Grand Ledge, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Grand Ledge, Michigan
settlement_type = City
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Grand Ledge, Michigan


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Eaton, Clinton

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 9.4
area_land_km2 = 9.2
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_total_sq_mi = 3.6
area_land_sq_mi = 3.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7813
population_density_km2 = 849.1
population_density_sq_mi = 2199.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 254
elevation_ft = 833
latd = 42 |latm = 45 |lats = 9 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 44 |longs = 47 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 48837
area_code = 517
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-33420GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0627094GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Grand Ledge is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city lies mostly within Eaton County, though a small portion extends into Clinton County, and sits above the Grand River 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers) directly west of downtown Lansing. The population was 7,813 at the 2000 census. The city is well-known for,and named for, its 300-million-year-old, sandstone and quartzite rock ledges that rise 60 feet above the Grand River and are used by recreational rock climbers.

History

Indian Settlement

Indians who lived in the vicinity of the Grand River near the ledges were of Pottawatomi, Chippewa, and Ottawa ancestry. They dug clams in the river, mined coal on the river banks, and hunted for boar, deer, turkey, fox, and bear. They also fished for black bass. Their name for the ledges translated into English as "Big Rocks".

White Settlement

Based on early records Hugh Howard was the first white man this area by river and record his findings. His journal describes the sandstone ledges as having high banks, some pine trees and heavy woods with the finest places possible for making syrup and several small islands.In 1847 Henry Trench settled in what would later become downtown Grand Ledge. However, after a few years he returned east. In 1850 settlers named their village Grand Ledge and erected a Post Office. By 1869 a railroad is reaches to the north end of the village and in 1871 the village is incorporated by the state of Michigan.

Resort Era

The 1870's saw the rise of Grand Ledge as a Michigan resort destination. Following the arrival of the railroad, John Burtch founded the Seven Islands Resort in 1872. The resort opened with the Dolly Varden steamer and a small boarding house on Second Island. Several mineral wells were also drilled and a local physician expounded on the medicinal qualities of the water. In 1877 S.M. Hewings purchased the Seven Islands Resort and the following year built the Island House Hotel on Second Island. In 1880 Julian Scott Mudge purchased the Seven Islands Resort. To minimize the flood damage from the Grand River, Mudge built a new dam in 1887. In 1888 the Railroad Trestle or High Bridge was built to bring the railroad south of the river and Grand Ledge became the second city in Michigan, after Lansing, to get electric lights. By that time an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 visitors come to the Seven Islands Resort each year.

Golden Age

In 1891 Mudge built a roller coaster on the Islands. This is believed to be the first coaster in Michigan. Located on the first island below the bridge was an animal park with bears and deer. The second island became the centerpiece of the resort activities and hosted a hotel with a square Victorian tower, picnic area and fountain. The second and third islands were joined together by means of a causeway and a large pavilion was constructed which served as a ballroom and theatre for first run Vaudeville acts. The Resort also featured a merry-go-round and a bandstand.Mudge’s most notable improvement was the construction of the building he called “The Round House”. This three-story pagoda tower was built right on the edge of Second Island; half of the tower foundation was on the island and half was built out into the river. During the construction he kept the purpose of the unusual structure secret. This caused much speculation in the local community. Mudge eventually revealed his grand plans behind the design of his Round House. The tower was designed to have the second story rotate at a slow speed, while the third story rotated faster and was topped by a centrifugal swing that would whirl the adventurous rider out over the river.The fourth, fifth, and sixth islands were left wild and the seventh was a favorite picnic spot by boaters. As many as 75 boats plied the Grand River at Grand Ledge and side-wheel river boats steamed up and down the river between the second island and the dam. The dam, constructed in 1887, ensured the proper water level for the operation of steamboats.As many as nine hotels provided accommodations for visitors and the Pere Marquette Railroad offered excursion rates to the Seven Island Resort which, according to early records, was second in popularity only to Petoskey.

The Spring Flood of '93 and Mudge's Folly

A devastating flood damaged the Round House in 1893. At the very final stages of construction during a devastating spring flood large chunks of winter ice pushed the building off its foundation and it nearly toppled over. Although the building was saved, the mechanics of the tower were destroyed and the potential of the building never came to be. The Round House remained however and became the most recognizable symbol of the entire resort era. “The building has come to be called Mudge’s Folly. This has a double meaning. While a folly can be a costly and foolish undertaking, it can also describe a picturesque structure built as an ornament, but without a real purpose.” [ [http://www.gdledgehistsoc.org/remembered2.html Grand Ledge Area Historical Society ] ] .

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.20%) is water.

Highways

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,813 people, 3,262 households, and 2,123 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,199.2 per square mile (849.8/km²). There were 3,405 housing units at an average density of 958.4/sq mi (370.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.33% White, 0.44% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.61% of the population.

There were 3,262 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% 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 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,043, and the median income for a family was $55,727. Males had a median income of $44,255 versus $29,503 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,438. About 6.3% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Grand Ledge school district was established in 1886. The district comprises an area of 125 square miles centered 10 miles west of Lansing, Michigan's state capital. Within the school district are the City of Grand Ledge, the communities of Delta Mills, Mulliken, Wacousta and Eagle, as well as a large portion of Delta Township. The school district, which is mainly in Eaton County, also covers portions of Clinton and Ionia Counties. The schools of Grand Ledge district consist of 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school and alternative education high school. The total enrollment in the district is 6811. The total population of the district is 31,000. In the 02-03 school year the budget amounted to $40,960,013.86. Enrollment for each school is as follows.

*High Schools (Enrollment): Grand Ledge High School (1899), Sawdon Alternative High School (102)

*Middle Schools: Beagle Middle School (540), Hayes Middle School (786)

*Elementary Schools: Delta Center (483), Greenwood (282), Holbrook (382), Neff (293), Wacousta (343), Willow Ridge (498)

*Adult Education Program: GED Success Center (200), Lansing Community College Extension Center (175)

References

External links

* [http://www.grand-ledge.com/ City of Grand Ledge official website]
* [http://www.grandledgemi.com/ Grand Ledge Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.glps.k12.mi.us/ Grand Ledge Public Schools]
* [http://www.glathletics.com/ Grand Ledge Public Schools - SPORTS]
* [http://grandledgeteachers.blogspot.com/ Grand Ledge Teachers]
* [http://www.gloperahouse.com/ Historic Grand Ledge Opera House]
* [http://www.gdledgehistsoc.org/ Grand Ledge Area Historical Society]
* [http://www.victoriandays.org/ Annual Victorian Day event]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17445_19273---,00.html Michigan Historical Center]
* [http://www.synergysoup.com/ Michigan's Oldest Web Developer - located in Grand Ledge]