Wayland, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wayland, Michigan
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Location of Wayland, Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Allegan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.01 sq mi (7.79 km2) |
| • Land | 2.96 sq mi (7.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.12 km2) |
| Elevation | 420 ft (69 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,435 |
| • Density | 1,497.30/sq mi (578.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
49348
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| Area code(s) | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-84880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1615899 |
Wayland is a city located in Allegan County, in the state of Michigan, United States. In 2020, about 4,435 people lived there.
The city is found at the northwest edge of Wayland Township. However, it is a separate city and not part of the township's government. Wayland also includes a small area of land from Leighton Township to its south. U.S. Route 131 runs along the city's western side. Wayland is home to OpenRoad Brewery and many local shops and places to eat.
Contents
History of Wayland
About 200 years ago, the area where Wayland now stands was home to the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of the Pottawatomi tribe. This Native American group lived in settled villages. They hunted, farmed corn and wild rice, and made maple sugar from tree sap. Today, this tribe is officially recognized by the government. Their main office is in nearby Wayland Township. They own the Gun Lake Casino, which opened in 2011.
Over time, the area began to change as European-American settlers arrived. By 1826, the land was measured and planned for new settlements. Colonel Isaac Barnes was drawn to the large forests of pine and hardwood trees. He bought land along the Rabbit River. There, he started a mill that made lumber and wooden shingles. This is why the area was first called Lumberton.
In 1837, the Barnes family moved to the area and began clearing land for farming. By the 1840s, more families had settled there. With more children in the area, the first American-style school was built in 1844.
In 1855, a new road was built. It connected the larger towns of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. This road went right through Chamber's Corners, which was the main intersection in the city. This busy road brought more trade and businesses. Dairy farms and factories grew, leading to more people moving to the area.
The area was officially named Wayland in 1868. It was named after a town in New York, because many of the new settlers had come from that state.
Wayland's Geography
The United States Census Bureau states that Wayland covers a total area of about 3.03 square miles (7.85 km2). Of this, about 2.98 square miles (7.72 km2) is land, and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.
Wayland's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 585 | — | |
| 1880 | 546 | −6.7% | |
| 1890 | 523 | −4.2% | |
| 1900 | 619 | 18.4% | |
| 1910 | 725 | 17.1% | |
| 1920 | 853 | 17.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,013 | 18.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,005 | −0.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,591 | 58.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,019 | 26.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,054 | 1.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,023 | −1.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,751 | 36.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,939 | 43.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,079 | 3.6% | |
| 2020 | 4,435 | 8.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, Wayland had 4,079 people living there. There were 1,555 households, and 1,051 families. The city had about 1,368.8 inhabitants per square mile (528.5/km2) people per square mile. There were 1,751 housing units, with about 587.6 per square mile (226.9/km2) units per square mile.
Most of the people in Wayland were White (95.0%). A small number were African American (0.3%), Native American (0.8%), or Asian (0.3%). About 0.9% were from other races, and 2.6% were from two or more races. About 3.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Out of the 1,555 households, 40.1% had children under 18 living with them. About 45.4% were married couples. About 16.5% had a female head of household with no husband. About 5.7% had a male head of household with no wife. And 32.4% were not families. About 25.2% of all households had only one person living there. About 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average household had 2.56 people, and the average family had 3.04 people.
The average age in the city was 33.3 years. About 28.7% of residents were under 18. About 10% were between 18 and 24. About 26.6% were between 25 and 44. About 23.1% were between 45 and 64. And 11.7% were 65 years or older. The population was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.
Education in Wayland
Public education for students from kindergarten through 12th grade is provided by Wayland Union Schools.
Transportation in Wayland
Major Highways
US 131 is a major highway that runs north and south through Wayland. It connects the city to Kalamazoo in the south and Grand Rapids in the north.
