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Suggest pagesFrankenmuth, Michigan
| City of Frankenmuth, Michigan | |||
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| — City — | |||
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| Nickname(s): Little Bavaria, Muth, The Muth | |||
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| Coordinates: 43°19′56″N 83°44′31″W / 43.33222°N 83.74194°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Michigan | ||
| County | Saginaw | ||
| Settled | 1845 | ||
| Incorporated (village) | January 14, 1904 | ||
| Incorporated (city) | October 1, 1959 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Commission-Manager | ||
| • Mayor | Gary C. Rupprecht | ||
| • City Manager | Charles B. Graham | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 2.8 sq mi (7.2 km2) | ||
| • Land | 2.7 sq mi (7.1 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) | ||
| Population (2009) | |||
| • Total | 4,619 | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| Zip Code | 48734 | ||
| Area code(s) | 989 | ||
| FIPS code | 26-30200[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0626405[2] | ||
Frankenmuth is a city in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,838 at the 2000 census. The 2009 census estimate places the population at 4,619.[3] The city is located within Frankenmuth Township, but is politically independent. Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, which bills itself as "the World's Largest Christmas Store", is located in Frankenmuth. The most popular nickname is "Muth", but the city is also nicknamed "Little Bavaria" (see History below).
Contents |
[edit] History
The area was settled and named in 1845 by conservative Lutheran immigrants from Franconia (now part of Bavaria) in Germany. The German word "Franken" represents the Province of Franconia in the Kingdom of Bavaria, and the German word "Mut" means courage, thus the city name Frankenmuth means "courage of the Franconians". The "Franken" are also the Franks, a West Germanic tribe.
The nearby villages of Frankenlust, Frankentrost, and Frankenhilf illustrate that the area remained a magnet for other Germans from the same region even after it lost its original purpose as a mission post for the spread of Christianity to the Chippewa tribe.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (2.15%) is water. The Cass River winds through the town.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,838 people, 2,123 households, and 1,322 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,773.6 per square mile (684.2/km²). There were 2,240 housing units at an average density of 821.2 per square mile (316.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.80% White, 0.27% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
Citizens with German ancestry form nearly 53% of the city population.
24.8% households have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 35.7% 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 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 28.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 80.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $51,153, and the median income for a family was $71,667. Males had a median income of $51,004 versus $29,959 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,479. About 2.4% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
Tourism drives the local economy. Frankenmuth draws over three million tourists annually to its Bavarian-themed shops and restaurants such as Zehnder's and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. Frankenmuth also attracts tourists with festivals and other events throughout the year.
[edit] Architecture
The strong influence of Franconian-style architecture can be found in most areas of the city. Most buildings in the commercial district, as well as many homes, feature stylistic interpretations of the timber-framed buildings found in the Franconia region of Germany. This style is marked by the use of timbers in "square" and "X" patterns on the outside of buildings, as well as the use of "X" patterns on windows, doors, and other building features. The concept of building with this unique Bavarian architecture came from an architect, Ed Beech, who was working for William "Tiny" Zehnder on a remodeling job of the Fischer Hotel.[citation needed]
[edit] Frankenmuth School District
The Frankenmuth School System is home of the Eagles, offering K-12 education. The District is separated into three schools: List Elementary School, E.F.R Rittmueller Middle School and Frankenmuth High School. Also in the district is St. Lorenz Lutheran, a parochial school. The Frankenmuth mascot is the eagle. Frankenmuth is home to the Xavier Musketeers basketball player Brad Redford.
[edit] Entertainment
[edit] Festivals
[edit] The World Expo of Beer
The World Expo of Beer is a community fund-raiser that helps different organizations in need of funding. The beneficiary differs from year to year.[4]
[edit] Dog Bowl and Great Lakes Regional Hot Air Balloon Championships
The Dog Bowl is an Olympic-style series of many dog events illustrating many different breeds of dogs competing, held over Memorial Weekend in late May. Dock Dog competition is a nationally sanctioned event where dogs compete for distance, height and speed in retrieval from the water. The dogs leap at top speeds into a 30-foot-long (9.1 m) pool and are measured on these criteria. Disc Dog competitions track speed and distance of dogs catching discs. Wiener dog races with over 200 dogs racing in separate heats in the central courtyard of River Place.
Along with the day-long events are 40 hot air balloons competing from five Great Lakes Region states to achieve tasks in the air and drop bean bags on targets from the air in competition. Balloon glows are held on the Saturday and Sunday evenings with all balloons tethered to the ground at dusk displaying the balloon envelopes and allowing the public to walk amongst them.
[edit] Bavarian Fest
The Bavarian Fest began in 1959 in collaboration with the Grand Opening Celebration of the Bavarian-Style addition to Fischer's Hotel on the main street of the city by "Tiny" William Zehnder. In 1970, the event outgrew the parking lots of the Main Street restaurants and moved to what is now Heritage Park.
Visitors of all ages are invited to hear Bavarian music played by authentically dressed German bands, watch two parades, enjoy an expanded midway with rides and games, dance music, face painting, and a hands-on craft area.
Venues sell many varieties of German foods and desserts, along with imported and domestic beer.
Each year, over 100,000 people enjoy the annual Sunday Bavarian Festival Parade, usually featuring over 100 entries including marching bands, decorated floats, dance clubs, visiting dignitaries, entertainers, royalty, and that year's newly crowned Bavarian Princess and her Court.
The Bavarian Festival has been voted one of the "Top 5 Festivals in the State of Michigan" by AAA's Michigan Living Magazine.[4] It is held in early June.
[edit] Summer Music Fest
Frankenmuth's Summer Music Fest, now in its 22nd year, is a week long polka festival. The event is sponsored by Pepsi and takes place in Frankenmuth's Heritage Park.[5] The event draws over 25,000 visitors annually to Frankenmuth.[6]
[edit] Oktoberfest
In 1990, Frankenmuth, also known as "Michigan's Little Bavaria," celebrated its first Oktoberfest. The Frankenmuth Oktoberfest celebrates German culture, heritage and love. The goal of the festival is to retain as much of the Bavarian heritage of the region as possible. Frankenmuth is the first Oktoberfest outside of Munich to be sanctioned by the Parliament and the City of Munich.[5]
[edit] Frankenmuth SnowFest
Frankenmuth is also host to one of the top snow-sculpting events in North America, the Frankenmuth Ice Festival.
[edit] Places of Interest
[edit] Heritage Park
Heritage Park is Frankenmuth's most well-known park. It is located at 601 Weiss Street and is home to many community activities, festivals and large events. The Harvey E. Kern Community Pavilion is the newest addition and has become a focal point of the park. The park also features 4 picnic pavilions, 3 ball diamonds, playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, basketball court, riverwalk pathway (0.9 miles) and several facilities for festivals.[7]
[edit] Print media
[edit] Frankenmuth News
The Frankenmuth News has been Frankenmuth's primary newspaper since 1906. It is released on a weekly basis and focuses on issues of local concern.[8]
[edit] Sister city
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Frankenmuth Statistics". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US2614530220&_geoContext=01000US. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
- ^ a b Frankenmuth Festivals, Official Site of the Frankenmuth Festivals. Retrieved on September 28, 2007.
- ^ a b "Welcome to Frankenmuth Festivals 2011!"
- ^ "Marvin O. Herzog, 70". Obituaries (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Dec 17, 2002. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GDIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7UEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2099,6104279&dq=summer-music-fest+frankenmuth&hl=en.
- ^ City of Frankenmuth Heritage Park Retrieved on December 28, 2011
- ^ Frankenmuth News
[edit] External links
- City of Frankenmuth
- Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Frankenmuth, Michigan at the Open Directory Project
Coordinates: 43°19′54″N 83°44′17″W / 43.33167°N 83.73806°W
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((Category: German-American history
