Gladstone, Michigan

Gladstone, Michigan
City

Welcome sign with Little Bay de Noc in the background

Location of Gladstone, Michigan
Coordinates: 45°50′45″N 87°1′49″W / 45.84583°N 87.03028°W / 45.84583; -87.03028
Country United States
State Michigan
County Delta
Area[1]
 • Total 7.92 sq mi (20.51 km2)
 • Land 5.00 sq mi (12.95 km2)
 • Water 2.92 sq mi (7.56 km2)
Elevation 604 ft (184 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 4,973
 • Estimate (2016)[3] 4,796
 • Density 630/sq mi (240/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 49837
Area code(s) 906
FIPS code 26-32300[4]
GNIS feature ID 1620021[5]

Gladstone is a city in Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also known locally as "Happy Rock", a play on words of Gladstone. First settled in 1877, Gladstone's original name was Minnewasca. The population was 4,973 at the 2010 census.

U.S. Highways 2 and 41 run concurrently through the city, connecting with Escanaba, nine miles (14 km) to the south. US 41 runs north to Marquette and US 2 runs east to Manistique. M-35 runs northwest 52 miles (84 km) to Gwinn and merges with US 2/US 41 south to Escanaba.

History

First settlers

Throughout the early 19th century, the area where Gladstone exists was largely uninhabited other than Ojibwe hunters in the area or the occasional Euro-American trapper or fisherman. Gladstone was first settled in 1859 when the Hamilton Corporation of Fayette, MI began using it as a shipping point for selling and transporting of their iron ore. [Gladstone Centennial Book Community (1987). Gladstone Centennial History. Gladstone Centennial Book Community. Pp 12–47. ASIN B0010K5HFW]

The town was originally named Minnewasca by the Soo Line Railroad, the Ojibwa name meaning "white water."[6] When the name was filed with the county and Secretary of State in Lansing, Senator W. D. Washburn, who had an interest in building the railroad, persuaded officials to change the name to Gladstone in honor of British premier, William Evert Gladstone.[7]

Earliest development was on Saunders Point, so named for Capt. Nate Saunders who headquartered there when fishing at various points along the bay, was the location for the initial build-up of Gladstone.[7] Today, Saunder’s Point still exists as a small peninsula east of Gladstone’s city park system, located in Little Bay De Noc.

Expanding beyond its iron ore roots into a shipping point for lumber, coal, and copper during the American civil war, throughout the 1860s and 1870s, Gladstone grew into a busy port.

Change of name

In 1876, the Hamilton Corporation had to move its operations when their mine dried up. The new mine location, further south, meant shipping their ore through the Escanaba port. Arthur Delano, the president of Soo Line Railroad, had commissioned a train depot built in Saunder’s Point during the previous winter to start land shipping for the Hamilton Corporation.[The Trains staff (November 1990). Timeline. Trains, pp. 21–47] However, since this was no longer possible, Delano began commissioning local industries.

Gladstone was in corporated as a village in 1887 and as a city in 1889.[8] Gladstone is named after the English statesman William Ewart Gladstone.[9]

Geography

City Hall

The city is on a small projection into the Little Bay de Noc, which opens onto Green Bay on Lake Michigan.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.92 square miles (20.51 km2), of which 5.00 square miles (12.95 km2) is land and 2.92 square miles (7.56 km2) is water.[1]

Climate

Due to the city’s proximity to Lake Michigan, Gladstone consistently has high humidity and experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, with average high temperatures in the mid 80s and average lows in the mid 60s. Winters are cold, snowy and windy with temperatures often below freezing. Spring and fall are mild with low humidity. According to the National Weather Service, Gladstone’s record low comes in at -60 on January 7, 1896 . To this day, this storm is referred to by Gladstone residents as “les morte a doigts,” since so many of the city’s residents lost fingers due to frostbite. On July 19, 1992, Gladstone experienced a rare tornado which caused moderate damage throughout the city.

Neighborhoods

Although Gladstone is a relatively small city, it has several distinct sections: Downtown (which hosts most of the local businesses), The Buckeye (located on the western side of the city, bordering the Brampton, MI township), and the Bluff (which hosts most of the new residential expansion, as well as Gladstone High School).

Culture

Tourism and parks

Gladstone is often referred to as “The Year Round Playground” because of its myriad of parks and activities. Gladstone’s main park is Van Cleve, which hosts a playground (Kid’s Kingdom), a skateboarding park, baseball field, basketball court, fitness trail, a beach with water slide, boardwalk, as well as a harbor with boat ramps and fish cleaning station.

Another Gladstone attraction is the Gladstone Sports Park, which hosts several baseball fields, skiing and snowboarding runs and a tubing facility. The Park itself is often rented out for other activities, including wedding receptions, and high school graduation parties.

Gladstone also hosts the Days River Trails, which are hiked and biked in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, these trails are used primarily for cross-country skiing.

Gladstone had much more tourism in the 70's. Most of it was killed when the state built I75 from St. Ignace to Sault St. Marie, routing the "Around the Lake" tourism directly out of the state into Canada. The second death blow that Gladstone is just recovering from was building the only 4 lane highway in the U.P., completely, for some reason, bypassing Gladstone (and only Gladstone) and making it limited access just from one end of Gladstone to the other end.

These two acts committed Gladstone to bedroom community status for the future. All shopping and many jobs are in Escanaba.

However, the white sand beaches and clear warm water are still there and the many crafty tourists return every year and are not letting on. The rest of the U.P. and Wisconsin coasts are exposed with cold lake water. Only in Gladstone's Little Bay de Noc do these conditions hold true. (Sources: The highway features are still there.)

Economy

Despite economic troubles in the region, Gladstone is the home of many thriving businesses including Marble Arms, Besse Forest Products, Canadian National Railway, VanAire Inc, Independent Machine Co., Pardon Inc., Bramco Containers, Hoegh Pet Caskets, Brampton Bike and Ski, Bay de Noc Lure Company (makers of the "Swedish Pimple" and "Do-Jigger"), Main Street Pizza, D&M Subs, The Dairy Flo, and The Saloon. Many of Gladstone’s residents also find work in Escanaba, particularly with one of the New Page Corporation's mills, which is the area’s largest employer.

Media

Gladstone was featured in the 2010 documentary film Catfish.

Transportation

Soo Line locomotive 4-6-2 Pacific H-3 (730) sits off of US 2.

Obviously, the US Highway Department had high expectations for Gladstone in its original 1926 highway plan.

Notable people

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18901,337—
19003,380152.8%
19104,21124.6%
19204,95317.6%
19305,1704.4%
19404,972−3.8%
19504,831−2.8%
19605,2679.0%
19705,237−0.6%
19804,533−13.4%
19904,5650.7%
20005,03210.2%
20104,973−1.2%
Est. 20164,796[3]−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 4,973 people, 2,182 households, and 1,374 families residing in the city. The population density was 994.6 inhabitants per square mile (384.0/km2). There were 2,431 housing units at an average density of 486.2 per square mile (187.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% White, 0.2% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 2,182 households of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.0% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 43.6 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 5,032 people, 2,126 households, and 1,392 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,015.2 per square mile (391.7/km²). There were 2,289 housing units at an average density of 461.8 per square mile (178.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.76% White, 0.14% African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population. 14.3% were of French, 14.0% German, 12.2% Swedish, 10.3% French Canadian, 6.1% English, 5.2% Irish and 5.0% Belgian ancestry according to Census 2000. 99.5% spoke English as their first language.

There were 2,126 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,328, and the median income for a family was $47,899. Males had a median income of $43,400 versus $25,662 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,973. About 7.8% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  3. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Gladstone, Michigan: A Little Town with a Big Name".
  7. 1 2 "City of Gladstone".
  8. ↑ Walter Romig, Michigan Place names, p. 224
  9. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 138.
  10. ↑ "ST. IGNACE-SAULT STE. MARIE-IRONWOOD" (PDF). Indian Trails. January 15, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  11. ↑ "HANCOCK-MARQUETTE-GREEN BAY-MILWAUKEE" (PDF). Indian Trails. January 12, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  12. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Coordinates: 45°51′10″N 87°01′18″W / 45.85278°N 87.02167°W / 45.85278; -87.02167

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