Westphalia, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Westphalia is a village in Clinton County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the village population was 876.
The village is within Westphalia Township
in the western portion of Clinton County, about 8 miles north of Interstate 96
on county roads and about 25 miles northwest of Lansing
.
settlers. It was named after the province of Westphalia
in Germany
.
These settlers were German Catholics who emigrated from the Westphalia region cities of Wimbach, Meerhof, and Hesse, Germany, among others, and found the rich soil ideal for farming. Some family members stayed in Detroit, while others moved into the wilderness to clear farmland. Cholera took a toll on early families.
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 876 people, 342 households, and 251 families residing in the village. The population density
was 765.7 per square mile (296.7/km²). There were 350 housing units at an average density of 305.9 per square mile (118.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.43% White, 0.23% Native American, and 0.34% from two or more races.
There were 342 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples
living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $52,500, and the median income for a family was $58,864. Males had a median income of $40,781 versus $31,827 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $20,112. There are 3.5% of families living below the poverty line and 4.2% of the population, including 4.3% of under eighteens and 9.0% of those over 64.
Clinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 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"....
. As of 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 population was 876.
The village is within Westphalia Township
Westphalia Township, Michigan
Westphalia Township is a civil township of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,257.The Village of Westphalia is within the township.-Geography:...
in the western portion of Clinton County, about 8 miles north of Interstate 96
Interstate 96
Interstate 96 is an intrastate Interstate Highway that is entirely within the US state of Michigan. Its western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 and Business US Highway 31 , on the western boundary of Norton Shores southeast of Muskegon. Its eastern terminus is at I-75 near the...
on county roads and about 25 miles northwest of Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
.
History
Westphalia was founded in 1836 by a group of GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
settlers. It was named after the province of Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
These settlers were German Catholics who emigrated from the Westphalia region cities of Wimbach, Meerhof, and Hesse, Germany, among others, and found the rich soil ideal for farming. Some family members stayed in Detroit, while others moved into the wilderness to clear farmland. Cholera took a toll on early families.
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 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
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 876 people, 342 households, and 251 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 765.7 per square mile (296.7/km²). There were 350 housing units at an average density of 305.9 per square mile (118.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.43% White, 0.23% Native American, and 0.34% from two or more races.
There were 342 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% 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, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $52,500, and the median income for a family was $58,864. Males had a median income of $40,781 versus $31,827 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 $20,112. There are 3.5% of families living below the poverty line and 4.2% of the population, including 4.3% of under eighteens and 9.0% of those over 64.