Editing Alanson, Michigan

{{Redirect|Alanson|people named Alanson|Alanson (name)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alanson, Michigan
|official_name            = Village of Alanson
|settlement_type          = [[Village (United States)|Village]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Alanson Michigan Downtown 2 US31.jpg
|imagesize                = 275
|image_caption            = Downtown Alanson along [[U.S. Route 31 in Michigan|U.S. Route 31]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|pushpin_map            = Michigan
|pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_label          = Alanson
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location within the state of Michigan
|pushpin_mapsize        = 
|image_map                = Alanson (village), MI location2.png
|mapsize                  = 250
|map_caption              = Location within [[Emmet County, Michigan|Emmet County]]

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Michigan]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Emmet County, Michigan|Emmet]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[Civil township|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Littlefield Township, Michigan|Littlefield]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|last=Village of Alanson|url=https://www.villageofalanson.com/services/village-council/|title=The Village of Alanson: Village Council|date=2020|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Town council|Village council]]
|leader_title             = President
|leader_name              = Greg Babcock
|leader_title1            = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
|leader_name1             = Brooke Milbrandt
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1875
|established_title1       = Incorporated
|established_date1        = 1905

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 2.63
|area_land_km2            = 2.55
|area_water_km2           = 0.08
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.02
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.98
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 778
|population_density_km2   = 304.90
|population_density_sq_mi = 789.85

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 600
|coordinates              = {{coord|45|26|33|N|84|47|14|W|type:city_region:US-MI_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
|postal_code              = 49706
|area_code                = [[Area code 231|231]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 26-00860<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397921<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397921}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.villageofalanson.com/|Official website}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
'''Alanson''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|l|æ|n|.|s|ən}} {{respell|ə|LAN|sən}}) is a village in [[Emmet County, Michigan|Emmet County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]].  The population was 778 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

Alanson is in [[Littlefield Township, Michigan|Littlefield Township]] on [[U.S. Route 31 in Michigan|U.S. Highway 31]] at the junction with [[M-68 (Michigan highway)|M-68]]. [[Petoskey, Michigan|Petoskey]] is about {{convert|12|mi|km}} southwest on US 31 and [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]] and the [[Mackinac Bridge]] are about {{convert|25|mi|km}} north. [[Interstate 75 in Michigan|Interstate 75]] is about {{convert|11|mi|km}} to the east on M-68 at [[Indian River, Michigan|Indian River]].

Alanson was first settled in 1875.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=14}}  The Alanson post office opened with the name ''Hinman'' on January 17, 1877, and changed to Alanson on June 22, 1882.<ref>{{gnis|2360175|Alanson Post Office}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Alanson Michigan Sign US31.jpg|thumb|left|Sign on US 31]]
[[File:Swing Bridge-Alanson.jpg|thumb|left|Alanson Swing Bridge]]
[[File:Littlefield Alanson Community Building.jpg|thumb|left|Littlefield Alanson Community Building]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|1.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.99|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

Located on the [[Crooked River (Michigan)|Crooked River]], Alanson is part of the [[Inland Water Route]], which includes [[Crooked Lake (Michigan)|Crooked]], [[Burt Lake|Burt]] and [[Mullett Lake]]s, and the Crooked, [[Indian River (Mullett Lake)|Indian]] and [[Cheboygan River]]s. 

== Attractions ==
The Inland Water Route Historical Society Museum is located in Alanson.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iwrhs.com/ |title=Inland Water Route Historical Society<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=March 31, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508224850/http://www.iwrhs.com/ |archive-date=May 8, 2007 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The Alanson Swing Bridge across the Inland Water Route is billed as America's shortest swing bridge, although it is probably not.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alanson Swing Bridge |url=https://fairbairnrealtyblog.com/2021/08/26/alanson-swing-bridge/ |website=Fairbairn Realty Blog |publisher=Coldwell Banker Fairbairn Realty |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>

Alanson has a hillside garden located adjacent to the former [[Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad]] depot, and a community center including a library.

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1910= 473
|1920= 332
|1930= 287
|1940= 330
|1950= 319
|1960= 290
|1970= 362
|1980= 508
|1990= 677
|2000= 785
|2010= 738
|2020= 778
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
=== 2010 census ===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 738 people, 307 households, and 209 families residing in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|745.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 429 housing units at an average density of {{convert|433.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 92.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 2.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 307 households, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the village was 36.3 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

=== 2000 census ===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 785 people, 323 households, and 207 families residing in the village.  The population density was {{convert|807.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 407 housing units at an average density of {{convert|418.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the village was 89.55% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.89% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 5.61% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.13% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.51% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.02% of the population.

There were 323 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $23,929 versus $20,568 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $20,703.  About 4.0% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
* [[Alanson Public Schools]]

== In popular culture ==
The town and the Crooked River are mentioned in a song title on the [[Sufjan Stevens]] album [[Michigan (album)|''Michigan'']].

== Sources ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{cite book |first1=Walter |last1=Romig |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |series=Great Lakes Books Series |type=paperback |orig-year=1973 |date=October 1, 1986 |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |location=Detroit, Michigan |id={{ISBN|9780814318386}} }}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Emmet County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Emmet County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Villages in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in Michigan]]