Lansing, Michigan

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Michigan State Capitol
Lansing, Michigan
Flag of Lansing, Michigan
Flag
Official seal of Lansing, Michigan
Seal
Location in Ingham County, Michigan1
Location in Ingham County, Michigan1
Country
State
County		United States
Michigan
Ingham, Eaton, Clinton
Government
 • MayorVirg Bernero (D)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total119,128 (city proper)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitehttp://www.cityoflansingmi.com

Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, and is located mostly in Ingham County. A small portion of the city extends into Eaton County, and a small portion containing Capital City Airport extends into adjacent Clinton County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 119,128. The Lansing metropolitan area is remarkable in that despite being a relatively small city it is an important center for educational, cultural, and governmental institutions, including three medical schools, two law schools, a Big Ten Conference university (Michigan State), the state capitol, the Supreme Court, an appellate court, a federal court, the Michigan State Library and Historical Center, and headquarters of four national insurance companies.

Lansing is the only U.S. state capital that is not also a county seat.

History

The area that is now Lansing was originally surveyed in 1825, and the site was said to be in some of the thickest, wildest woods in the region. There would be no roads to this city for decades to come.

In the winter of 1835 and early 1836, two brother explorers from New York plotted the area that is now REO Town just south of downtown Lansing as "Biddle City." All of this land lay in a floodplain, and was under water during alot of the year. Yet, the brothers went back to New York, specifically Lansing, New York, to sell plots in the town that didn't even exist. They told the residents of Lansing, New York that the town was already 65-blocks in area, and contained a church, public, and academic square. A group of 16-men bought plots in the non-existent city, and upon reaching the area later that year found they'd been tricked. Most in the group too disappointed to stay ended up settling around what is now Metropolitan Lansing. Those that stayed quickly renamed the area "Lansing Township" in honor of their home village in New York.

The sleepy settlement of less than 20 people would remain sleepy until the winter of 1847 when the state constitution required that the capital be moved from Detroit to a more centralized and safe location within the state as many were concerned about the location of Detroit directly across the river from British-controlled Canada, who'd captured Detroit in the War of 1812. The United States had reconquered the city in 1813, but it was because of that that the constitution demanded the capital be moved away from hostile, British territory. Still, many were also concerned with Detroit controlling so completely Michigan politics being the largest city in the state, by far, as well as the capital city.

During the multi-day session to determine the capital of Michigan, many cities were lobbying to become the capital such as Ann Arbor,MI,Marshall,MI, and Jackson, MI. The Michigan House of Representatives, having not been able to come to a concensus on solving this issue publicly because of all of the politics, chose the Township of Lansing out of frustration and in private. When announced, many present openly laughed that this township of less than 20 people was now the capital city of Michigan. Two months later, then governor William Greenley signed into law the act of the legislature officially making Lansing Township the state capital.


Timeline

  • 1825 - Lansing Township is surveyed.
  • 1836 - A group of New York speculators plot and market a non-existent city known as "Biddle City." The New Yorkers that bought into the idea arrive in Lansing to discover that the plots they have sold are located in a marsh, and are underwater. Some of the pioneers stay, but develop a village in what is now Old Town Lansing a mile north of the non-existent "Biddle City."
  • 1847 - The state capital is moved from Detroit to Lansing Township.
  • 1855 - Michigan State University is founded as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan.
  • 1859 - The City of Lansing is officially incorporated with about 3,000 citizens.
  • 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.
  • 1881 - Michigan Millers Insurance Company is founded.
  • 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, and Diamond REO.
  • 1912 - The Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is founded.
  • 1916 - Auto-Owner's Insurance Company is founded.
  • 1929 - The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra is founded.
  • 1954 - Frandor Mall opens - first in the area, and 2nd in the state.
  • 1957 - Lansing Community College is founded.
  • 1961 - Jackson National Life Insurance Company is founded.
  • 1970 - Lansing reaches its peak population of 131,546.
  • 1972 - The Thomas M. Cooley Law School is founded.
  • 1989 - The Michigan Library and Historical Center near the Capitol Complex is dedicated.
  • 2001 - GM opens new assembly plant, Lansing Grand River Assembly. Builds the Cadillac CTS, STS, SRX and V-Series. The architecture of the assembly plant resembles a high-tech research facility instead of a traditional factory.
  • 2002 - The Hall of Justice (Michigan Supreme Court buiding) at the West-end of the Capitol Complex is dedicated.
  • 2004 - Last Oldsmobile rolls off the assembly line at Lansing Car Assembly on April 29. This same year the Thomas M. Cooley Law School becomes the largest law school in the nation.
  • 2006 - GM opens state of the art facility in nearby Delta Charter Township. As with the 2001 assembly plant built in Lansing, the Delta plant resembles a high-tech research facility and not a traditional factory.
File:1890.jpg
Lansing, MI 1890

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 (0.57%) is water.

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 elevation ranges between 890 feet above sea level on the Far Soutside of Lansing along Northrup Street near the Cedar Street intersection, to 830 feet above sea level along the Grand River.

The Grand River, the largest river in Michigan, flows through downtown Lansing, and the Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Grand River, flows through the campus at Michigan State University. There are two lakes in the area, Park Lake and Lake Lansing, both northeast of the city. Lake Lansing is approximately 500 acres (2 km²) in size and is a summer favorite for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen. Michigan State University Sailing Club and the Lansing Sailing Club are located on Lake Lansing, where sailing regattas are hosted throughout the summer.

The Ottawa Street Power Station

Neighborhoods

The city's downtown is dominated by state government buildings, especially the State Capitol, but downtown has also experienced recent growth in new restaurants, retail stores and residential developments. Downtown Lansing has an historic city market that is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers' markets in the United States. Surrounding downtown is the historic "Old Town," with many of the architecturally significant buildings dating to the mid-1800s. Nearby "REO Town," the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, is where Ransom Eli Olds built factories along Washington Avenue.

Lansing is generally divided into four sections: Eastside, Westside, Northwestside, and the Southside. Each section containins a diverse array of neighborhoods. The Eastside, located east of the Grand River and north of the Red Cedar River, is the most ethnically diverse side of Lansing, with foreign-born citizens making up more of its population than any other side in the city. The Eastside's commercial districts are located mainly along Michigan Avenue, and to a lesser extent along Kalamazoo Street. It is anchored by Frandor Shopping Center on the very eastern edge of the eastside.

The Westside, roughly located north, west, and south of the Grand River as it curves through the city, is sometimes regarded the city's most socio-economicly diverse section. This side also contains Lansing's downtown area, though this neighborhood is often included as an area all its own. Largely a collection of residential neighborhoods, outside of downtown, this side is served by only one other commercial area along Saginaw Street, though, it also includes a small part of the Old Town Commercial Association.

The Northwestside, generally located north of the Grand River, with the city limits defining its north and western borders, is physically the smallest side of the city. This part of the city includes suburban areas and some more rural areas. North of Grand River Avenue, the main street of the side, lie warehouses and light industrial areas served by a major rail line that runs through Lansing. The most notable landmark of this side is Lansing's airport: Capital City Airport.

The Southside, usually described as the neighborhoods located south of the Grand and Red Cedar rivers and the I-496 freeway, is physically the largest and most populous side of the city, and contains some of the city's most healthy neighborhoods. The area is largely suburban in nature (south of Mount Hope Road near the northern edge), and is served by numerous commercial strips along Cedar Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Waverly Road which run north/south. The large Edgewood District located in the very southern part of the side and is sometimes referred to as South Lansing. Though it is the largest area of the city by both physical size and population, it has often be regarded by Southside citizens as Lansing's most overlooked and forgotten area, as most of Lansing's attention in recent decades has been put into the revitalization of the cities historic core located mostly on small parts of both the East and Westsides.

Demographics

State Capitol in Winter 2004/2005

As of the census² of 2000, there were 119,128 people, 49,505 households, and 28,366 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,312.3/km² (3,399.0/mi²). There were 53,159 housing units at an average density of 585.6/km² (1,516.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.28% White, 21.91% Black, 0.80% Native American, 2.83% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.54% from other races, and 4.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.98% of the population.

Of Michigan's major cities, Lansing has the highest number of persons that report themselves as "mixed race," and the highest number of person that report their ethnicty as "Native American."

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

In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,833, and the median income for a family was $41,283. Males had a median income of $32,648 versus $27,051 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,924. About 13.2% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

The former Oldsmobile Headquarters and the Otto Eckert Power Station

Economy

The Lansing metropolitan area's major industries are government, education, and automobile manufacturing. Being the state capital, many state government workers reside in the area.

Michigan's Supreme Court

Michigan State University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and Lansing Community College are significant employers in the region.

General Motors has offices and manufacturing plants in Lansing and several manufacturing facilities immediately outside the city, as well, in nearby Lansing and Delta townships. The Lansing area is headquarters to four major national insurance companies: Auto Owners Insurance Company, Jackson National Life, the Accident Fund, and Michigan Millers. The Lansing area is also home to rapidly growing financial companies such as Siena Capital Management and Capital Bancorp.

Technology Economy

Lansing has a number of technology companies in the fields of information technology and Biotechnology. The recent decline of the auto industry in the region has increased the region's awareness of the importance of engaging a strategy to grow the high-technology sector. An initiative created by Michigan State, City of Lansing and East Lansing called Prima Civitas, under the control of David Hollister, the former Mayor of Lansing, is spearheading focused economic development in the technology sector in the region.

Early availability of high-speed Internet in 1996, as well as the MSU and LCC student population fostered an environment for information technology companies to incubate.

"Cool City" and Downtown Redevelopment

Several urban renewal projects by private developers are adding higher end apartments and condominiums Lansing market. The Arbaugh, a former department store across from Cooley Law School was completed in 2005 to apartments. Motor Wheel Lofts [1], a converted industrial site will be converted to apartments in late 2006 . The Stadium District [2], a combination retail and residential complex that will be adjacent to the Lansing Lugnuts baseball is planned to start in 2006. In May, 2006, the historically significant Mutual Building located on Capitol Avenue was purchased by The Christman Company to be renovated back to its original grandeur and used as the company's headquarters.

Education

Michigan State University, a member of the Big Ten Conference, is known as "the pioneer land grant college," located in neighboring East Lansing. MSU has the largest (and many would say, most beautiful) land campus in the United States and is home to several nationally and internationally recognized academic and research oriented programs. Michigan State offers over 200 programs of study and is home to fourteen different degree-granting schools and colleges including three medical schools, a law school, and numerous PhD programs. It is the only university in the nation with three medical schools. MSU is consistently one of the top three programs in the United States for study abroad programs. Michigan State University is the oldest agricultural college in the United States. The Thomas M. Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation and is located in downtown Lansing. Cooley is fully accredited by the American Bar Association. A majority of Cooley students are from out-of-state. Lansing Community College offers more than 500 areas of study to over 18,000 students at its main facilities in Lansing, and another 5,000 students at twenty-nine extension centers and a site in Otsu, Japan. Lansing Community College recently demolished Old Central, which was the first building on LCC's campus. Old Central provided additional classrooms for the community college and also had the duty of serving as Lansing's first public high school (established in the late 1880's as Lansing Central High School). A new state of the art building will be erected in its place, known as the University Center. The University Center will allow LCC students to take courses and eventually earn a degree from other Michigan institutions. Other institutions of higher education include Western Michigan University (branch campus in Delta Township), Davenport University in Downtown Lansing, Central Michigan University (branch campus), and Great Lakes Christian College. The University of Michigan, a member of the Big Ten Conference, is less than one hours drive from Lansing, making the Lansing to Ann Arbor corridor one of the most highly educated areas in the United States.

Public and Private schools:

  • Lansing Public Schools
  • Lansing Catholic Central
  • Waverly School District
  • Mid-Michigan Public School Academy
  • El-Hajj Malik Shabazz Academy (named after Malcolm X)
  • Sankofa Shule Public School Academy

Culture

The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra has been entertaining generations of Lansing area residents since 1929. The current maestro, Gustav Meier, has been with the Orchestra since 1979. The Greater Lansing Ballet Company is an award-winning ballet and dance company. The Michigan Princess riverboat has lunch, dinner, and entertainment cruises throughout the summer and fall on the Grand River. The Michigan Princess is the only triple-deck riverboat in Michigan. The Riverwalk Theatre (formerly the Okemos Barn Theatre), the Lansing Civic Players and the Boarshead Theatre are all located in downtown.

The historic Lansing City Market, one of the oldest city markets in the United States, has been completely renovated in recent years. It is located downtown along the Grand River.

The historic Potter Park Zoo, located along the Red Cedar River in Lansing, has more than 400 animals, and numerous programs and events for children and families.

The Lansing JazzFest and the Old Town BluesFest host leading musicians and are two of the larger music festivals held each year in the state. The Creole Gallery ([3]) brings in various musicians and hosts the Icarus Fallling Theater group ([4]). While Lansing's nightlife skews heavily toward sports bars and dive bars, both Mac's Bar on the East Side and the Temple Club in Old Town book current, mostly indie, musical acts.

Lansing Model Railroad Club has a large HO scale model railroad layout complete with cities, mountains, tunnels, forests, factories, and bridges. The club is located in the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Millett depot in Delta Charter Township, Michigan. The Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, the Kresge Art Museum, the MSU Museum, and the Abrams Planetarium are highly acclaimed cultural destinations located on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

The Michigan Library and Historical Center is a highly regarded state library and research center. The library is one of the top five genealogical research facilities in the United States.

The Common Ground Festival is a musical event held over a week every July. It is held at the Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing. It began in 2000 and replaced the Michigan Festival that was in nearby East Lansing. It has wide range of musical acts. In 2006 some of the acts were Steve Miller Band, Bonnie Raitt, Poison, Styx, Etta James and Ted Nugent.

Newspapers

Television

The NBC affiliate maintains the FOX affiliate's News programming. Both affiliates tape their newscasts at the News 10 studios in Lansing. Often the same reporters are used on both broadcasts.

Radio

Lansing's radio dial has quite a few stations. Note: If the station has no city listed before the format, it is licensed to Lansing.


Sports

The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A Midwest League Minor League Baseball team affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Lugnuts are one of the most popular franchises in Minor League Baseball, drawing 538,325 fans during the 1996 season, and in the process outdrawing many larger teams. Their logo is one of the most popular in the minors. The team plays its home games at Oldsmobile Park, which was built at a cost of $12.7 million and opened in 1996 in downtown Lansing. It was partially renovated in 2006. Oldsmobile Park has a seating capacity of 11,215 fans, and was built to accommodate additional expansion. The team has won two Midwest League championships, their first in 1997 and their second in 2003.

Michigan State University sponsors both men's and women's sports, usually competing as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans have won National Titles in Men's Basketball, Football, Men's Boxing, Men's Cross Country, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Ice Hockey, Men's Soccer, and Men's Wrestling.

Lansing Community College also sponsors many sports, competing as members of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. The Stars have won NJCAA titles in the following sports: Women's Softball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Marathon and Men's Marathon.

The Lansing area is also known for its many golf courses, with two courses owned by Michigan State University, four municipal courses, and many additional public and private courses in the area. Walnut Hills Country Club in nearby East Lansing formerly hosted the LPGA's Oldsmobile Classic from 1992 - 2000. The Michigan PGA recently relocated from the Detroit area to Bath, Michigan, which is on the northern edge of Lansing.

In the 1980's and 1990's Lansing was a major player in semi-pro football. The Lansing Crusaders won MFL/MCFL championships in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1990. The team finished second in 1984, 1986, and 1991.

The Lansing Capitals began play in the International Basketball League in 2006.


Past sports teams include:

Transportation

Three major Interstate Highways and one U.S. Highway serve the Lansing area including: I-96, I-69, I-496(Olds Frwy), and U.S. Route 127, and Two State Routes, M-43(Saginaw Hwy), and M-99(MLK Jr. Blvd).

Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service at a stop in nearby East Lansing, on the Blue Water line from Chicago, Illinois to Port Huron. Three freight railroads serve Lansing including Canadian National Railways (CN), CSX Transportation (CSXT), and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS). Lansing Capital City Airport, located north of the city, provides commercial air service. Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides public transit to the Lansing-East Lansing Metropolitan area, and boasts the second highest ridership in the state of Michigan. As of 2006 it provides only bus service.

Famous Lansing people

Thirtysomething tv show, Revenge of the Nerds movies
The Breakfast Club (1985), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Weird Science (1985) Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Home Alone (1990) and many more.
Without a Paddle (2004), Scooby-Doo 1&2 (2002/2004), Scream (1996) and many more.
Smokey and the Bandit, Boogie Nights and many more
Cy Young Award winner (1996)

Sister Cities

Lansing has seven sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):

Notes

  • Template:Fnb The city also extends into Eaton County. The city also includes Capital City Airport, which is located in Clinton County. There are also two small non-contiguous tracts located in Ingham County. These sections are not highlighted on the map displayed.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lansing, Michigan.

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