Blissfield, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Blissfield is a village in Lenawee County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 3,223 at the 2000 census
. The village is located within Blissfield Township
. The Blissfield post office first opened March 28, 1828.
, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.47% is water.
of 2000, there were 3,223 people, 1,319 households, and 903 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,520.7 per square mile (587.0/km²). There were 1,388 housing units at an average density of 654.9 per square mile (252.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.59% White, 0.06% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 2.61% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.14% of the population.
There were 1,319 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% 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 2.96.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $39,438, and the median income for a family was $48,964. Males had a median income of $37,218 versus $25,069 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $19,255. About 6.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Blissfield is known for having many antique stores in the downtown district. Vintage items range from jewelry to furniture to baseball cards to slot machines, and more.
Another favorite attraction is the Murder Mystery Dinner Train operated by the Adrian and Blissfield Railroad. While enjoying a leisurely 12 miles (19.3 km) trip through the countryside, a five course meal is served as actors and actresses perform a comical, and interactive murder mystery.
Blissfield is also home to the Blissfield Model Railroad Club, a non-profit organization in downtown Blissfield. The 2300 square feet (213.7 m²) HO scale model railroad has over 1500 feet (457.2 m) of mainline track on two levels. The BMRC is a group of enthusiastic model railroaders who are actively working on building and operating a large model railroad which represents the northern extremity of the Clinchfield Railroad and the connecting C&O Railroad.
Popular meeting places in town are the Hathaway House and Stable Restaurant, adjacent bistros located on 223, just west of the River Raisin.
The Ellis Inn Bed & Breakfast occupies an 1883 Italianate brick home, and located across from the Hathaway House.
To round out the sports line-up, Blissfield High School also fields Varsity teams in boys and girls soccer, boys cross country, boys and girls basketball, girls competitive cheer, boys and girls track, boys golf, boys wrestling, and girls softball.
where they, along with ten of their comrades, remain the only members of another nation's armed forces who are buried in a US National Cemetery.
According to local legend, Blissfield was home to the first set of Triple Bridges in the world. These three bridges stood directly next to each other and crossed the River Raisin to accommodate train and vehicular travel. Throughout time, the two vehicular bridges were replaced with one. Recently though, a pedestrian bridge was erected to restore the heritage of the Triple Bridges.
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
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 3,223 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The village is located within Blissfield Township
Blissfield Township, Michigan
Blissfield Township is a civil township of Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,915...
. The Blissfield post office first opened March 28, 1828.
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 village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.47% is water.
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 3,223 people, 1,319 households, and 903 families residing in the village. 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 1,520.7 per square mile (587.0/km²). There were 1,388 housing units at an average density of 654.9 per square mile (252.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.59% White, 0.06% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 2.61% 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 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.14% of the population.
There were 1,319 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% 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 2.96.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $39,438, and the median income for a family was $48,964. Males had a median income of $37,218 versus $25,069 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 village was $19,255. About 6.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Local culture
The annual River Raisin Festival is held at Ellis Park in downtown Blissfield during mid-July. Activities include the Miss River Raisin Contest, carnival rides and games, arts and crafts vendors, a large variety of food, a softball tournament, a car show, tractor pulls, and a beer tent.Blissfield is known for having many antique stores in the downtown district. Vintage items range from jewelry to furniture to baseball cards to slot machines, and more.
Another favorite attraction is the Murder Mystery Dinner Train operated by the Adrian and Blissfield Railroad. While enjoying a leisurely 12 miles (19.3 km) trip through the countryside, a five course meal is served as actors and actresses perform a comical, and interactive murder mystery.
Blissfield is also home to the Blissfield Model Railroad Club, a non-profit organization in downtown Blissfield. The 2300 square feet (213.7 m²) HO scale model railroad has over 1500 feet (457.2 m) of mainline track on two levels. The BMRC is a group of enthusiastic model railroaders who are actively working on building and operating a large model railroad which represents the northern extremity of the Clinchfield Railroad and the connecting C&O Railroad.
Popular meeting places in town are the Hathaway House and Stable Restaurant, adjacent bistros located on 223, just west of the River Raisin.
The Ellis Inn Bed & Breakfast occupies an 1883 Italianate brick home, and located across from the Hathaway House.
High school sports
Blissfield High School is the home of the Royals. Best known as a perennial baseball powerhouse with seven state titles, many other sports have also been very successful. Girls cross country has dominated their league and had strong showings in state meets for much of the past two decades. The girls volleyball team has also seen success, recently winning their first state title in 2005. In recent years, the football team has turned around their program to become an annual playoff contender. The Class of 2006 started a football craze after having the most successful regular season the school has seen. The power up front led the way to the playoffs for the third time in school history, but was interrupted in the second round. The following year Blissfield made an appearance in the 2007 state finals.To round out the sports line-up, Blissfield High School also fields Varsity teams in boys and girls soccer, boys cross country, boys and girls basketball, girls competitive cheer, boys and girls track, boys golf, boys wrestling, and girls softball.
History
During World War II, 16 German POWs, who were working on a sugar beet farm near Blissfield, were killed in an accident when their truck collided with a train as they were returning to Fort Custer. They are now buried at Fort Custer National CemeteryFort Custer National Cemetery
Fort Custer National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located just outside of the Village of Augusta in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 20,656 interments.- History :...
where they, along with ten of their comrades, remain the only members of another nation's armed forces who are buried in a US National Cemetery.
According to local legend, Blissfield was home to the first set of Triple Bridges in the world. These three bridges stood directly next to each other and crossed the River Raisin to accommodate train and vehicular travel. Throughout time, the two vehicular bridges were replaced with one. Recently though, a pedestrian bridge was erected to restore the heritage of the Triple Bridges.
Major highways
 |
US 223 |
External links
- Official Village of Blissfield site
- Blissfield Area Chamber of Commerce
- Blissfield Downtown Development Authority
- Blissfield Area Business & Tourism Directory
- Blissfield High School
- Lenawee County government site
- Lenawee County Conference & Visitors Bureau
- Complete text of History of Lenawee County published in 1909 by the Western Historical Society