Chelsea, Michigan

Chelsea, Michigan
City
City of Chelsea
Chelsea Commercial Historic District
Seal
Motto(s):  A city of history, a city of pride
Location within Washtenaw County
Chelsea Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Chelsea Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 42°19′05″N84°01′13″W / 42.31806°N 84.02028°W / 42.31806; -84.02028
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Washtenaw
Incorporated	1889 (village) 2004 (city)
Government
• Type	Council–manager
•  Mayor	Jane Pacheco
•  Clerk	Lynn Sebestyen
Area [1]
• Total	3.67 sq mi (9.50 km2)
• Land	3.62 sq mi (9.37 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation	932 ft (284 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,467
• Density	1,511.89/sq mi (583.68/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48118
Area code	734
FIPS code	26-15020 [2]
GNIS feature ID	0623143 [3]
Website	Official website

Chelsea is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,467 at the 2020 census. ^[4]

History

The area was first settled as early as 1820 within the Michigan Territory by settler Cyrus Beckwith. It would be organized as Sylvan Township in 1834. The Michigan Central Railroad constructed a line through the area in 1848, and a post office was first established on January 4, 1849. It was originally named Kendon. The name was changed to Chelsea on July 19, 1850 when the train station opened and community was formally platted. The name Chelsea came from Elisha Congdon, who suggested the name after his hometown of Chelsea, Massachusetts. Chelsea incorporated as a village in 1889. ^[5] The Chelsea courthouse is housed in a 120-year-old bank building in downtown. ^[6]

The village of Chelsea incorporated into a city in 2004. In 2011, the downtown area of Chelsea was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Chelsea Commercial Historic District.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.67 square miles (9.51 km²), of which 3.62 square miles (9.38 km²) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) (1.36%) is water. ^[1]

The Border-to-Border Trail runs through the city. ^[7]

Major highways

• I-94 forms the southernmost boundary of the city
• M-52 (Main Street) runs south–north through the center of the city.

Climate

This climatic region has large, varying seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chelsea has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	1,013		—
1880	1,160		14.5%
1890	1,356		16.9%
1900	1,635		20.6%
1910	1,764		7.9%
1920	2,079		17.9%
1930	2,268		9.1%
1940	2,246		−1.0%
1950	2,580		14.9%
1960	3,355		30.0%
1970	3,858		15.0%
1980	3,816		−1.1%
1990	3,772		−1.2%
2000	4,398		16.6%
2010	4,944		12.4%
2020	5,467		10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

2010 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, there were 4,944 people, 2,224 households, and 1,284 families living in the city. The population density was 1,362.0 inhabitants per square mile (525.9/km²). There were 2,436 housing units at an average density of 671.1 per square mile (259.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 2,224 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 43.5 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.5% male and 54.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[2] of 2000, there were 4,398 people, 1,840 households, and 1,133 families living in the village. The population density was 1,315.3 inhabitants per square mile (507.8/km²). There were 1,913 housing units at an average density of 572.1 per square mile (220.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.14% White, 0.70% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 1,840 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the village, 23.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.2% was from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $51,132, and the median income for a family was $72,266. Males had a median income of $50,506 versus $35,579 for females. The per capita income for the village was $27,609. About 2.5% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Jiffy headquarters in Chelsea

Chelsea Milling Company, maker of Jiffy Mix, is based in Chelsea. Other employers include Saint Joseph Mercy Chelsea, and the Chrysler Proving Grounds.

Education

The city is home to the Chelsea School District, which covers the city and surrounding rural townships. ^[11] Chelsea High School is located within the city.

The Chelsea District Library serves residents of the city and Dexter, Lima, Lyndon, and Sylvan townships. ^[12] In 2008, the library was named "Best Small Library in America" by Library Journal. ^[13]

Notable people

• Lynn Allen, NFL player
• Dwight E. Beach, U.S. Army general and namesake of Beach Middle School ^[14]
• Jeff Daniels, actor of stage and screen. Founded the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea. ^[15]
• Bill Eversole, racing driver
• Laura Kasischke, National Book Critics Circle Award winner, poet, novelist
• Tony Scheffler, professional football player for the Detroit Lions
• Fallon Henley, Pro wrestler for WWE,

Sister cities

• Shimizu, Hokkaido, Japan ^[16]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chelsea, Michigan
4. "US Census QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
5. Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 112. ISBN   978-0-8143-1838-6.
6. "Officials debate future of Chelsea courthouse in 120 year old bank building". MLive . February 12, 2022.
7. Border to Border (2022). "Explore the Border to Border Trail" . Retrieved July 12, 2022.
8. "Chelsea, Michigan Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)" . Retrieved 1 December 2016.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-11-25.
11. Michigan Geographic Framework (15 November 2013). "Washtenaw County School Districts" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-08-21. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
12. "Who We Are". Chelsea District Library. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
13. John N. Berry, III (1 February 2008). "Best Small Library in America 2008: Chelsea District Library-A Michigan Model". Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11.
14. XVIII Airborne Corps biography Archived August 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
15. "Jeff Daniels". IMDb . Retrieved 1 December 2016.
16. "Sister Cities Association of Chelsea, Michigan, Inc". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.

External links

• City of Chelsea official website