Spring Arbor, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spring Arbor, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
Location within Jackson County
Spring Arbor, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Spring Arbor, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Jackson
Township	Spring Arbor
Area
• Total	2.81 sq mi (7.28 km2)
• Land	2.78 sq mi (7.19 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation	1,001 ft (305 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,916
• Density	1,050.05/sq mi (405.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49283
Area code(s)	517
FIPS code	26-75620
GNIS feature ID	638533

Spring Arbor is a small community in Jackson County, Michigan. It's known as an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a recognized area for census purposes but doesn't have its own separate city government.

In 2020, about 2,916 people lived in Spring Arbor. The community is located inside Spring Arbor Township. Spring Arbor is also home to Spring Arbor University, a college connected to the Free Methodist Church.

History of Spring Arbor

Early Inhabitants and Founding

Long ago, the Potawatomi Native Americans lived in the area that is now Spring Arbor. They had three known villages here before they moved to reservations near Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The area officially became Spring Arbor Township in 1832. Its borders have stayed the same since 1837. On early maps, the name was spelled "Spring Arbour."

Planned Village and Colleges

In the mid-1800s, there were plans to build a village called Spring Arbour. This village was meant to be near where Cross and Hammond roads meet today. Some development started, but it stopped when a seminary (a school for religious studies) moved away. This seminary later became Hillsdale College.

You can still see parts of this old plan from above, like a section of Matthews Road that lines up with the old street design. A place called Falling Waters Park is located where this old settlement was. It has historical information about the Potawatomi village, the start of Spring Arbor, and the founding of two important colleges:

• What would become Albion College was founded in 1835.
• The school that led to both Hillsdale College and Spring Arbor University was founded in 1844.

Geography and Nature

Location and Size

Spring Arbor is in the western part of Jackson County, right in the middle of Spring Arbor Township. The community covers about 2.81 square miles (7.28 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

State highway M-60 runs through the center of Spring Arbor. This highway connects the community to Jackson, which is about 9 miles northeast. Jackson is the main city in the county. M-60 also goes southwest to Tekonsha, about 24 miles away.

Water Features and Parks

Spring Arbor is famous for its natural water springs. These springs create several small lakes, creeks, and rivers.

One popular spot is Lime Lake County Park. This park is 2 acres and has a boat launch, a swimming area, and playground equipment. It's also part of the Falling Waters Trail, a path for walking and biking. Lime Lake was formed when people dug up "marl," which is a type of mud rich in calcium. This marl was used to make concrete. Divers enjoy exploring this lake because of the unusual underwater shapes left behind from the concrete production.

Population and People

In 2000, there were 2,188 people living in Spring Arbor. The population grew to 2,916 by 2020. The community is mostly made up of White residents, with smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian people. A small percentage of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Spring Arbor in 2000 was 28 years old.

Education in Spring Arbor

Local School Districts

Spring Arbor Township is served by three different K-12 school districts:

• Western School District
• Concord Community Schools
• Hanover-Horton School District

There is also a private school called Trinity Lutheran School. It serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade and is connected to the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

Colleges and Universities

Spring Arbor University is a major part of the community. It started in 1873 as a seminary. Over the years, it grew and changed from a high school to a junior college, then a college, and finally became a university on April 30, 2001. It is a private university linked to the Free Methodist Church.

Jackson College also provides education services to the township.

Local Business and Jobs

Spring Arbor has several nursing homes, retirement centers, and assisted living centers. These places help care for older adults in the community.

Spring Arbor University is the largest employer in the area. In 2004, it employed about 275 staff and teachers on its main campus. Many Spring Arbor residents also work for CMS Energy, a large company located in nearby Jackson.

See also

In Spanish: Spring Arbor (Míchigan) para niños