West Branch, Michigan
Encyclopedia
West Branch is a city in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,926. It is the county seat
of Ogemaw County
. The city is located within West Branch Township
, but is politically independent.
.
, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 1,926 people, 833 households, and 475 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,447.6 per square mile (559.1/km²). There were 916 housing units at an average density of 688.5 per square mile (265.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.17% White, 0.10% African American, 0.52% Native American, 2.60% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 833 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,132, and the median income for a family was $35,385. Males had a median income of $30,677 versus $21,343 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,852. About 9.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
from the CBS
sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine
. Gagnon led a workshop on child acting. Working in association with the West Branch Area Film Association, the festival ecourages films to be shot in Ogemaw County
. During the festival, the town offers festival-related activities, including workshops, outdoor movie showings, and musical entertainment. The second annual festival is slated for July 2010.
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"....
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,926. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,645 people, 8,842 households, and 6,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 15,404 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
. The city is located within West Branch Township
West Branch Township, Ogemaw County, Michigan
West Branch Township is a civil township of Ogemaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,628 at the 2000 census. The city of West Branch is located within the township.-Geography:...
, but is politically independent.
History
According to the Ogemaw County Genealogical and Historical Society, West Branch was previously known as Logan's Mills in 1863. It later became West Branch when lumberjacks named it after the "west branch" of the Rifle RiverRifle River
Rifle River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises in northeastern Ogemaw County and flows through Arenac County to enter Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. Once a logging river during the Michigan forestry boom at the turn of the 20th century, the river is now primarily used for recreation,...
.
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 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.
Major highways
I-75Interstate 75Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
I-75 Business Loop
M-30M-30 (Michigan highway)M-30 is a state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan that runs in a north–south direction from the Midland area to West Branch. The highway runs through rural parts of three counties in the Lower Peninsula. The southern end runs along the Michigan Meridian and parallel to the...
M-55M-55 (Michigan highway)M-55 is a state trunkline highway in the northern part of the US state of Michigan. M-55 is one of only three state highways that extend across the Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan; the others are M-46 and M-72. The highway crosses through rural forest and farmlands to connect...
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 1,926 people, 833 households, and 475 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 1,447.6 per square mile (559.1/km²). There were 916 housing units at an average density of 688.5 per square mile (265.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.17% White, 0.10% African American, 0.52% Native American, 2.60% Asian, 0.16% 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 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 833 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,132, and the median income for a family was $35,385. Males had a median income of $30,677 versus $21,343 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 $17,852. About 9.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Film Festival
The West Branch Children's Film Festival held its first annual screening in August 2009, with an appearance by Trevor GagnonTrevor Gagnon
Trevor Michael Gagnon is an American actor.-Career:Gagnon has been featured in many television commercials along with multiple television series and a few films...
from the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine
The New Adventures of Old Christine
The New Adventures of Old Christine is an American comedy series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus which ran for five seasons on CBS from March 13, 2006, to May 12, 2010...
. Gagnon led a workshop on child acting. Working in association with the West Branch Area Film Association, the festival ecourages films to be shot in Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,645 people, 8,842 households, and 6,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 15,404 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
. During the festival, the town offers festival-related activities, including workshops, outdoor movie showings, and musical entertainment. The second annual festival is slated for July 2010.