Tecumseh, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tecumseh is a small city in Lenawee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated where M-50 crosses the River Raisin, a few miles east of M-52. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,574. The city is surrounded on three sides by Tecumseh Township, but is politically independent.
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[edit] History
Founded in 1824 by Musgrove Evans, Tecumseh was actually the first town to spring up in Lenawee County due to his unique strategy. Theorizing that a new county would be created in that part of the state, Evans and the other founders of Tecumseh decided it would be best for their new town to be the county seat. Therefore, they first applied to the territory government for the creation of Lenawee County. They then created Tecumseh Township, and then the town itself. To others at the time, this procedure (and founding dates in reverse order to unit size) seemed quite odd. Evans considered it just right.
During most of the 19th century, Tecumseh figured little in the history of the region. The most noteworthy event during this time period was the burying of the horse that belonged to the infamous General George Armstrong Custer in Tecumseh, the horse having been sent to a friend living there after the General's death. It was also during this period that the residents of Adrian, Michigan, through making a higher bid for the construction of a new courthouse, stole the county seat from Tecumseh. Residents of both towns have never forgotten this.
The 20th century brought with it the main source of this small town's fame, Tecumseh Products. Founded by the Herrick family during the earlier part of the century, Tecumseh Products initially began business manufacturing refrigeration compressors. The company was wildly successful, and was largely responsible for the town's better-than-average survival during the Great Depression. Indeed, for some period during the middle part of the century, Tecumseh had the record for the most millionaires per capita of any city in the world, due to the fortunes made by the founders and early members of Tecumseh Products. While the company has receded somewhat from its former heights, Tecumseh is still known as the "refrigeration capitol of the world."
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.0 km² (5.4 mi²). 13.4 km² (5.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (4.26%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 8,574 people, 3,499 households, and 2,337 families residing in the city. The population density was 640.3/km² (1,659.4/mi²). There were 3,651 housing units at an average density of 272.7/km² (706.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 0.19% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.40% of the population.
There were 3,499 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $58,239. Males had a median income of $39,672 versus $27,630 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,797. About 3.5% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of interest
[edit] External links
- Tecumseh Area Historical Society
- The Daily Telegram
- The Tecumseh Herald
- Lenawee County government site
- Complete text of History of Lenawee County published in 1909 by the Western Historical Society
