New Baltimore, Michigan

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New Baltimore is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 7,405 at the 2000 census. It has experienced rapid population growth in recent years, along with eastern Macomb and southern St. Clair counties. As of 2005, its population has grown to 11,110, making it the site of the 2nd largest population growth in Metro Detroit and the largest growth percent wise, by 50%, in the state of Michigan.

The New Baltimore Water Tower Over Anchor Bay

Downtown New Baltimore

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Government
5 External links

[edit] History

New Baltimore incorporated as a village in 1867 and as a city in 1931. It is located on the north coastline of Lake St. Clair, along the boundary line of Macomb and St. Clair Counties. The town sits on the waterfront and offers a public park, beach, and downtown-shopping district.

French hunters and fur trappers, in 1796, were the first inhabitants of that portion of Macomb County that later became New Baltimore. The French settlers of this era took residence along the waterfront and rivers and later developed farms that had narrow frontage of 400 of 900 feet and extended inland from the water. Generally, the depth of the parcel was determined by how far a man could plow or cultivate in a day.

The first evidence of a settled community came in the 1845, when a Mt. Clemens’ businessman, Alfred Ashley, platted 60 acres of land lying on both sides of Washington Street. This would become known as the village of Ashley, and on September 20, 1851, he was given a post office called Ashleyville, with him as postmaster. Mr. Ashley also opened businesses in lumbering, shipping, and real estate. The original Village of Ashley occupied what is now the center part of downtown New Baltimore, extending northwest along Clay, Base and Maria Streets from Anchor Bay. The land was subdivided in the typical gridiron fashion used in most American communities at that time. Over the years, irregularities developed in the gridiron subdivision pattern because of the lack of local controls, conflicts with French claims, and changing land uses, particularly along the waterfront area. This created problems, in both subdivision patterns in general and waterfront use in particular that remain today. This original settlement bore Ashley’s name until 1867, when the Village name was changed to New Baltimore.

Throughout its history, New Baltimore has been linked to the regional economy by virtue of the city’s access to the waterfront and the region’s transportation network. In its early years, New Baltimore took advantage of its waterfront location to operate port facilities exporting agriculture and manufacturing products to other communities. The area was known for the manufacturing of barrels, brooms, bricks, coffins, corsets, and creamery products. Lumber products and building materials were shipped by boat from the local mills. Development was heavily oriented to the waterfront, where shipping piers extended a hundred or more feet into the lake.

As automobile transportation increased in importance and travel patterns changed, so did the development of the City. Goods were no longer shipped by water and the waterfront slowly changed. Between 1860 and 1880, New Baltimore changed from a strong manufacturing and exporting community to the most thriving community in Macomb County with many resort activities and well-known commercial establishments. The community was thriving and boasted an opera house, hotels, salt baths, summer and winter recreational activities, saloons, a brewery and numerous resort and commercial establishments. New Baltimore was the hub of activity well into the Twentieth Century. The city was in the path of a steam locomotive line that ran between Detroit and Port Huron in the late 1800’s. As technology changed, the City constructed an electric generating plant to accommodate inter-urban passenger trains, which lasted until the mid-1920’s. Today, access to the City is provided via I-94, which is located just outside the City limits. (From New Baltimore City Website)

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.4 km² (6.7 mi²). 12.0 km² (4.6 mi²) of it is land and 5.5 km² (2.1 mi²) of it (31.50%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 7,405 people, 2,942 households, and 1,994 families residing in the city. The population density was 618.8/km² (1,604.5/mi²). There were 3,218 housing units at an average density of 268.9/km² (697.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.89% White, 0.53% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.

There were 2,942 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $60,699, and the median income for a family was $72,046. Males had a median income of $49,648 versus $33,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,921. About 1.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2005, its population has grown to 11,110, making it the site of the 2nd largest population growth in Metro Detroit.