Tecumseh, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tecumseh, Michigan
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| City of Tecumseh | |
Downtown along Chicago Boulevard (M-50)
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Location within Lenawee County
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 Tecumseh, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Tecumseh, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Lenawee |
| Settled | 1824 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.89 sq mi (15.26 km2) |
| • Land | 5.65 sq mi (14.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2) |
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,680 |
| • Density | 1,536.56/sq mi (593.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49286
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| Area code(s) | 517 |
| FIPS code | 26-79120 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1614652 |
Tecumseh is a city in Lenawee County, Michigan. It's located close to the River Raisin. This city is about 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Detroit. It's also 25 miles (40 km) south of Ann Arbor. Tecumseh is 40 miles (64 km) north of Toledo, Ohio.
The main street in downtown Tecumseh is Chicago Boulevard. This road is also known as M-50. It crosses the River Raisin a few miles east of M-52. The city is surrounded by Tecumseh Township on three sides. However, the city and the township are separate in terms of government. Raisin Township is located along the southern edge of Tecumseh. In 2009, CNNMoney ranked Tecumseh as one of the top 100 best small towns to live in. It was ranked #93.
Contents
History of Tecumseh
The area of Lenawee County was first mapped out on September 10, 1822. This was done by Lewis Cass, who was the governor of the Michigan Territory. Lenawee County was part of Monroe County until December 26, 1826. On that date, a law was passed to create its own county government.
Early Settlers Arrive
The first European-American settlers came to Lenawee County on May 21, 1824. They settled in what is now Tecumseh. These settlers were 15 men, 11 women, and 6 children. They all came from Jefferson County, New York, near Lake Erie. In 1823, a man named Musgrove Evans found the land. He convinced General Joseph W. Brown and others to move there. Brown, Evans, and Austin Eli Wing bought land and planned the village of Tecumseh in 1824.
These founders asked Governor Cass to make Tecumseh the county seat of Lenawee. This happened on June 30, 1824, by a law from the Territorial Legislature. However, the county government didn't fully start until a year and a half later. The city was named after Shawnee chief Tecumseh. His people had lived in that area for a long time.
Tecumseh was the county seat until 1838. Then, the county seat was moved to Adrian. The Township of Tecumseh was created on April 12, 1837. It first covered the entire northern third of the county.
Just north of Tecumseh, the village of Brownville was started in 1823 by Austin Wing. Tecumseh took over Brownville in 1838.
Geography of Tecumseh
Tecumseh is located in Southeast Michigan. The United States Census Bureau says the city covers a total area of 5.94 square miles (15.38 km2). Of this, 5.70 square miles (14.76 km2) is land. The remaining 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,670 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,640 | −1.8% | |
| 1870 | 2,039 | 24.3% | |
| 1880 | 2,111 | 3.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,310 | 9.4% | |
| 1900 | 2,400 | 3.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,332 | −2.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,432 | 4.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,456 | 1.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,921 | 18.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,020 | 37.6% | |
| 1960 | 7,045 | 75.2% | |
| 1970 | 7,120 | 1.1% | |
| 1980 | 7,320 | 2.8% | |
| 1990 | 7,462 | 1.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,574 | 14.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,521 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 8,680 | 1.9% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 8,648 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, the city had 8,521 people living there. There were 3,604 households and 2,304 families. The city had about 1,495 people per square mile (577 per km2). There were 3,957 housing units.
Most people in Tecumseh were White (96.0%). Other groups included African American (0.4%), Native American (0.4%), and Asian (0.7%). About 4.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 32.4% of households had children under 18. Nearly half (49.0%) were married couples. About 11.3% had a female head of household with no husband. The average household had 2.35 people. The average family had 2.96 people.
The average age in Tecumseh was 39.8 years. About 24.7% of residents were under 18. About 15.5% were 65 or older. The population was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
Economy and Businesses
Tecumseh was once known for a company called Tecumseh Products. This company was started by the Herrick family in the early 1900s. They made refrigeration compressors. Because of this, Tecumseh was called the "Refrigeration Capital of the World."
Changes in Manufacturing
Tecumseh Products moved out of the city in 2008. They moved their production to Mississippi to save on costs. Their main office moved to Pittsfield Township, Michigan.
A company called Consolidated Biscuit Company planned to buy the old Tecumseh Products plant. However, the deal didn't happen. The land was found to have pollution. Cleanup started in 2017. A local developer bought the land. They plan to clean it up and build new spaces for businesses and shops. The State of Michigan gave Tecumseh $2,000,000 to help with the cleanup. By the end of 2018, demolition was almost done. New industrial buildings were planned for 2019.
Local Businesses Today
Today, Tecumseh has over 250 businesses. These range from large car part suppliers to small local bakeries. The downtown area on Chicago Boulevard is very active. You can find antique shops, breweries, wineries, and many restaurants. There are also jewelry stores and local department stores.
| Company | Industry | Employees |
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| Kirchhoff Automotive | Automotive Supplier | 952 |
| Tecumseh Public Schools | Education | 335 |
| Busch's Tecumseh | Grocery | 97 |
| GLOVE Enterprises | Injection Molding | 85 |
| Ervin Industries | Metal Blasting | 61 |
| City of Tecumseh | Government Services | 52 |
| Ididit | Custom Automotive | 50 |
| Tuckey's Big Boy | Restaurant | 44 |
| Old National Bank | Finance/Banking | 43 |
| Howard Hanna | Real Estate | 40 |
| Tecumseh Packaging Solutions | Packaging Manufacturing | 35 |
| Glycon | Plastics Processing | 35 |
| Evans Street Station | Restaurant | 35 |
| Martin's Home Center | Retail/Hardware | 30 |
| Basil Boys | Restaurant | 30 |
| Spectrum Printers | Commercial Printing | 21 |
| Diggypod | Custom Printing | 21 |
Arts, Culture, and Tourism
Annual Events and Festivals
Since 2010, Tecumseh has hosted an Ice Sculpting Festival. It takes place downtown in January. Another popular event is Appleumpkin. This festival celebrates the harvest in October. It brings about 30,000 visitors each year.
Tecumseh also holds other events. These include a Classic Car and Bike Show, Divas at Dusk, and a Holiday Open House. There's also an Annual Pet Parade and Sidewalk Sales.
The city celebrates the annual Art Trail. This trail features sculptures displayed around Tecumseh. The sculptures are changed every year. The related Art Walk connects local artists with businesses. A group called the Carnegie Preservation League saved a historic building. They turned it into lofts and gallery space for artists.
Places to Visit
The Southern Michigan Railroad Society runs a railroad in Tecumseh. It's like a living museum. Visitors can also come to Tecumseh because it's close to the Michigan International Speedway (M.I.S.). The M-50 road area has many antique shops, cafes, and nice restaurants.
Education in Tecumseh
Tecumseh is home to Tecumseh Public Schools. The school system includes:
- One traditional high school: Tecumseh High School (grades 9–12)
- One alternative high school: Tecumseh Alternative High School
- One middle school: Tecumseh Middle School (grades 5-8)
- Two early elementary schools: Sutton Early Learning Center and Tecumseh Acres Early Learning Center (grades Y5, K-2)
- Two intermediate elementary schools: Patterson Intermediate Learning Center and Herrick Park Intermediate Learning Center (grades 3-4)
Tecumseh students can also go to the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD). They can also attend the Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry. Tecumseh Public Schools wants to give students many chances to learn. This helps them be ready for jobs. They have programs focused on the needs of local businesses.
Tecumseh Public Schools has a high graduation rate of 96.84%. More than 65% of graduates go on to college. Tecumseh's location makes it easy to reach major universities. The top 10 colleges graduates choose are:
- Jackson College
- Washtenaw Community College
- Eastern Michigan University
- Michigan State University
- Central Michigan University
- Siena Heights University
- Western Michigan University
- University of Michigan
- All of these are in Michigan, except for the University of Toledo in Ohio.
Transportation and Roads
Major Highways
M-50
M-52
Notable People from Tecumseh
- Fernando C. Beaman: A politician and former US Congressman. He practiced law in Tecumseh in the 1800s.
- Ronald Crane: A historian and literary critic. He was born in Tecumseh.
- Julie Parrish: An actress. She grew up in Tecumseh from age 11 and graduated from Tecumseh High School (Michigan).
- Joseph C. Satterthwaite: A diplomat who worked in the Foreign Service. He was born in Tecumseh.
- Allan Seager: A writer and creative writing teacher at the University of Michigan. He lived in Tecumseh from 1935 until his death in 1968.
Interesting Facts
A horse named Don Juan is buried in Tecumseh. This horse belonged to General George Armstrong Custer. After the General's death, the horse was sent to a friend living in Tecumseh.
Sister Cities
- Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
See also
In Spanish: Tecumseh (Míchigan) para niños
