nine miles (14 km) southeast of Allegan. The Kalamazoo River flows through Otsego from east to west.
Contents
History of Otsego
Otsego was started in the fall of 1831 by the Samuel Foster family from Vermont. The first settlers, Giles Scott and Hull Sherwood, called the area Pine Creek. A post office opened in 1832, first named Allegan. Its name changed to Otsego in 1835 when Allegan County was officially formed. Dr. Samuel Foster, an Otsego resident, helped make this happen.
In 1833, the new town got its first school. A hotel, called the Tompkins House, opened in the 1860s.
Health and Entertainment in Early Otsego
On June 6, 1863, a woman named Ellen G. White had a special vision about health. She was a founder of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Her vision suggested that eating mostly plant-based foods, like those described in the Bible, was best for people. This idea led to the creation of many vegetarian foods and companies, such as the Battle Creek Sanitarium.
In the 1870s, people came from all over to visit the Otsego Mineral Springs Bath House. They believed the water had healing powers. However, in 1887, a paper mill owned by George Bardeen used up the town's mineral springs.
The 1880s brought many new things to Otsego. In 1883, Otsego High School had its first graduation, with three students. A home-delivery milk service started in 1885. In 1886, the town got a volunteer fire department, which used horse-drawn water wagons.
Arts and Sports in Otsego
In 1881, Wilson C. Edsell built the town's first bank and an opera house. Edsell's Opera House was the main place for entertainment for many years. Later, the Nickelodeon theater opened in 1909. Plays like Uncle Tom's Cabin were performed yearly at the Opera House. Shows featuring Native American performers, called medicine shows, were also popular. Magicians, theater groups, and minstrel shows often took the stage. Jim Smith, the town's only African American resident, led some of the minstrel shows.
In 1890, the city's baseball park was sold to local Catholics to build a church. The Russell Buggy Company also came to town, making popular ironclad carriages. The Bardeen Mansion was finished in 1894, but it was torn down in the early 1960s. The town also faced a smallpox outbreak in 1894.
During the 1902 baseball season, Otsego was home to Negro league baseball star Rube Foster. He played for George E. Bardeen's semi-professional team, the Otsego Independents. Later, he joined the Cuban X-Giants, one of the best teams in Negro leagues history. He also helped start the Negro National League. For a while, a street in Otsego was named "Rube Street," but it was later changed to "Washington Street." In 2000, a local teacher asked the City Council to rename one of the baseball fields at Memorial Park after Foster. The city agreed to place a monument to him there.
In 1918, a flu epidemic affected 800 residents and caused some deaths. In 1962, a tornado hit Otsego, knocking down trees and cutting off electricity and phone services for several days.
Geography
The United States Census Bureau says that Otsego covers about 2.13 square miles (5.52 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.07 square miles (5.36 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.06 square miles (0.16 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 994 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,000 | 0.6% | |
| 1890 | 1,626 | 62.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,073 | 27.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,812 | 35.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,168 | 12.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,245 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 3,428 | 5.6% | |
| 1950 | 3,990 | 16.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,142 | 3.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,957 | −4.5% | |
| 1980 | 3,802 | −3.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,937 | 3.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,933 | −0.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,956 | 0.6% | |
| 2020 | 4,120 | 4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, Otsego had 3,956 people living in 1,597 households. About 1,064 of these were families. The city had about 1,911 people per square mile (738 per square kilometer). There were 1,716 housing units in total.
Most of the people living in Otsego were White (95.2%). About 3.3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of households, 36.7% had children under 18 living there. About 47.0% were married couples. The average household had 2.47 people, and the average family had 3.00 people.
The average age in the city was 36.1 years. About 27.6% of residents were under 18. Also, 13.1% were 65 years old or older. The population was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
Culture
The industrial metal band Static-X often mentions "Otsego" in their songs. Some song titles include "Otsegolation," "Otsego Undead," and "Otsegolectric." The band's frontman, Wayne Static, went to Western Michigan University. He once used a fake ID that said he was "Dean from Otsego."
Education
Otsego is home to Otsego Public Schools. These schools include:
- Alamo Elementary (in Alamo Township)
- Dix Street Elementary
- Washington Street Elementary
- Otsego Middle School
- Otsego High School
- West Campus High School
Notable People
- Forman Brown (1901–1996), a songwriter, composer, and author.
- Sid Conrad (1923–2010), a TV character actor.
- Hon. Wilson C. Edsell, a state senator and founder of Olivet College. He also started the first national bank in Otsego.
- Phil Regan, a major league baseball pitcher, manager, and coach.
- Kevin VanDam, a professional bass fisher. He won the BASS Angler of the Year award many times (1992, 1996, 1999, 2008, 2009). He graduated from Otsego High School.
See also
In Spanish: Otsego (Míchigan) para niños
