Saugatuck, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saugatuck is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,065 at the 2000 census.
Originally a lumber town and port, Saugatuck, along with the adjacent village of Douglas became a noted art colony and tourist destination in the arts and crafts movement of the late 19th century. In the early twentieth century, Saugatuck was home to the famous Old Pavilion, a large dance hall that attracted bands and visitors from across the Midwest. The building was a popular destination on Lake Michigan from its construction in 1909 until it burned down on March 15, 1968.
Today, tourists are drawn to the art galleries, harbor, marinas, scenery, unusual stores, the view from atop Mount Baldhead, and tourist attractions as well as Oval Beach on Lake Michigan, which enjoys a worldwide reputation. Nearby are Saugatuck Dunes State Park and Allegan State Game Area as is the city of Holland, Michigan.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it is water or 17.93%.
[edit] Tourism
Saugatuck's primary source of revenue stems from tourism - though only 1,000 individuals call Saugatuck their year-round home, the population of the town swells to nearly 3,000 in the summer months. Saugatuck is a prime weekend getaway destination for residents of Chicago, Grand Rapids and Detroit and many guests are attracted to the many Bed and Breakfasts in the area.
In town, attractions include the many art galleries (over a dozen), small, independent shops, and restaurants, such as the Butler (named after the founder of the town, William Butler), Marro's Italian Restaurant, The Elbo Room, Coral Gables, and the Mermaid Bar & Grill. The Saugatuck Chain Ferry departs from Grant Park, near the Star of Saugatuck, a large paddle-wheel boat that gives daily tours of the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan. There are art and music festivals throughout the year.
Other attractions include the nearby town of Douglas, Saugatuck's sister city, and the above mentioned Oval Beach.
Saugatuck is also a gay-friendly town. Many merchants display rainbow flags or decals, and most lodging establishments are comfortable with gay couples. There is an all-male nude beach at one of the coves along Lake Michigan.[citation needed]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 1,065 people, 549 households, and 265 families residing in the city. The population density was 893.6 people per square mile (345.5/km²). There were 928 housing units at an average density of 778.7 per square mile (301.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.21% White, 1.60% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.32% of the population.
There were 549 households out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.7% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,318, and the median income for a family was $64,583. Males had a median income of $46,161 versus $26,484 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,382. About 6.7% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
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