Tecumseh, Michigan
City
City of Tecumseh
Downtown along Chicago Boulevard (M-50)
Downtown along Chicago Boulevard (M-50)
Location within Lenawee County
Location within Lenawee County
Tecumseh is located in Michigan
Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Location in Michigan
Tecumseh is located in the United States
Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 42°00′22″N 83°56′58″W / 42.00611°N 83.94944°W / 42.00611; -83.94944
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyLenawee
Settled1824
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • MayorJack Baker
 • ManagerDaniel Swallow
Area
[1]
 • Total5.89 sq mi (15.26 km2)
 • Land5.65 sq mi (14.63 km2)
 • Water0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2)
Elevation
804 ft (245 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,680
 • Density1,536.56/sq mi (593.22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49286
Area code517
FIPS code26-79120[2]
GNIS feature ID1614652[3]
Websitewww.mytecumseh.org
Shops in Downtown Tecumseh

Tecumseh is a city in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan, near the River Raisin. Tecumseh is about 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Detroit, 25 miles (40 km) south of Ann Arbor, and 40 miles (64 km) north of Toledo, Ohio. The main street of downtown is Chicago Boulevard, also designated as M-50. It crosses the River Raisin a few miles east of M-52.

As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 8,521. The city is surrounded on three sides by Tecumseh Township, but the two are politically independent. Raisin Township borders the southern edge of the city. In 2009 the city was rated by CNNMoney as #93 among the 100 best small towns to live in.[4]

History

The boundaries of Lenawee County were laid out by a proclamation of the Territorial Governor, Lewis Cass, on September 10, 1822.[5] Lenawee remained attached to Monroe County, out of which it was formed, until an act of the Territorial Legislature passed on December 26, 1826, organized the county government.

The first settlement in the county was made two years earlier, on May 21, 1824, in Tecumseh. The settlers, consisting of fifteen men, eleven women, and six children, all came from Jefferson County, New York. In 1823, Musgrove Evans had located the land and persuaded General Joseph W. Brown and the others to move to the site. Brown and Evans, along with Austin Eli Wing, purchased land there and platted the village of Tecumseh in 1824.

These founders appealed to Governor Cass to locate the county seat of Lenawee at Tecumseh. This was accomplished by an act of the Territorial Legislature on June 30, 1824, although county government was not organized for another year and a half. The city was named after Shawnee chief Tecumseh, whose people had historically controlled that territory.[6][7]

Tecumseh remained the county seat until 1838, when it was transferred to Adrian. The Township of Tecumseh was organized on April 12, 1837, initially encompassing the entire northern third of the county.[5]

Panoramic map of Tecumseh, 1868

Just to the north of Tecumseh, the village of Bownville was established in 1823 by Austin Wing. It was annexed by Tecumseh in 1838.[8]

Geography

This 1848 drawing of the famous Chief Tecumseh was based on a sketch made in 1808.

Tecumseh is located in Southeast Michigan. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.94 square miles (15.38 km2), of which 5.70 square miles (14.76 km2) is land and 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2) is water.[9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,670[10]—
18601,640−1.8%
18702,03924.3%
18802,1113.5%
18902,3109.4%
19002,4003.9%
19102,332−2.8%
19202,4324.3%
19302,4561.0%
19402,92118.9%
19504,02037.6%
19607,04575.2%
19707,1201.1%
19807,3202.8%
19907,4621.9%
20008,57414.9%
20108,521−0.6%
20208,6801.9%
2021 (est.)8,648[11]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 8,521 people, 3,604 households, and 2,304 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,494.9 inhabitants per square mile (577.2/km2). There were 3,957 housing units at an average density of 694.2 per square mile (268.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.4% of the population.

There were 3,604 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 27.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 8,574 people, 3,499 households, and 2,337 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,659.4 inhabitants per square mile (640.7/km2). There were 3,651 housing units at an average density of 706.6 per square mile (272.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 0.19% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.40% of the population.

There were 3,499 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $58,239. Males had a median income of $39,672 versus $27,630 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,797. About 3.5% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

One of the village's best known manufacturers was Tecumseh Products. Founded by the Herrick family during the early part of the 20th century, Tecumseh Products initially began business manufacturing refrigeration compressors, leading Tecumseh to be known as the "Refrigeration Capital of the World." The company moved out of Tecumseh in 2008, moving the remaining production to a plant in Tupelo, Mississippi, and its headquarters to Pittsfield Township, Michigan, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. Consolidated Biscuit Company of McComb, Ohio, agreed to buy the Products plant in 2008, pending an environmental review.[14] However, the deal fell through after Consolidated Biscuit Company was sold.[15] The site was found to be contaminated and cleanup begun in 2017.[16][17] The land was purchased by a local developer - 100 E. Patterson LLC - with plans to clean up the land and develop mixed use space for light industrial, commercial and retail uses.[18] The State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded the City of Tecumseh $2,000,000 in funding to aid the developer in cleanup efforts.[19][20] At the end of 2018 demolition at the site was nearly complete and cleanup efforts were underway with new industrial building construction planned for 2019.[21]

Overall, the City of Tecumseh's economy has more than 250 businesses, ranging from Tier 1 Automotive Suppliers to small, locally owned bakeries and shoe stores. The downtown along Chicago Boulevard is thriving with businesses ranging from antiques, breweries and wineries, retail, restaurants, customer jewelers, locally owned department stores and more.

City of Tecumseh Largest Employers - 2018
Company Industry Employees
Kirchhoff Automotive Automotive Supplier 952
Tecumseh Public Schools Education 335
ProMedica/Herrick Hospital Medical Services 230
Busch's Tecumseh Grocery 97
GLOVE Enterprises Injection Molding 85
Ervin Industries Metal Blasting 61
City of Tecumseh Government Services 52
Ididit Custom Automotive 50
Tuckey's Big Boy Restaurant 44
Old National Bank Finance/Banking 43
Howard Hanna Real Estate 40
Tecumseh Packaging Solutions Packaging Manufacturing 35
Glycon Plastics Processing 35
Evans Street Station Restaurant 35
Martin's Home Center Retail/Hardware 30
JR's Grill & Pub Restaurant 30
Basil Boys Restaurant 30
Spectrum Printers Commercial Printing 21
Diggypod Custom Printing 21

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

In 2010, the city began hosting the Tecumseh Ice Sculpting Festival in the downtown area on the penultimate weekend in January.[22] Another festival is Appleumpkin (held the second weekend in October to celebrate harvest); it attracts approximately 30,000 tourists from around the region annually.[23]

In addition, the city of Tecumseh holds several other events each year, such as the Classic Car and Bike Show,[24] Divas at Dusk,[25] Holiday Open House,[26] Annual Pet Parade[27] and Sidewalk Sales.[28]

Tecumseh celebrates the annual Art Trail.[29][30] This features sculptures throughout Tecumseh, which are changed on an annual basis. The related annual Art Walk[31] pairs local artists and merchants for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The Carnegie Preservation League is a local non-profit that saved a historical landmark building and renovated it to create lofts and gallery space for local artists.[32]

Tourism

The Southern Michigan Railroad Society operates a railroad as a living museum; the route runs through Tecumseh.[33]

Tourists also come for the city's proximity to the Michigan International Speedway (M.I.S.). The M-50 corridor has many antique dealers, cafes and fine dining restaurants.

Education

Tecumseh Compass Learning Center

The city of Tecumseh is home to Tecumseh Public Schools. The system includes one traditional high school, Tecumseh High School (grades 9–12); one alternative high school, Tecumseh Alternative High School; one middle school, Tecumseh Middle School (grades 5-8); two early education elementary (grades Y5, K-2) schools, Sutton Early Learning Center and Tecumseh Acres Early Learning Center; and two intermediate elementary (grades 3-4) schools, Patterson Intermediate Learning Center and Herrick Park Intermediate Learning Center. [34][35][36]

Tecumseh students have access to the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) and the Southern Michigan Center for Science and Industry. Tecumseh Public Schools seek to provide a myriad of educational opportunities to create a work ready workforce, including industry-specific programs to focus on the needs of area businesses.[37]

Tecumseh Public Schools has a graduation rate of 96.84%, with more than 65% of graduates enrolling in post-secondary education. Tecumseh's central location provides easy access to major universities, including the top 10 that graduates choose: Jackson College, Washtenaw Community College, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, Siena Heights University, Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, all in Michigan, and the University of Toledo in Ohio.[38]

Infrastructure

Highways

Notable people

Don Juan

A horse, Don Juan, that belonged to General George Armstrong Custer is buried in Tecumseh. The horse had been sent to a friend living in Tecumseh after the General's death.[7][45]

Sister cities

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Best Places to Live 2009". CNNMoney.
  5. 1 2 "Our City". City of Tecumesh. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Tecumseh". ePodunk. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Elliott, Michael A. (2008). Custerology: The Enduring Legacy of the Indian Wars and George Armstrong Custer. University of Chicago Press. p. 75. ISBN 9780226201481.
  8. ↑ Romig, Walter. Michigan Place Names. p. 83.
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  10. ↑ DeBow, J.D.B. (1853). The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850 (PDF). Washington: Robert Armstrong. p. 1022. Retrieved January 28, 2022. This figure is a population estimate provided in the appendix of the official volume of the 1850 Census.
  11. ↑ "Tecumseh city, Ohio". census.gov. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Ohio Snack Maker Working on Deal for Products plant". The Daily Telegram. September 24, 2008. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Consolidated Biscuit drops Tecumseh plans". April 20, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Grant, two loans to help Tecumseh Products site cleanup". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  17. ↑ "The Peninsula - Redevelopment of Tecumseh Products facility to move forward with brownfield approval". The Peninsula. August 25, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  18. ↑ Huhman, Lonnie. "Revival Commons proposed for former Tecumseh Products site". The Daily Telegram. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  19. ↑ "SOM - City of Tecumseh Receives $2 million for Revival Commons Redevelopment Project". michigan.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  20. ↑ "$2M to help deal with Tecumseh Products site contamination". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  21. ↑ "'Revival' continues at former Tecumseh Products' site". The Tecumseh Herald. October 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Tecumseh hoping for snow and cold for Ice Sculpture Festival". The Daily Telegram (Adrian, MI). Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Appleumpkin and Apple Festival preview". The Daily Telegram. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  24. ↑ Admin, Web. "2018 Tecumseh Classic Car & Bike Show Series". Downtown Tecumseh, Michigan. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  25. ↑ hostmaster (December 29, 2016). "Spring Downtown Divas at Dusk". Michigan. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  26. ↑ Admin, Web. "Holiday Open House 'Welcome to Whoville'". Downtown Tecumseh, Michigan. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Pet Parade". The Tecumseh Herald. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Downtown Tecumseh's Sidewalk Sales and Summer Street Party". WLEN-FM Radio 103.9. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Scenic Art Trail Tour". The Tecumseh Herald. May 5, 2017. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  30. ↑ Admin, Web. "Art Trail Tecumseh & Historical Mural". Downtown Tecumseh, Michigan. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  31. ↑ Amin, Web. "11th Annual Art Walk". Downtown Tecumseh, Michigan. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Carnegie". The Tecumseh Herald. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Southern Michigan Railroad Train Rides". Downtown Tecumseh. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Tecumseh High School". Great Schools. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Tecumseh Public Schools". Great Schools. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Tecumseh Public Schools". Tecumseh Public Schools. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Corporate/individualized CNC Robotics training | United States | SMCSI". smcsi.org CNC Robotics Operator Certification Michigan. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  38. ↑ "2018 State of the District". tps.k12.mi.us. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  39. ↑ "BEAMAN, Fernando Cortez, (1814 - 1882)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  40. ↑ Ellsworth, Monty J. (1927). "Chapter Three: Life of Andrew Kehoe". The Bath School Disaster. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  41. ↑ Dotinga, Randy (February 24, 2014). "America's deadliest school violence? Not Columbine, but Bath, Mich., in 1927 The Bath School disaster of 1927 remains the deadliest killing spree at a school in America". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  42. ↑ "Julie Parrish Official Website". Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  43. ↑ "J. C. Satterthwaite, A Director General Of Foreign Service". The New York Times. November 27, 1990.
  44. ↑ "Joseph Charles Satterthwaite - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  45. ↑ "5 things to know about Tecumseh, Mich". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved February 24, 2014.

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