West Branch, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Branch
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| City of West Branch | |
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Downtown West Branch along Houghton Avenue
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| Motto(s):
"Up North. Down Home."
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Location within Ogemaw County
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 West Branch
Location in Michigan
West Branch
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ogemaw |
| Incorporated | 1885 (village) 1905 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.54 sq mi (3.99 km2) |
| • Land | 1.54 sq mi (3.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 955 ft (291 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,351 |
| • Density | 1,527.62/sq mi (589.92/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
48661
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| Area code(s) | 989 |
| FIPS code | 26-85580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1627248 |
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West Branch is a city in the state of Michigan, United States. It is the main town and biggest settlement in Ogemaw County. In 2020, about 2,351 people lived there. This was more than the 2,139 people counted in 2010. West Branch is mostly surrounded by West Branch Township. However, the city and the township are managed separately.
Contents
History of West Branch
West Branch was first called Logan's Mills in 1863. This was according to the Ogemaw County Historical Society. Later, lumberjacks gave it the name West Branch. They named it after the "west branch" of the Rifle River. Charles Taber and Mr. Goodar were the people who started the town.
In the early days, there were not many laws in West Branch. But the town did not have many crime problems. Theft was very rare among the settlers. Sometimes, woodsmen tried to run the town. However, this never lasted for long. Because there was so little crime, it was hard to control the town. West Branch was a rich town back then. Workers were paid well, and new settlers had enough money.
In 1883, a big fire burned down many businesses. These businesses were on Houghton Avenue. Within a year, the businesses were rebuilt. They were even better than before the fire. This fire was one of several big fires that happened in West Branch early on.
West Branch has many old buildings. One of the oldest is the West Branch Public Library. The library started on September 2, 1905. It has been in many different places. It also faced many challenges over its history. It first opened on the third floor of the West Branch Hotel. After a fire, it moved to the top floor of the Tolfree Livingston Block. Another fire hit in January 1923. Then, in November 1926, the Ogemaw County Bank failed. The library got money from the city council to recover.
From June 1923 to 1952, the library increased its hours. It went from two hours a week to 30 hours. In September 1949, the city council agreed to move the library. It moved to the community building. This building was later torn down. The land was then used for the library and city hall. By June 1973, the library was open 40 hours a week. In 1974, it became a Class III library. This meant it served between 5,000 and 12,999 people. It has grown a lot. By 2005, it had a computer system for checking out books. It also had an online card catalog.
Geography and Location
West Branch is located in Michigan. The city covers a total area of about 1.48 square miles (3.99 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Main Roads in West Branch
Several important highways pass through or near West Branch:
- I-75
- BL I-75
- M-30
- M-55
- M-33
People of West Branch
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 139 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,302 | 836.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,412 | 8.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,276 | −9.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,105 | −13.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,164 | 5.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,962 | 68.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,098 | 6.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,025 | −3.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,912 | −5.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,785 | −6.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,914 | 7.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,926 | 0.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,139 | 11.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,351 | 9.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 2,052 people living in West Branch. There were 979 households. The average income for a household was $30,508. Most people (77.7%) drove to work alone. About 12.5% carpooled, and 5.06% walked. So, driving alone was the most common way to get to work.
Men earned about $35,054 on average. Women earned about $24,234. The top earning jobs for men were in construction, entertainment, and manufacturing. Most people (91%) were White. About 4.68% were Asian, and 1.56% were Hispanic. On average, each household had two cars. People spent about 19.1 minutes commuting to work.
Education in West Branch
West Branch-Rose City Area Schools is the local public school district. Students attend Surline Elementary and Middle Schools. They also go to Ogemaw Heights High School. This high school serves both West Branch and Rose City. The school mascot is the falcon.
Saint Joseph Catholic School is a private elementary school. It is in West Branch. It teaches students from preschool to eighth grade. This school is part of the Diocese of Gaylord. It is also a member of the National Catholic Educational Association. For college-level studies, Kirtland Community College is available nearby.
Medical Care in West Branch
MyMichigan Medical Center – West Branch is a local hospital. It used to be called West Branch Regional Medical Center. It is located at 2463 S. M-30. The hospital offers many different health services. These include rehabilitation programs and a wound care center.
The rehabilitation programs help with many conditions. They offer physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Physical therapy helps with things like hip recovery after surgery. It also has a weight management program. Occupational therapy helps with shoulder pain. Speech therapy helps with speaking and swallowing problems.
The Wound Care Center helps patients with wounds that do not heal well. It also helps with long-term pain from wounds. They offer treatments like special wound dressings. They also use hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
On July 1, 2010, the hospital closed its birth center. This meant they no longer delivered babies. Expectant mothers were sent to hospitals in other cities. These included Tawas, Saginaw, Midland, or Bay City. But on March 1, 2021, the hospital reopened its birth center.
Fun Things to Do in West Branch
West Branch has a city park called Irons Park. It was created in 1955. It is named after Archie Irons, who owned the land. Many events happen in the park every year. These include an Easter egg hunt and the Humane Society Mutt March. There is also a Summer Music Series and a fishing derby.
The park is home to Fort Austin. This is a large, modern wooden play area. It is named after Austin Clark. Irons Park offers many activities. You can go biking, fishing, or bird-watching. There are also many activities for children. The park has two tennis courts and basketball courts. There are also picnic tables, grills, and bathrooms. In winter, people often go sledding at Irons Park.
In 2014, the John Tolfree Hospital opened the Tolfree Wellness Park. This park is on the hospital's campus. It was part of a project to help kids stay healthy. The park has a 3.3-mile trail. It also has gardens, a greenhouse, and a pavilion. The park also hosts a run/walk event. This event promotes healthy living. All money raised helps health programs at the medical center. It also helps maintain the Tolfree Wellness Park.
West Branch also has two bowling alleys. They are Ogemaw Lanes and Hi-Skore. West Branch Cinema 3 is the local movie theater. It is in the downtown area. There are also special events during different seasons. In February, West Branch hosts the Ogemaw County Winterfest. The Ogemaw County Fair happens in August. It is held on Rifle River Trail, east of the city. In late July, West Branch hosts Relay for Life in Irons Park. This event supports the fight against breast cancer. It raises money for charities and spreads awareness.
Famous People from West Branch
- Catherine Laurion, who was Miss Michigan Teen USA in 2005. She was also second in the national Miss Teen USA 2005 contest.
- Alex Rose, an athlete who competed for Samoa in the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
- Dita Von Teese, a famous burlesque dancer, model, and businesswoman. She is known as the "Queen of Burlesque."
- Dave Walter, a former NFL quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.
- Daniel Way, a comic book writer. He is known for his work on Wolverine: Origins and Deadpool.
- Joy Williams, a singer and songwriter. She was half of the music group The Civil Wars.
- Donny Winter, a poet who was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
- Anthony Zettel, an NFL defensive end who played for several teams.
Images for kids
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U.S. Post Office in West Branch
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West Branch Library and City Hall
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Former West Branch train depot
See also
In Spanish: West Branch (Míchigan) para niños
