Grayling, Michigan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,952. It is the county seat of Crawford County ⁶. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams.

Grayling is situated within Grayling Township, though it is politically independent. I-75 passes just to the east of Grayling, and connects with the Mackinac Bridge at Mackinaw City 84 miles to the north and with US 127 just 4 miles south of the city. M-72 passes east-west through the city and M-93 is an 11-mile route connecting the main gate of Michigan Army National Guard's Camp Grayling, 4 miles southwest of Grayling, with Hartwick Pines State Park, 7 miles northeast of Grayling.

Grayling is the birthplace of novelist and poet Jim Harrison.

[edit] Geography

The middle branch of the Au Sable River passes through the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 1,952 people, 828 households, and 481 families residing in the city. The population density was 375.0/km² (972.1/mi²). There were 895 housing units at an average density of 171.9/km² (445.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.88% White, 0.51% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.

There were 828 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.4% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 78.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,250, and the median income for a family was $29,850. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $20,060 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,089. About 21.6% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.