Davison is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Flint. The population was 5,536 at the 2000 census and fell to 5,173 by the 2010 census.[4] Davison is located within Davison Township survey township area (7N 8E), but is administratively autonomous.
Davison, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| City of Davison | |
| Nickname: City of Flags | |
Location within Genesee County | |
Davison Location within the state of Michigan | |
| Coordinates: 43°01′52″N 83°31′01″W / 43.03111°N 83.51694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Genesee |
| Incorporated | 1889 (village) 1938 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Tim Bishop |
| • City manager | Andrea Schroeder |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.99 sq mi (5.14 km2) |
| • Land | 1.99 sq mi (5.14 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 794 ft (242 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,143 |
| • Density | 2,589.63/sq mi (999.70/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | 48423 |
| Area code | 810 |
| FIPS code | 26-19880[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0624356[3] |
| Website | cityofdavison |
Davison was named after Judge Norman Davison, a judge of Lapeer County and a delegate to state constitution convention of 1835.[5] He resided in a nearby hamlet formerly known as Davisonville, now known as Atlas.[6]
History
editDavison Station
editTownship section 3, 9 and 10 was Davison Station, which was first settled in 1842 by Eleazer Thurston in section 10. The line of the Chicago and Lake Huron Railroad (now Canadian National Railway) through the settlement was finished in 1871 marked the beginning of Davison Station. The first saw mill in the township was also built here that year by Dunn and Darling. The township and the settlement had in 1872 a number of firsts: doctor, L. W. Hanson, merchant Damon Stewart and tavern owned and operated by Henry S. Rising.[6] On April 10, 1872, Davison Station post office open[7] with Stewart as the postmaster.[6] The Free Will Baptist Church, formed in 1859 at and hosted at Herrick Schoolhouse two miles away, moved to a frame church building in the village in 1872.[6]
In 1873, a cheese factory and flouring mill opened.[6] The Davison Station post office was renamed to just Davison on June 30, 1893.[7]
Davison Village
editDavison was incorporated as a village on May 20, 1889. On April 30, 1894, part of downtown, dubbed the Rotten Row, caught fire and wiped the section out. By 1895, the village had a Rosemoor Park with a race track used for horse then add cars.[8] In 1916, the village had an auditorium, a state bank, Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, four churches, the Catholic, the Methodist Episcopal, the Free Methodist and the Baptist. The estimated population was 700.[5] Rosemoor Park began in 1919 hold the county fair every year except one until 1938.[8]
Davison City
editDavison separated itself from Davison Township by incorporating as a city on December 5, 1938. In 1943, Rosemoor Park closed permanently. The track's owner in 1946 developed a subdivision on the track property.[8]
In January 2010, it was announced that Davison City Manager Dale Martin and Davison Township, Michigan Supervisor Kurt Soper had begun preliminary meetings discussing the possibility of merging the two municipalities.
Geography
editAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.98 square miles (5.13 km2), all land.[9]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 163 | — | |
| 1890 | 456 | 179.8% | |
| 1900 | 751 | 64.7% | |
| 1910 | 673 | −10.4% | |
| 1920 | 811 | 20.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,298 | 60.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,397 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,745 | 24.9% | |
| 1960 | 3,761 | 115.5% | |
| 1970 | 5,259 | 39.8% | |
| 1980 | 6,087 | 15.7% | |
| 1990 | 5,693 | −6.5% | |
| 2000 | 5,536 | −2.8% | |
| 2010 | 5,173 | −6.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,143 | −0.6% | |
| Source: Census Bureau. 2000, 1960-1990[10] | |||
2010 census
editAs of the census[2] of 2010, there were 5,173 people, 2,371 households, and 1,314 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,617.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 1.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.
The 2010 census lists 2,371 households, out of which 640 (27%) had children under the age of 18 living with them, 837 (35.3%) were married couples living together, 349 (14.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 1,057 (44.6%) were non-families. 936 (39.5%) of all households were made up of individuals, and 492 (18.1%) 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. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% aged birth to 19, 12.1% from 20 to 29, 12.6% from 30 to 39, 13.1% from 40 to 49, 13% 50 to 59, 11.1% from 60 to 69, and 12.1% who were 70 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years.
According to the American Community Survey,[11] 2010, The median income for a household in the city was $37,793, and the mean income for a household was $48,643. The per capita income for the city was $23,132. About 14.5% of families and 17.5% of the city population were below the poverty line, with 26.6% of those being under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
editThe municipality operates its own well water system.[12]
The city has a council-manager government, with the position of city manager currently being held by Andrea Schroeder.[13] The Davison City Council is composed of 7 members, including the mayor. The Mayor of Davison, a position currently held by Tim Bishop, is mostly titular, with most of the executive power being vested in the city manager.[14]
City Council Members
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Tim Bishop | Mayor |
| Ron Emery | Mayor Pro Tem |
| Daryl Simpson | Councilman |
| Stacey Kalisz | Councilwoman |
| Tina Shephard | Councilwoman |
| Chris Hinkley | Councilman |
| David Perry | Councilman |
Notable people
edit- Kathleen Flinn, an award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author. Her memoir, Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good about her life growing up in Davison was named a 2015 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan.[15]
- Thomas C. Hart, a U.S. Navy admiral and Asiatic Fleet commander during World War II[8]
- Michael Moore,[8] Academy Award-winning filmmaker, was born in 1954 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Flint, Michigan, spent most of his childhood in Davison, and graduated from Davison High School in 1972.
- Ken Morrow, professional ice hockey defenseman and Stanley Cup winner who played in the 1980 Miracle on Ice game was raised in Davison.
- John Sinclair, poet, human rights activist, manager of the MC5, and founder of the anti-racist White Panther Party was raised in Davison.[16]
- Tim Thomas, NHL goalie[8]
References
edit- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Davison (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
- ^ a b Wood, Edwin O. (1916). "XXVI Villages of Genesee County". History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions. Michigan Historical Commission. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Ellis, Franklin (1879). "Davison". History of Genesee County, Michigan: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Everts & Abbott. pp. 398–405. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ a b Ellis, David M. Michigan Postal History, The Post Offices 1805-1986. 12-Dec-1993. Via U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Davison Post Office
- ^ a b c d e f Acosta, Roberto (April 13, 2014). "Davison group keeps hold on past as city approaches 125th birthday". Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ^ "1960 to 1990 Census Count by for Michigan and Subcounties" (PDF). Michigan.gov. State of Michigan. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2004-04-29. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ US Census Bureau ACSO Web Staff. "American Community Survey".
- ^ Adams, Dominic (June 27, 2014). "Flint monthly water and sewer bills highest in Genesee County by $35". The Flint Journal. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ "City Manager | Davison, MI - Official Website". www.cityofdavison.org. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "City Council | Davison, MI - Official Website". www.cityofdavison.org. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "2015 Michigan Notable Books".
- ^ "'A John Sinclair Reader' — 50 years of poetry, prose".