Mount Pleasant, Michigan
—  City  —
Seal
Location within Isabella County, Michigan
Coordinates: 43°35′52″N 84°46′03″W / 43.59778°N 84.7675°W / 43.59778; -84.7675Coordinates: 43°35′52″N 84°46′03″W / 43.59778°N 84.7675°W / 43.59778; -84.7675
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Isabella
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- Mayor	James Holton
- City Manager	Kathie Grinzinger
Area
- Total	7.8 sq mi (20.2 km2)
- Land	7.8 sq mi (20.2 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)  0.0%
Elevation	771 ft (235 m)
Population (2008)
- Total	26,675
- Density	3,327.2/sq mi (1,284.3/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	48804 (P.O. Box), 48858 (general delivery), 48859 (Central Mich. Univ.)
Area code(s)	989
FIPS code	26-56020[1]
GNIS feature ID	0632832[2]
Website	http://www.mt-pleasant.org

Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Isabella County.^[3] As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,946. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 26,675.^[4]

Part of the city (with a population of 8,741) is on the Isabella Indian Reservation, site of the Soaring Eagle Casino. The city is also home to the main campus of Central Michigan University. Former Michigan governor John Engler was born in Mount Pleasant, as was former PGA Tour professional golfer Dan Pohl.

In December 2008 the unemployment rate in Mount Pleasant was 7.1^[5].

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Transportation 5 Education 6 Local media 7 Sister cities 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

Settlers first arrived in what is now Mount Pleasant after the Graduation Act of 1854, allowing people to purchase land from the government at discount rates. The Treaty of 1855 relocated the Native American Ojibwa (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe) from Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River to land in Isabella County (Isabella Indian Reservation)^[6]. Many non-natives soon moved to Mount Pleasant predicting prosperous relations with the natives. The Homestead Act of 1862 brought many new settlers to Mount Pleasant to live on the free land that the government allowed them.

The fire of 1875 started at the Fancher Building on the north corner of Broadway and Main, it moved east down Broadway and destroyed several buildings. Seven years later another fire damaged buildings on the south side of Broadway.

In 1879 the people of Mount Pleasant got their first library, The Library, Literary, and Musical Association of Mount Pleasant. Starting with the personal book collections of the board members^[7]. In 1890 W.A. Jordan started Mount Pleasant Business College, expanding in 1892 the school changed its name to Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, now Central Michigan University.

Mount Pleasant experienced an oil boom in 1928, almost 15 years after the first drill date. The Lilly Farm was the first to strike, putting out hundreds of barrels a day. When the oil came to Mount Pleasant the local factory industry left town in search for a new workforce elsewhere.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²), all land. The Chippewa River runs through the city. Mount Pleasant is located approximately 61 miles north of Lansing, Michigan's state capital, along US 127.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 25,946 people, 8,449 households, and 3,126 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,327.2 per square mile (1,284.3/km²). There were 8,878 housing units at an average density of 1,138.5/sq mi (439.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.12% White, 3.67% African American, 1.54% Native American, 2.85% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.

There were 8,449 households out of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 63.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 11.5% under the age of 18, 54.1% from 18 to 24, 16.9% from 25 to 44, 10.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,572, and the median income for a family was $43,927. Males had a median income of $32,004 versus $23,869 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,177. About 11.4% of families and 37.2% of the population (student population skews this statistic) were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

	US 127 is a major north-south route connecting with Lansing and Jackson to the south and with Clare and Grayling on the north.
	Business US-127 (Mission Street) is a loop route traveling through the heart of the city, connecting with US-127 at either end.
	M-20 continues east to Midland and Bay City and west toward Big Rapids.

Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport is located 2 mi (3.2 km) northeast of the central business district.

[edit] Education

• Central Michigan University
• Mid Michigan Community College-Mount Pleasant Campus
• Mount Pleasant High School

[edit] Local media

Newspapers

• The Morning Sun (Daily)^[8]
• Central Michigan Life (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)^[9]

Radio stations

• WMMI (830 AM) - Talk radio
• WCZY-FM (104.3 FM) - Adult Contemporary
• WCMU (89.5 FM) - CMU Public Radio
• WMHW (91.5 FM) - CMU College Student Radio/Modern Rock
• WCEN (94.5 FM) - Country music
• WCFX (95.3 FM) - Top 40
• WQOS-LP (98.9 FM) - Classic rock

TV stations

• WCMU (Channel 14) - PBS

[edit] Sister cities

• Valdivia, Chile^[10]
• Okaya, Nagano^[10]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• City of Mount Pleasant Homepage
• Mount Pleasant Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Mount Pleasant, Michigan at the Open Directory Project
• Mount Pleasant travel guide from Wikitravel

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Isabella County, Michigan County seat: Mt. Pleasant Cities Clare‡ | Mt. Pleasant Villages Lake Isabella | Rosebush | Shepherd Charter township Union Civil townships Broomfield | Chippewa | Coe | Coldwater | Deerfield | Denver | Fremont | Gilmore | Isabella | Lincoln | Nottawa | Rolland | Sherman | Vernon | Wise Unincorporated communities Brinton | Beal City | Blanchard | Delwin | Leaton | Vernon City | Weidman | Winn Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties