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Coordinates: 41°53′51″N 84°02′14″W / 41.89750°N 84.03722°W / 41.89750; -84.03722
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==Culture==
==Culture==
Adrian's cultural life has connections to the mid-nineteenth century. The Adrian City Band is the oldest continuously active community band in the country, founded in 1836. Also of historical note is the Croswell Opera House. The Adrian Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1981.
Adrian's cultural life has connections to the mid-nineteenth century. The Adrian City Band is the oldest continuously active community band in the country, founded in 1836. Also of historical note is the [[Croswell Opera House]]. The Adrian Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1981.
[[Adrian College]] and [[Siena Heights University]] also offer many cultural opportunities.
[[Adrian College]] and [[Siena Heights University]] also offer many cultural opportunities.
Growing non-white communities offer diverse cultural opportunites.
Growing non-white communities offer diverse cultural opportunites.

Revision as of 17:46, 14 June 2009

Adrian, Michigan
City
Location of Adrian, Michigan
Location of Adrian, Michigan
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyLenawee
Area
 • Total7.3 sq mi (18.8 km2)
 • Land7.1 sq mi (18.5 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation
787 ft (240 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total21,574
 • Density3,023.5/sq mi (1,167.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
49221
Area code517
FIPS code26-00440Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0619846[1]

Adrian is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Lenawee County.Template:GR The population was 21,574 at the 2000 census. Adrian lies in Michigan's 7th congressional district.

Description

Adrian is approximately 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Ann Arbor, 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Jackson, and 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Toledo, Ohio. A portion of the city is on the border between Adrian Township and Madison Charter Township, although the city is politically independent of both. The city's urban area extends beyond the city limits into both of those townships as well as into nearby Raisin Township and Palmyra Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.8 km²), of which, 7.1 square miles (18.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (1.80%) is water.

The town is approximately 15 miles (24 km) southeast of the Irish Hills area of Michigan. The Irish Hills is know for its many lakes and rolling hills and is home to the Irish Famine Memorial and Michigan International Speedway. Many town residents take advantage of this area for boating and recreation. Devils Lake, Round Lake, and Wamplers Lake are popular weekend destinations only a few miles away.

History

Adrian was founded on June eighteenth, 1826 by Addison Comstock and was originally named Logan. Then in 1828 Addison's wife renamed the village to Adrian after the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Early Industries

Fencing

In the late 1800s through early 1900s Adrian was known as the "fence capital of the world," when J. Wallace Page invented the first successful wire fence. Throughout this time period Adrian was the one of the first fencing manufacturers in the world and its fences were shipped as far as New York, Berlin, Asia, and Africa.

Automobile Industry

The automobile industry in Adrian is a story of what could have been. One of the first motor vehicles, the Lion automobile, was created in Adrian. And for about twelve years, 1900-1912, Adrian was shaping up to be one of the motor capitals of the world, with three different cars manufactured in Adrian during those twelve years. But due to some unfortunate turn of events it never came to be.

The first two were the Murry Motor Car and Lenawee Car and both were made by the Church Manufacturing Company. And although the cars were a hit at the 1910 Chicago Automobile show and they sold hundreds of cars, due to bad financial decisions the Church Manufacturing Company ran out of money and had to close. The third car manufactured in Adrian was the Lion made by the Lion Motor Car Company. The Lion was immensely popular, successful, and Lion Motor Car Company was taking the lead in the auto industry. However on June 12, 1912 the plant caught on fire, destroyed about two hundred cars, and ultimately ended the Lion Motor Car Company.

Major highways

 US 223

Business US 223
M-34
M-52

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 21,574 people, 7,908 households, and 4,855 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,023.5 per square mile (1,166.6/km²). There were 8,498 housing units at an average density of 1,191.0/sq mi (459.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.47% White, 3.52% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.2%, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 7.72% from other races, and 2.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.99% of the population.

There were 7,908 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 15.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,405, and the median income for a family was $42,069. Males had a median income of $31,500 versus $23,359 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,528. About 9.8% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 19.8% of those age 65 or over.

Major businesses in town include a Wal-Mart, a GM/Delphi manufacturing plant, Adrian Steel Company, Merillat Cabinets, and Gus Harrison Correctional Facility.

Government

Adrian is run by a city commission headed by a mayor. Its sister city is Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

Elected Officials

Mayor:

Gary McDowell Elected Mayor 2005 Mayoral Term Ends 2009

City Commissioners:

Mike Clegg Elected 2002 Current Term Ends 2011

Harry “Dusty” Steele Elected 2005 Current Term Ends 2009

Kirk Valentine Elected 2005 Current Term Ends 2009

Michael Osborne, Jr. Elected 2005 Current Term Ends 2011

Christopher Miller Appointed 2008 Term Ends 2009

Greg DuMars Elected 2005 Current Terms Ends 2009

Information as of February 2009. Source: http://www.ci.adrian.mi.us/index.asp?nid=17

Education

Adrian Public Schools serves Adrian and the surrounding area.

There are three colleges and universities in the City, namely:

Culture

Adrian's cultural life has connections to the mid-nineteenth century. The Adrian City Band is the oldest continuously active community band in the country, founded in 1836. Also of historical note is the Croswell Opera House. The Adrian Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1981. Adrian College and Siena Heights University also offer many cultural opportunities. Growing non-white communities offer diverse cultural opportunites.

Local media

The Daily Telegram is Adrian's local daily newspaper.

Local radio stations include WABJ 1490 AM (mainly syndicated talk); WQTE 95.3 FM (country music); WLEN 103.9 FM (adult contemporary music, local news and information); and WVAC 107.9 FM (student-operated radio from Adrian College). Stations WSAE in Spring Arbor and WBCL in Fort Wayne also operate translator FM stations in Adrian, at 96.5 and 97.7 on the dial respectively.

Adrian is also served by radio and television signals from Ann Arbor, Toledo, and Jackson, and some Detroit broadcasters can also be seen or heard in parts of the area.

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Adrian, Michigan
  2. ^ Garry Wills, Why I Am A Catholic (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002), 14-16.
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Adrian (city)".

41°53′51″N 84°02′14″W / 41.89750°N 84.03722°W / 41.89750; -84.03722

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