Editing Elberta, Michigan

{{Distinguish|Alberta, Michigan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Elberta, Michigan
| settlement_type          = [[Village (United States)|Village]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Bye Street Lookout - panoramio (1).jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = [[Lake Michigan]] from Elberta Bluffs
| 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            = Elberta
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of Michigan
| pushpin_mapsize          = 
| image_map                = Elberta (village), MI location.png
| mapsize                  = 250
| map_caption              = Location within [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]]

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

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- 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           = 2.61
| area_land_km2            = 1.94
| area_water_km2           = 0.68
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.01
| area_land_sq_mi          = 0.75
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.26

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 329
| population_density_km2   = 169.66
| population_density_sq_mi = 439.25

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 180
| elevation_ft             = 591
| coordinates              = {{coord|44|37|03|N|86|13|36|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code              = 49628
| area_code                = [[Area code 231|231]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 26-25180<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0625422<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
}}
'''Elberta''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɛ|l|ˈ|b|ɜ:|r|.|t|ə}} {{respell|el|BER|tə}}) is a village in [[Benzie County, Michigan]], United States. The population was 329 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Located in [[Gilmore Township, Benzie County, Michigan|Gilmore Township]], Elberta overlooks [[Lake Michigan]] and lies across [[Betsie Lake]] from [[Frankfort, Michigan|Frankfort]]. Elberta is part of [[Northern Michigan]].

== History ==
Elberta was first settled in 1855 and incorporated as '''South Frankfort''' in 1894. It was renamed Elberta in 1911 for the local Elberta [[peach]]. The village's founder is said to be George M. Cartwright.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.villageofelberta.org/history.html |title=Village of Elberta history page |access-date=January 8, 2008 |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509125147/http://www.villageofelberta.org/history.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[M-168 (Michigan highway)|M-168]], previously one of the shortest state highways in Michigan, extended {{convert|0.95|mi|km}} from a junction with M-22 in downtown Elberta to the former [[Ann Arbor Railroad (1895-1976)|Ann Arbor Railroad]] ferry docks in Elberta. This highway was decommissioned in 2012.<ref name="MoU">{{cite web |author=Staff |date=April 24, 2012 |title=Contract Number 2012-0366 |url=http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/greatlakesroads/message/16786 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105161909/http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/greatlakesroads/message/16786 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |url-access=registration |access-date=May 7, 2012 |publisher=Michigan Department of Transportation}}<!--Patrick Allen is an MDOT employee and member of the forum, reposting the contents of the contract verbatim.--></ref>

==Geography==
*According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|0.99|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.74|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.25|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]] |accessdate=November 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=January 25, 2012 }}</ref> The downtown is at {{coord|44|37|10|N|86|13|35|W|}}.
*Elberta is part of [[Northern Michigan]].

===Major highways===
*{{jct|state=MI|M|22}} is a north–south highway that runs through the village, paralleling the coast of [[Lake Michigan]] for its length. M-22 can be used to access Frankfort.
*{{jct|state=MI|M 1973|168}} is a former highway that ran through the village, connecting M-22 to the former [[Ann Arbor Railroad (1895-1976)|Ann Arbor Railroad]] ferry docks. This highway was decommissioned in 2012.<ref name="MoU" />

===Ferry and rail transport===
From the 1890s to July 1950, the [[Ann Arbor Railroad (1895–1976)|Ann Arbor Railroad]] operated launched ferries from docks at Elberta. The ferries crossed Lake Michigan to two points in Wisconsin, and a fourth ferry line went north to [[Gladstone, Michigan]] in the [[Michigan Upper Peninsula]].<ref name="Railways, 1950">''Official Guide of the Railways,'' January 1950, Ann Arbor section</ref><ref>American Rails, "Ann Arbor Railroad" https://www.american-rails.com/ann.html</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/information_and_exhibits/michigan's_ann_arbor_railroads/a_brief_history.html |title=A Brief History |publisher=Central Michigan University—Clarke Historical Library |date=February 5, 2010 |accessdate=October 19, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203085713/http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/information_and_exhibits/michigan%27s_ann_arbor_railroads/a_brief_history.html |archivedate= February 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the same period, the Ann Arbor Railroad operated a train a day south to and from Cadillac, Owosso, Durand, Ann Arbor, and then to its southern terminus in [[Toledo, Ohio]].<ref name="Railways, 1950"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 639
|1910= 681
|1920= 588
|1930= 609
|1940= 617
|1950= 850
|1960= 552
|1970= 542
|1980= 556
|1990= 478
|2000= 457
|2010= 372
|2020= 329
|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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
[[Image:Ann Arbor Railroad and Steamship Lines 1911 timetable.jpg|thumb|left|These [[Ann Arbor Railroad (1895–1976)|Ann Arbor Railroad]] cars and steamships would have been familiar sights in Elberta in 1911, when this [[Public transport timetable|timetable]] was printed.]]

===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]]|accessdate=November 25, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 372 people, 173 households, and 101 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|502.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 229 housing units at an average density of {{convert|309.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 95.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 173 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.6% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.71.

The median age in the village was 47.8 years. 18.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 33.1% were from 45 to 64; and 21.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 51.9% male and 48.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 457 people, 190 households, and 124 families living in the village.  The population density was {{convert|612.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 237 housing units at an average density of {{convert|317.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the village was 95.62% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.66% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.19% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.88% of the population.

There were 190 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $28,403, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $27,159 versus $21,806 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $13,594.  About 9.0% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Benzie.htm Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography for Benzie County]
*[http://www.frankfort-elberta.com Frankfort-Elberta Area Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://villageofelberta.com/ Village of Elberta home page]

{{Benzie County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Benzie County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Villages in Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan populated places on Lake Michigan]]
[[Category:1894 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1894]]
[[Category:Traverse City metropolitan area]]