Caledonia, Michigan

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Caledonia is a village in Kent County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,102. The village lies entirely within Caledonia Township.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Education 3 Sports and Athletics 4 Demographics 5 References

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.6 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (2.88%) is water.

[edit] Education

There are eight public schools in Caledonia and the surrounding area, all of which belong to Caledonia Community Schools. The high school --built in 2004-- has an enrollment of 1,200 students. Across the street from the high school is Glenmor High, the alternative high school.

There are two middle schools: Kraft Meadows Middle School (KMMS) and Duncan Lake Middle School (DLMS). Both opened in 2004, although the buildings have been around longer. KMMS is the original Caledonia Middle School, and DLMS is the most recent high school.

There are four elementary schools: Caledonia Elementary (the original, across the street from DLMS), Emmons Lake Elementary (newest, next to the high school), Dutton Elementary and Kettle Lake Elementary. Plans for a fifth elementary are underway.

Emmons Lake runs on an alternative school schedule that is longer on the calendar, but the same amount of school days. They start in August, three weeks earlier than the rest of the schools, getting Fridays off during those three weeks, get a week off in October and February, receive a two week spring break, and end a week later than the other schools in the district.

[edit] Sports and Athletics

Caledonia's athletic teams are known as the Fighting Scots, but some refer to them only as the Scots. Prior to 1970 they were known as the scotties, a small dog being the mascot, but they tired of competing teams making fun of the name. In the early 1970s the name was changed to the fighting scots and the mascot to a fighting scotsman in a kilt who carried a sword. The mascot was painted onto the wall of the gym. The most recent mascot is wearing a kilt, swordless and carries a napsack..[1]

The school has a history of success in track and field and cross country. Championships and Runners-Up in Track and Cross Country are in the following:
Boys Cross Country:
1996 State Champions - Coach John Soderman - Class B, Lower Peninsula [2]
Girls Cross Country:
1990 State Runners-Up - Coach Dave Hodgekinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula
1992 State Runners-Up - Coach Dave Hodgekinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula [3]
1993 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgekinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula
1994 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgekinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula
1995 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgekinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula
1996 State Champions - Coach Dave Hodgekinson - Class B, Lower Peninsula [4]
Girls Track:
1994 State Runners-Up - Coach Jon Zomerlei - Class B, Lower Peninsula
1995 State Champions - Coach Jon Zomerlei - Class B, Lower Peninsula

The high school football team was the 2005 State Champion in Division 3 when they defeated the Haslett Vikings 27-6 at Ford Field in Detroit.
The high school football team finished tied for third during 2006 in Division 3 when they lost to East Grand Rapids 38-7 in the Semi Finals.

Over the years the Scots have had numerous first team all state athletes starting with Warren Dobber Wenger (tennis) in 1932.[5]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,102 people, 430 households, and 304 families residing in the village. The population density was 315.2/km² (816.3/mi²). There were 449 housing units at an average density of 128.4/km² (332.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.91% White, 0.27% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 430 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the village the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,724, and the median income for a family was $56,429. Males had a median income of $45,804 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,386. About 4.7% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

	Kent County, Michigan (County Seat: Grand Rapids)
Cities	Cedar Springs • East Grand Rapids• Grand Rapids • Grandville • Kentwood • Lowell • Rockford • Walker • Wyoming
Villages	Caledonia • Casnovia • Kent City • Sand Lake • Sparta
Charter Townships	Caledonia • Cascade • Gaines • Grand Rapids • Lowell • Plainfield
General Law Townships	Ada • Algoma • Alpine • Bowne • Byron • Cannon • Courtland • Grattan • Nelson • Oakfield • Solon • Sparta • Spencer • Tyrone • Vergennes
CDPs	Byron Center • Comstock Park • Cutlerville • Forest Hills • Northview
Communities	Ada • Alaska • Alpine • Alto • Belmont • Cannonsburg • Cascade • Dutton • Grattan

[edit] References

Coordinates: 42°47′21″N, 85°31′00″W