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Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, located mostly in Ingham County; a small portion extends into adjacent Eaton County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 119,128.

Overview

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File:Scan0001.jpg

An aerial view of Lansing, the capital of the State of Michigan

Lansing is located in the south central part of the lower peninsula where the Grand River meets the Red Cedar River. The city occupies most of what had formerly been part of Lansing Charter Township. It has also annexed adjacent tracts of land in Delta Charter Township and Windsor Township in Eaton County to the west and Delhi Charter Township in Ingham County to the south. The city also controls two non-contiguous tracts of land through conditional land transfer agreements with Meridian Charter Township and Alaiedon Township in Ingham County to the southeast.

Lansing has a historic City Market, similar in style to markets found in Western Europe. The City Market is located in downtown Lansing, next to the Grand River, It has the distinct taste and flair of Europe despite the fact that it is located in the Midwest United States.

Michigan State University, in neighboring East Lansing, Michigan, has the largest land campus in the United States and is home to several nationally and internationally recognized academic and athletic programs. It is also the home of the Wharton Center for the Arts, a leading arts and theatre venue in the United States.

Lansing (and its suburbs) are unique in that there are three medical schools, two laws schools, a Big Ten university, a State Capitol (all three branches of government), the Supreme Court, the State Library, a Federal Court, to name a few attributes, all within a city of less than 200,000 people. No other city of its size in the entire United States can boast such attributes.

History

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Lansing, MI 1890

1847 - The state capital is moved from Detroit to Lansing Township.
1859 - The City of Lansing is officially incorporated.
1879 - New State Capitol dedicated. The structure cost $1,510,130. In 1992, the State Capitol was totally renovated back to its original grandeur and is generally recognized as one of the most architecturally significant buildings in the United States.
1897 - Ransom E. Olds drives his first car down a Lansing street. He would later found Oldsmobile, which became a General Motors division in 1908.
2004 - Last Oldsmobile rolls off the assembly line at Lansing Car Assembly on April 29.
2005 - Lansing closes GM assembly plant in Lansing and is scheduled to reopen a state of the art facility in nearby Delta Township in 2006.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 91.3 km² (35.2 mi²). 90.8 km² (35.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.57% water.

There are two lakes in the area, Park Lake and Lake Lansing, both northeast of the city. Lake Lansing is approximately 453 acres in size and is a summer favorite for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen.

Demographics

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Downtown Lansing

As of the census ² of 2000, there are 119,128 people, 49,505 households, and 28,366 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,312.3/km² (3,399.0/mi²). There are 53,159 housing units at an average density of 585.6/km² (1,516.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 65.28% White, 21.91% African American, 0.80% Native American, 2.83% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.54% from other races, and 4.60% from two or more races. 9.98% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 49,505 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% are married couples living together, 17.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.08.

In the city the population is spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $34,833, and the median income for a family is $41,283. Males have a median income of $32,648 versus $27,051 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,924.

Economy

As the state capital, the state employs many in the area.
General Motors has several manufacturing plants in and around the city.

Lansing area is headquarters to three major, national insurance companies: Auto Owners Insurance Company, Jackson National Life, and the Accident Fund.

Law and government

An elected Mayor leads the city government (currently Tony Benavides)
A city council comprises representatives of individual wards and at-large members.

Colleges and universities

Michigan State University is in nearby East Lansing.

Sports teams & recreational activities

The Lansing Lugnuts is a Minor League Baseball team.
The Lansing Cricket Club is a Cricket team in Lansing.
Many residents of Lansing attend Michigan State University athletic events.

The Lansing Sailing Club has facalitiles on nearby Lake Lansing.

Transportation

Airports

Lansing Capital City Airport, located north of Lansing, serves the city.

Highways

Three major interstates and One U.S. Highway serve the Lansing Area including: I-96, I-69, I-496, and U.S. 127. One can get almost anywhere in lower Michigan with 1.5 hours by car, including Metro Detroit, the Tri-Cities, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Battle Creek.

Transit

Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) serves the Lansing and East Lansing Area.

External links

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The Lansing Center

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 Lansing is located in the south central part of the lower peninsula where the [[Grand River (Michigan)|Grand River]] meets the [[Red Cedar River (Michigan)|Red Cedar River]]. The city occupies most of what had formerly been part of [[Lansing Charter Township, Michigan|Lansing Charter Township]]. It has also annexed adjacent tracts of land in [[Delta Charter Township, Michigan|Delta Charter Township]] and [[Windsor Township, Michigan|Windsor Township]] in Eaton County to the west and [[Delhi Charter Township, Michigan|Delhi Charter Township]] in Ingham County to the south. The city also controls two non-contiguous tracts of land through conditional land transfer agreements with [[Meridian Charter Township, Michigan|Meridian Charter Township]] and [[Alaiedon Township, Michigan|Alaiedon Township]] in Ingham County to the southeast.
-Lansing has an historic City Market, similar in style to markets found in [[Western Europe]].  The City Market is located in downtown Lansing, next to the [[Grand River]], It has the distinct taste and flair of Europe despite the fact that it is located in the Midwest United States.
+Lansing has a historic City Market, similar in style to markets found in [[Western Europe]].  The City Market is located in downtown Lansing, next to the [[Grand River]], It has the distinct taste and flair of Europe despite the fact that it is located in the Midwest United States.
 [[Michigan State University]], in neighboring [[East Lansing, Michigan]], has the largest land campus in the United States and is home to several nationally and internationally recognized academic and athletic programs.  It is also the home of the Wharton Center for the Arts, a leading arts and theatre venue in the United States.