Editing Plainwell, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Plainwell, Michigan
| settlement_type                 = [[City]]
| nickname                        = The Island City
| motto                           = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline                   = File:Plainwell.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = 
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                       = Allegan_County_Michigan_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Plainwell_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250x200px
| map_caption                     = Location of Plainwell, Michigan
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = <!-- 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               = [[Allegan County, Michigan|Allegan]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Brad Keeler
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = 
| established_title               = Incorporated (village)
| established_date                = March 26, 1869 <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| 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                  = 5.37
| area_land_km2                   = 5.16
| area_water_km2                  = 0.21
| area_total_sq_mi                = 2.07
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 1.99
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.08

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 3788
| population_density_km2          = 734.19
| population_density_sq_mi        = 1901.61

<!-- General information -->| timezone                        = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 222
| elevation_ft                    = 728
| coordinates                     = {{coord|42|26|36|N|85|38|34|W|region:US-MI|display=inline}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 49080
| area_code                       = [[Area code 269|269]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 26-64740<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0635077<ref>{{gnis|0635077}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|http://www.plainwell.org/}}
| footnotes                       = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| name                            = 
}}

'''Plainwell''' is a city in [[Allegan County, Michigan|Allegan County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The population was 3,788 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=Plainwell city, Michigan - Census Bureau Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Plainwell_city,_Michigan?g=160XX00US2664740 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref>

Plainwell is located on [[M-89 (Michigan highway)|M-89]] just east of its junction with [[U.S. Route 131|US&nbsp;131]]. The city of [[Otsego, Michigan|Otsego]] is about {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} to the west. The city of [[Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]] is about {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} to the south, and the city of [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]] is about {{convert|35|mi|km|spell=in}} to the north. The [[Kalamazoo River]] flows through the center of the city and it is known as "The Island City".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plainwell.org/|title=City of Plainwell official website|access-date=17 April 2012}}</ref>

==History==
This part of Michigan was settled in the 1830s, after the removal of native people. Allegan County was organized in 1835, and the Plainwell area was settled soon after. It was on a stagecoach route from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, and later the [[Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad]] was constructed along the same route. After the advent of the automobile, [[U.S. Route 131]] was created and run through the town. In the 1960s, an improved 4-lane US-131 was built west of town to connect Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, with an interchange on M-89 between Plainwell and Otsego. This allowed the town to become a kind of "bedroom community" for Kalamazoo or the southern part of Grand Rapids.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.98|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.08|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=2012-11-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>  The nickname ''Island City'' has to do with a power canal which diverts a portion of the Kalamazoo River around the downtown area, causing it to be an island.
 
===Major highways===
*{{jct|state=MI|US|131}} is a freeway that is located in the western portion of the city.
*{{jct|state=MI|M|43}} follows M-89 for most of its route in Plainwell, but soon has a concurrency with U.S. 131 just before the city line.
*{{jct|state=MI|M|89}} has a concurrency with M-43 for most of its route in Plainwell, but continues west alone into [[Otsego, Michigan|Otsego]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1035
|1880= 1356
|1890= 1414
|1900= 1318
|1910= 1493
|1920= 2049
|1930= 2279
|1940= 2424
|1950= 2767
|1960= 3125
|1970= 3195
|1980= 3751
|1990= 4057
|2000= 3933
|2010= 3804
|2020= 3788
|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=2012-11-25}}</ref> of 2010, there were 3,804 people, 1,561 households, and 966 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1921.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,674 housing units at an average density of {{convert|845.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 1,561 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 38.7 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,933 people, 1,506 households, and 1,018 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,897.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,593 housing units at an average density of {{convert|768.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.46% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.48% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.36% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.66% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.27% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.65% of the population.

There were 1,506 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.8% 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 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,590, and the median income for a family was $44,519. Males had a median income of $35,785 versus $26,397 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,982. About 1.4% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
K-12 Students are served by Plainwell Community Schools. There are two high schools, [[Plainwell High School]], and Renaissance High School. Renaissance is the alternative education high school. 
There is only one middle school, Plainwell Middle School.
The school district has three elementary schools. They are Cooper Elementary, Gilkey Elementary, and Starr Elementary.

[[Michigan Career and Technical Institute]] is also located nearby.

==Notable people==
*[[Jack Conklin]], American football offensive tackle 
*[[Dave Coverly]], syndicated cartoonist
*[[Mallory Comerford]], competitive swimmer
*[[Ed Gale]], actor
*[[Narada Michael Walden]], singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer
*[[Joseph Keckler]], singer, songwriter, musician

== See also ==
*[[Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the meat industry in the United States]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.plainwell.org/ City of Plainwell official website]
{{Commons category|Plainwell, Michigan}}
{{Allegan County, Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|42|26|24|N|85|38|56|W|type:city_region:US-MI|display=title}}

[[Category:Cities in Allegan County, Michigan]]