Owosso, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Owosso, Michigan
City
City of Owosso
West Town Historic Commercial and Industrial District along Main Street (M-21)
Location within Shiawassee County
Owosso, Michigan Location in Michigan
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Shiawassee
Incorporated	1859
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	5.39 sq mi (13.96 km2)
• Land	5.25 sq mi (13.59 km2)
• Water	0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2)
Elevation	738 ft (225 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,714
• Density	2,803.73/sq mi (1,082.47/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48867
Area code(s)	989
FIPS code	26-61940
GNIS feature ID	1626875

Owosso (pronounced uh-WAH-so) is the biggest city in Shiawassee County, which is in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 14,714 people lived there.

Owosso is located about 29 miles (47 km) west of Flint. It is also 32 miles (51 km) northeast of Lansing. The city is mostly surrounded by Owosso Township. However, the city and township are managed separately. Owosso was named after Chief Wosso, an Ojibwe leader from the Shiawassee area.

History of Owosso

Early Settlers and Growth

In the early days, European-American settlers like Alfred L. and Benjamin O. Williams came to the area. Elias Comstock built the first permanent home. Later, in 1842, Dr. John B. Barnes, a doctor and judge, and his wife Sophronia King Barnes moved to Owosso. They helped enslaved African Americans find safety through the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of safe houses.

Owosso officially became a city in 1859. At that time, about 1,000 people lived there. The city's first mayor was Amos Gould, a judge from New York. Many other settlers also moved to Owosso from New York and New England. In 1876, the city started its own fire department.

20th Century Changes

Most of the people who settled in Owosso were white. In the 1950s, some newspapers reported that Owosso was a "sundown town." This meant that African Americans were not allowed to live or stay overnight in the city.

Geography and Climate

Owosso is located on the Shiawassee River.

The city covers a total area of 5.39 square miles (13.96 km²). About 5.25 square miles (13.59 km²) of this is land, and 0.14 square miles (0.37 km²) is water.

Owosso's Weather

Owosso has very cold winters, with snow usually falling until April. Spring brings warmer weather. Summers are warm to hot, and fall is known for its colorful leaves. The first snow usually arrives in December or January.

Each year, Owosso typically has:

• About eleven days where temperatures drop below 0°F (–18°C).
• About nine days where temperatures go above 90°F (32°C).

The city gets about 29 inches (74 cm) of rain and 41 inches (104 cm) of snow each year. The average time for plants to grow in Owosso is 144 days.

Population of Owosso

2010 Census Information

In 2010, the city had 15,194 people living in 6,161 households. About 3,779 of these were families. The city had about 2,905 people per square mile (1,122 per km²).

Most people in Owosso (95.7%) were White. A small number were African American (0.8%), Native American (0.5%), or Asian (0.3%). About 3.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 33.1% of households had children under 18. Many households (39.0%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.41 people, and the average family had 3.00 people.

The average age in Owosso was 34.8 years. About 25.2% of residents were under 18, and 12.8% were 65 or older.

Arts and Culture

Owosso has several interesting places and events related to arts and culture.

Curwood Castle, a historic building where author James Oliver Curwood wrote his books.

• Curwood Castle was the writing studio of a famous author named James Oliver Curwood. This castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site. Today, it's a museum with old furniture, Curwood's books, photos, and movie posters. It also has items related to politician Thomas E. Dewey, who was also from Owosso.
• The Shiawassee Arts Center shows and sells art prints by Frederick Carl Frieseke. It also features original art from other artists. The center offers art classes, holds competitions, and has different art shows throughout the year.

The George Perrigo House, another historic building in Owosso.

• The American Record Pressing Company is known for pressing The Beatles' first vinyl record in the United States.
• The Curwood Festival is held every year to celebrate author James Oliver Curwood and his books. This festival includes a street fair, parades, and fun contests like raft races. You can also enjoy carnival rides, concerts, and even see a medieval reenactment camp.

Education in Owosso

Owosso has several schools for students of all ages.

• The former John Wesley College started in 1949 as Owosso Bible College. It closed its doors in 1981.
• Public education is provided by the Owosso Public Schools. They own the historic Lincoln School.
• Owosso High School is the only high school in the city.
• Salem Lutheran School is a private school for students from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. It is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

Transportation

Owosso has different ways to get around, both within the city and to other places.

Roads

Major roads that pass through Owosso include:

• M-21 runs east and west through the city.
• M-52 runs north and south through the city.
• M-71 runs diagonally, from southeast to northwest. It ends at M-21.

City Bus Service

The Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency (SATA) offers bus service within the city. Most of their buses have lifts for easy access. The service runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays. SATA also has a daily bus route to and from Perry, Michigan, and another to and from Durand, Michigan.

Intercity Bus Service

Owosso is the main office for Indian Trails Bus Lines. This company provides regular bus service from Owosso to many places across Michigan and the rest of the U.S. Indian Trails also offers buses for private groups and tours.

Air Travel

The Owosso Community Airport has a 4,300-foot (1,311 m) long lighted runway. It is used by private planes and air taxi services.

Rail Service

Owosso is the main office for the Great Lakes Central Railroad. This company moves goods by train across Northern and Southern Michigan. They also offer special passenger train tours. In the past, Owosso had three different train stations for different railroad companies.

Notable People

Many interesting people have come from Owosso:

See also

In Spanish: Owosso (Míchigan) para niños