Schoolcraft, Michigan

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Schoolcraft is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,587 at the 2000 census. The village is named in honor of Henry Schoolcraft, an ethnologist.

The village is located within Schoolcraft Township along US 131.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Schools
5 External links

[edit] History

The Village of Schoolcraft was the first settlement in Kalamazoo County, being established in 1832. One of the first settlers in the area was Basil Harrison, who brought his family there from Ohio in 1828 because of a land grant afforded him by the United States government due to his military service in the War of 1812. The village was named by Governor Lewis Cass in honor of Henry Schoolcraft, who was a member of the expedition which explored the region.

The Schoolcraft United Methodist Church, which currently stands on the corner of Grand Street and Clay Street in Schoolcraft, was originally established in 1832, making it the oldest established church north of the St. Joseph River. It has been in its current location since the 1850s.

The Village of Schoolcraft is also home to the Underground Railroad House of Dr. Nathan Thomas, which is a registered Michigan Historic Site and National Historic Site. Dr. Thomas, the first doctor in Kalamazoo County and a Quaker who avidly supported and led abolitionist efforts in Michigan, first built the house in 1835 on the corner of Cass St. and Centre St. Between 1840 and 1860, it is estimated that Dr. Thomas and his wife Pamela Brown sheltered between 1,000 and 1,500 fugitive slaves on their way to Canada. In 1868 the house was moved to its present site on Cass St. east of 131.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²), all land. Schoolcraft is located on a prairie, and much of the land outside of the village is used as farm land, with the primary crops being corn and soybeans.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 1,587 people, 615 households, and 418 families residing in the village. The population density was 658.9/km² (1,703.2/mi²). There were 645 housing units at an average density of 267.8/km² (692.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.09% White, 0.38% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 615 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the village the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $45,380, and the median income for a family was $54,205. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $27,639 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,223. About 3.7% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Schools

There are four schools in the Schoolcraft Community Schools school district.

Schoolcraft Early Elementary - Schoolcraft Early Elementary serves approximately 260 students in the Young Fives, Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade. The Kindergarten and Young Fives programs are offered half day, every day in the morning or afternoon. The Elementary school is the oldest occupied school in the district, with the original portion of the school having been built in the 1930s. Until completion of the old high school (which is currently the middle school) in the 1950s, this building housed all students in K-12.

Schoolcraft Upper Elementary - The Upper Elementary in Schoolcraft consists of grades 3, 4, 5 and 6. We currently have 342 students enrolled in the Upper Elementary. Grade levels 3, 4, and 5 are the traditional self-contained classrooms. Students in those grade levels do leave their classrooms for specials (physical education, art, computers, library skills, and music). 6th grade is considered to be part of the middle school program, even though 6th grade is located in our building. 6th grade rotates between classes built upon a middle school concept.

Schoolcraft Middle School - The Schoolcraft Middle School will prepare productive, respectful problem solvers for their next educational endeavor. We will accomplish this by delivering a challenging, integrated curriculum in a positive environment by a skilled staff. Grades 7th through 8th.

Schoolcraft High School - Community and families caring about the education of their youth is the driving force behind Schoolcraft High School’s excellent academic, athletic and extra-curricular reputation. Grades 9-12. The current high school, which is the newest building in the district's school system, has been occupied since the 1999-2000 school year, with construction being completed in 2000. Due to cooperation with other schools in Kalamazoo County, students also have the opportunity to attend classes at off-campus locations through programs such as the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center, Education for Employment and Education for the Arts.

School Mascot: Eagle, or the Schoolcraft Eagles
School Colors: Purple and Gold

Schoolcraft High School Michigan High School Athletic Association State Team Champions