Reese, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reese, Michigan
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Village
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Location of Reese, Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Saginaw, Tuscola |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.35 sq mi (3.50 km2) |
| • Land | 1.35 sq mi (3.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 620 ft (190 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,261 |
| • Density | 932.69/sq mi (360.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
48757
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| Area code(s) | 989 |
| FIPS code | 26-67900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399055 |
Reese is a small village located in the state of Michigan, in the United States. It is mostly in Tuscola County, within Denmark Township. A very small part of the village also extends into Saginaw County. In 2020, about 1,261 people lived in Reese.
Contents
Geography of Reese
Reese is a village that covers a total area of about 1.35 square miles (3.50 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the village limits.
History of Reese Village
Reese began as a settlement in 1865. The first home was built by Mrs. Louisa Woodruff and her son. This was near where Reese and Saginaw roads are today.
Early Growth and the Plank Road
In 1871, a special road called the Saginaw-Watrousville plank road opened. This road made it easier for people to travel to and from the community. It helped Reese grow by connecting it to nearby Saginaw.
The Railroad Arrives
A big change happened in 1873 when the Detroit and Bay City railroads were built. Hudson B. Blackman then planned a new area of land next to the original settlement. He named this new area "Reese" to honor Alvin H. Reese, who was a superintendent for the railroad.
William B. Stark moved to the area in 1865. His six brothers and one sister later joined him. They lived in tents in the thick forest. In 1873, William's brother, Joseph, opened a hotel. This hotel was near the corner of Reese and Saginaw roads.
Mail and Post Office
In 1865, A.W. Gates started a plank road from East Saginaw through Reese. By 1871, Gates also set up a mail and stagecoach route along this road. The first post office was inside Rogers’ hotel and was named "Gates" after A.W. Gates.
Other businesses soon opened. Daniel Woodruff started a grocery store. George Melatt and Archie Scott opened a blacksmith shop. In 1872, Asenath M. Rogers, Roberts’ wife, mapped out 11 acres of land and called it "Gates."
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Renaming the Town
In 1873, G. W. Reese brought the Detroit & Bay City Railroad through the town. Hudson B. Blackman then named another part of the town "Reese" after the railroad superintendent. Soon, the train station, post office, and the entire town were all renamed Reese.
Even though the west end of town was sometimes called "Gatestown" for many years, the whole village eventually became known as Reese.
Railroad's Importance
Reese grew quickly, reaching over 300 people within five years. By 1877, Reese was an important railroad and trading spot for local farms. The railroad helped transport timber, limestone, and farm products. In the early 1900s, farmers used the trains to ship hogs and cattle to Detroit.
Today, the Huron and Eastern Railway still uses the rail line in Reese. Farmers in the Reese area are major users of this railway. The success of farming in the region still relies on this efficient rail system. In 1993, Reese celebrated 120 years of rail service.
Schools in Reese
The first school meeting in the Reese area was in April 1866. School was taught in a simple lumber shanty. The first official Reese School was built in 1880. This building was made bigger in 1912.
Sadly, in 1913, a student accidentally set fire to the school, and it burned down. A new school was built in 1914. This building was used until it was taken down in 1962. The current middle school building was built between 1957 and 1966.
The present elementary school was built in 1957 for younger students. The current Reese High School opened in 1976. It houses grades 9-12. The middle school used to house grades 6-8, but it closed in 2015. Those students moved into the high school building. The old middle school building was later taken down in 2016.
Reese also has three private elementary schools. These are St. Elizabeth (Catholic), Trinity Lutheran, and St. Michael's Lutheran in nearby Richville.
In 1971, 44 teachers in Reese went on strike. They were asking for a fair contract. The school board fired all 44 teachers when they refused to return to work. This event led to the phrase "Remember the Reese 44." These teachers were the first in Michigan to be fired for striking for a fair contract.
Farming in Reese
The Reese area is still mostly farmland. The main crops grown here are corn, soybeans, navy beans, and sugar beets. There is not much dairy farming or other livestock in the area.
Population of Reese
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 416 | — | |
| 1910 | 465 | 11.8% | |
| 1920 | 459 | −1.3% | |
| 1930 | 490 | 6.8% | |
| 1940 | 569 | 16.1% | |
| 1950 | 632 | 11.1% | |
| 1960 | 711 | 12.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,050 | 47.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,645 | 56.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,414 | −14.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,375 | −2.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,454 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,261 | −13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
What the 2010 Census Showed
The 2010 census counted 1,454 people living in Reese. There were 635 households, which are groups of people living together. Out of these, 418 were families.
The village had about 1,077 people per square mile. Most residents (97.2%) were White. A small number were African American (0.7%), Native American (0.2%), or Asian (0.7%). About 4.3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of households:
- 27.4% had children under 18 living with them.
- 50.9% were married couples.
- 11.3% had a female head of household with no husband.
- 3.6% had a male head of household with no wife.
- 34.2% were not families.
The average household had 2.29 people, and the average family had 2.84 people. The average age in the village was 42.8 years old.
Education in Reese
Reese Public Schools manages the public schools in the village.
- Reese Elementary School teaches students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
- Reese High School teaches students from sixth through twelfth grades.
There are also two private schools in Reese:
- St. Elizabeth is a Catholic school for kindergarten through eighth grade.
- Trinity Lutheran also teaches kindergarten through eighth grade.
Another private school, St. Michael's Lutheran School, is in nearby Richville and serves kindergarten through eighth grade.
See also
In Spanish: Reese (Míchigan) para niños
