Old Town (Lansing, Michigan)
| Old Town | |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood | |
.jpg) | |
| Coordinates: 42°44′49″N 83°8′35″W / 42.74694°N 83.14306°WCoordinates: 42°44′49″N 83°8′35″W / 42.74694°N 83.14306°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ingham |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.44 sq mi (1.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 860 ft (262 meters) ft (228 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,654 |
| • Density | 3,708.5/sq mi (1,431.9/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 48906 |
| Area code(s) | 517 |
| FIPS code | 26-80700[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1615125[2] |
| Website | http://www.iloveoldtown.org/ |
|
North Lansing Historic Commercial District | |
| Location |
E. Grand River Ave. and Turner St., Lansing, Michigan |
| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, Vernacular Commercial |
| NRHP Reference # | 76001029[3] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1976 |
| Designated MSHS | June 18, 1976 |
Located in the northern end of Lansing, Michigan, Old Town overlooks the Grand River and a winding bike trail. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the North Lansing Historic Commercial District, the district was established in the mid-19th century.
History
The first settler in North Lansing, later known as Lower Town and eventually Old Town, was John W. Burchard, an attorney from Mason. He built the first log cabin in Lansing in 1843 on land purchased from James Seymour. He build a dam across the Grand River later that year and hoped to build a mill, but drowned at the dam in 1844 while inspecting a break. A mill was built there later by James Seymour.[4]
The Old Town area grew when Lansing became the capital of Michigan in 1847, adding commercial and industrial businesses. By the 1870s, North Lansing was thriving. By the early 1900s, however, Upper Town and Middle Town were attracting more people and business; Old Town lost its status as a commercial/industrial powerhouse. The North Lansing Historic Commercial District, which included 44 buildings, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[4]
In more recent years, the Old Town area has sought to revitalize itself through programs like Michigan Main Street.[5]
Cultural events
Old Town hosts a number of annunal culteral events, including:
- Old Town BluesFest: a two-day free blues music festival.
- Lansing JazzFest: a two-day free jazz music festival.
References
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Old Town (Lansing, Michigan)
- ↑ Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- 1 2 Community Design Center (August 11, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Places Inventory - Nomination Form: North Lansing Historic Commercial District" (PDF). The National Archives Catalog. National Park Service. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Old Town". Michigan Main Street Center. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
External links
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