Douglas, Michigan
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Douglas (officially known as the City of the Village of Douglas) is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,214. The city is within Saugatuck Township and the city of Saugatuck is adjacent on the north.
On December 13, 2004, residents voted to adopt a charter changing the status of the village into a city form of government. Under Michigan law, cities are independent entities whereas villages are part of the township. The official name is City of the Village of Douglas.
Douglas, originally known as Dudleyville, was first settled in 1851 as a lumber mill town. In 1861, residents changed the name to Douglas. Reportedly the name was chosen to honor the American statesman Stephen A. Douglas, but other reports indicate that a relative of the original owner of the land also suggested the name because he came from Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man. Douglas was incorporated as a village in 1870.
Area sawmills provided much of the lumber used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. After most of the harvestable trees in the area were cleared by the lumber industry, the area became a center for growing and shipping fruit, especially peaches. Tourism and resorts also became an important part of the area economy.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²). 4.6 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.91% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 1,214 people, 587 households, and 284 families residing in the city. The population density is 266.3/km² (691.6/mi²). There are 853 housing units at an average density of 187.1/km² (486.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.87% White, 0.58% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. 2.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 587 households out of which 18.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% are married couples living together, 9.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% are non-families. 43.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 19.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.91 and the average family size is 2.60.
In the city the population is spread out with 16.1% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 48 years. For every 100 females there are 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $41,250, and the median income for a family is $49,750. Males have a median income of $38,750 versus $28,906 for females. The per capita income for the city is $26,517. 10.3% of the population and 8.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.5% of those under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Village of Douglas official website (http://www.douglasmichigan.com/)
- Saugatauk/Douglas Convention & Visitors Bureau (http://www.saugatuck.com/)
- Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society (http://www.accn.org/~sdhistory/Home.php)
- Historic Saugatuck/Douglas (http://www.saugatuck.com/arts/artofbeing_frame.htm)
- InfoMI entry on Douglas (http://www.infomi.com/city/douglas/)