Alma, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 9,275 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905.
Alma's claims to fame include the annual Highland Festival which brings members of Scottish clans and interested onlookers together for a weekend of Highland dancing, bagpipes, kilts, and camaraderie. The Highland Festival is held each year over Memorial Day weekend. Alma College
, a small liberal-arts institution of approximately 1,300 students, is located in town and focuses on multidisciplinary learning in a residential setting.
Alma is the birthplace of both the world-renowned modernist architect Ralph Rapson
and writer/composer/lyricist Dan Goggin
(Nunsense
).
, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which 5.4 square miles (14 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (1.83%) is water.
, briefly the largest exclusive truck manufacturer in the world.
of 2000, there were 9,275 people, 3,220 households, and 2,022 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,729.7 per square mile (668.1/km²). There were 3,476 housing units at an average density of 648.2 per square mile (250.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.75% White, 0.53% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races
, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.21% of the population.
There were 3,220 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% 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 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 20.4% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,536, and the median income for a family was $44,229. Males had a median income of $35,013 versus $20,655 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,218. About 8.5% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
, serves the Alma area as its daily newspaper.
Alma is home to three commercial radio stations. WQBX
(104.9 FM) plays satellite-fed hot adult contemporary music, and sister station WFYC
(1280 AM) is a ESPN Radio
affiliate.
Standalone AM WMLM
(1520 AM), licensed to nearby St. Louis
, plays classic country music, also satellite-fed. Other local broadcasters include Alma College's student-run radio station, WQAC
(90.9 FM), and WBSQ-LP (105.9 FM), an oldies
station based in St. Louis.
The Alma area is located about midway between Saginaw and Grand Rapids, and thus also receives TV and radio signals from both cities, as well as Mt. Pleasant and Lansing.
Gratiot County, Michigan
-US Highways:* US-127 routes north to I-75 and south to Lansing.* BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown Alma.* BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown Ithaca.* BUS US-127 is a loop route through downtown St. Louis....
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 9,275 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905.
Alma's claims to fame include the annual Highland Festival which brings members of Scottish clans and interested onlookers together for a weekend of Highland dancing, bagpipes, kilts, and camaraderie. The Highland Festival is held each year over Memorial Day weekend. Alma College
Alma College
Alma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
, a small liberal-arts institution of approximately 1,300 students, is located in town and focuses on multidisciplinary learning in a residential setting.
Alma is the birthplace of both the world-renowned modernist architect Ralph Rapson
Ralph Rapson
Ralph Rapson was the head of architecture at the University of Minnesota for many years...
and writer/composer/lyricist Dan Goggin
Dan Goggin
Dan Goggin is an American writer, composer, and lyricist for musical theatre.Goggin began his career as a singer in the Broadway production of Luther, which starred Albert Finney...
(Nunsense
Nunsense
Nunsense is a musical comedy with a book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin. Originating as a line of greeting cards, Goggin expanded the concept into a cabaret that ran for 38 weeks, and eventually into a full-length musical...
).
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which 5.4 square miles (14 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (1.83%) is water.
History
Alma was founded in 1853 by Ralph Ely. Perhaps first known for the Alma Springs Sanitarium, built and promoted in the 1880s by millionaire lumberman and capitalist Ammi Willard Wright, it achieved its greatest prominence nationally in the 1910s and 1920s as home of the Republic Motor Truck CompanyRepublic Motor Truck Company
Republic Motor Truck Company was a manufacturer of commercial trucks circa 1913 - 1929, in Alma, Michigan. By 1918, it was recognized as the largest exclusive truck manufacturer in the world, and the maker of one out of every nine trucks on the roads in the United States. It was one of the major...
, briefly the largest exclusive truck manufacturer in the world.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,275 people, 3,220 households, and 2,022 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,729.7 per square mile (668.1/km²). There were 3,476 housing units at an average density of 648.2 per square mile (250.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.75% White, 0.53% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.21% of the population.
There were 3,220 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% 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 2.98.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,536, and the median income for a family was $44,229. Males had a median income of $35,013 versus $20,655 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,218. About 8.5% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
US-127U.S. Route 127U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...-
BUS US 127 
M-46M-46 (Michigan highway)M-46 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan between Muskegon and Port Sanilac, terminating near Lake Michigan and Lake Huron on each end. Except for the north–south segment that corresponds with the US Highway 131 freeway between Cedar Springs and Howard City, M-46 is...
Local media
The Morning Sun newspaper, based in Mt. PleasantMount Pleasant, Michigan
Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Isabella County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,946. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 26,675....
, serves the Alma area as its daily newspaper.
Alma is home to three commercial radio stations. WQBX
WQBX
WQBX is a radio station licensed to Alma, Michigan broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format.WQBX's signal can be reached in Mid-Michigan's thumb during certain atmospheric conditions...
(104.9 FM) plays satellite-fed hot adult contemporary music, and sister station WFYC
WFYC
WFYC is a radio station licensed to Alma, Michigan, United States, broadcasting a sports radio format....
(1280 AM) is a ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
affiliate.
Standalone AM WMLM
WMLM
WMLM is an AM radio station located in St. Louis, Michigan, broadcasting ABC Radio's satellite-delivered Real Country format, a hybrid of classic and current country hits. The station began broadcasting in 1977 as a daytime-only station and added nighttime operations in 1982...
(1520 AM), licensed to nearby St. Louis
St. Louis, Michigan
St. Louis is a city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,494. The 2010 census estimate places the population at 7,482.-Geography:...
, plays classic country music, also satellite-fed. Other local broadcasters include Alma College's student-run radio station, WQAC
WQAC
WQAC is a campus radio station located in Alma, Michigan and operated by Alma College. The station primarily plays the music of up-and-coming modern rock bands. WQAC also has a large collection of evening student specialty shows. Over its history, these shows have covered everything from world...
(90.9 FM), and WBSQ-LP (105.9 FM), an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station based in St. Louis.
The Alma area is located about midway between Saginaw and Grand Rapids, and thus also receives TV and radio signals from both cities, as well as Mt. Pleasant and Lansing.
Notable people
- Randy Ebright (drummer for Mexican band Molotov (band)Molotov (band)Molotov is a four-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Mexican rock band formed in Mexico City on September 23, 1995. Their lyrics feature a mixture of Spanish and English, rapped and sung by all members of the group. Musically, Molotov blends heavy basslines with heavy guitar riffs...
) - Ralph RapsonRalph RapsonRalph Rapson was the head of architecture at the University of Minnesota for many years...
(modernist architect) - Dan GogginDan GogginDan Goggin is an American writer, composer, and lyricist for musical theatre.Goggin began his career as a singer in the Broadway production of Luther, which starred Albert Finney...
(NunsenseNunsenseNunsense is a musical comedy with a book, music, and lyrics by Dan Goggin. Originating as a line of greeting cards, Goggin expanded the concept into a cabaret that ran for 38 weeks, and eventually into a full-length musical...
)