Standish, Michigan

Standish, Michigan
—  City  —
Location of Standish within Arenac County, Michigan
Coordinates: 43°58′59″N 83°57′32″W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Arenac
Area
• Total	2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
• Land	2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	623 ft (190 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	1,581
• Density	738.1/sq mi (285.0/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	48658
Area code(s)	989
FIPS code	26-76120
GNIS feature ID	638715

Standish is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,581. It is the county seat of Arenac County.

The town was platted by John D. Standish in 1871. Before the plat was formally recorded, Standish sold some of his land in the community and the town was initially named "Granton." Standish, who owned the town's first business (a sawmill), had the name changed back. It was incorporated as a village in 1893 and a city in 1903. The Jackson and Lansing Railroad reached the community in 1871.

It is home to the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility. In late 2009 the facility was considered, along with the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as the United States site for more than 220 prisoners relocated from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Many neighbors of both sites expressed concern, with opposition expressed in Michigan and Kansas. In December 2009, the detention camp was slated for relocation to Thomson, Illinois.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²).

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,581 people, 619 households, and 362 families residing in the city. The population density was 738.1 per square mile (285.2/km²). There were 672 housing units at an average density of 313.7 per square mile (121.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.52% White, 0.25% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.82% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.

There were 619 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% 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 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,212, and the median income for a family was $31,719. Males had a median income of $28,523 versus $20,333 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,608. About 16.4% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city of Standish is in the Standish-Sterling Community Schools District. There are two elementary schools: Sterling Elementary located in Sterling, MI and Standish Elementary School in Standish. Standish-Sterling Middle School is now what was formerly Standish-Sterling High School, and a new high school, Standish-Sterling Central High School, opened in 2001.

Major highways

• I-75
• US 23
• M-13
• M-61

Attractions

• The Saganing Eagles Landing Casino is located south of town in Whites Beach Area.

External links

• Standish Area Chamber of Commerce
• The History of Standish, transcribed from the Arenac County Independent, March 28, 1912