Kalkaska, Michigan

Kalkaska is a village located in Kalkaska County, Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,226. It is the county seat of Kalkaska County⁶.

Contents

1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 History 4 Industry 5 External links 6 Further reading

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 6.5 km² (2.5 mi²). 6.5 km² (2.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.79% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 2,226 people, 881 households, and 540 families residing in the village. The population density is 343.8/km² (890.7/mi²). There are 969 housing units at an average density of 149.7/km² (387.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 96.32% White, 0.67% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 881 households out of which 33.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% are married couples living together, 18.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% are non-families. 32.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.35 and the average family size is 2.94.

In the village the population is spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village is $27,891, and the median income for a family is $33,651. Males have a median income of $26,901 versus $19,333 for females. The per capita income for the village is $13,028. 16.4% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.7% of those under the age of 18 and 19.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

The town was platted in 1873 by A. A. Abbott and R. L. Thompson, who owned a sawmill, and who correctly anticipated the arrival of the railroad.

On July 5, 1908, a fire (http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikgs/kas-fire.html) began in the middle of the business block and burned most of the stores. Local photographer E. L. Beebe made a number of photographs of the fire, and the resulting postcards (http://willett.org/michiganhistory/kalkaska.htm) were widely sold, and can still be found today.

In 1916, the noted author Ernest Hemingway visited and fished in Kalkaska, and later immortalized the town in his story "The Light of the World." A historical marker has been placed at the Rugg Pond Dam, on the Rapid River, where Hemingway reportedly fished one night from the power house.

On July 10, 1951, the Kalkaska State Bank was robbed by an armed man, who fled and later attempted to escape on foot through a huge swampy area of the nearby National Forest. Ater three days of what was termed the largest manhunt in Northern Michigan history, involving the FBI and local and state authorities, the gunman was captured south of the town. Named Raymond J. Turcotte, he had a long string of prior convictions, including manslaughter. Turcotte confessed to the bank robbery and served 18 years in the Michigan State Prison at Jackson, Michigan including a term for escape in 1961.

In 1993, the Kalkaska schools made national headlines when a financial crisis resulted in a month-long closure. Subsequent funding reform improved the outlook for Kalkaska and similar small rural districts in Michigan.

Industry

Oil and gas, manufacturing, and tourism are important industries in the village and surrounding county.

Fisherman are attracted to Kalkaska by the many lakes and the Boardman, Rapid and Manistee Rivers. Kalkaska has held the National Trout Festival in the last week of April each year since 1933. There is a giant statue of a rainbow trout in the town square. New York Times featured author Jim Harrison wrote about the Trout Festival in his book Just Before Dark: Collected Non-fiction, Clark City Press, 1991, ISBN 0-944439-33-0.

External links

• Leader & the Kalkaskan (http://www.upnorthpub.com/lk.htm)

Further reading

• Jobst, Jack. "Gone Fishin', " Michigan History Magazine, November/December 1995.
• Hemingway, E. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. Simon and Schuster, 1998. ISBN 0684843323.