Okemos, MI

Okemos, Michigan
Location of Okemos, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°42′38″N 84°25′21″W / 42.71056, -84.4225
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Ingham
Area
- CDP	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2000)
- CDP
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	48805, 48864
Area code(s)	517
FIPS code	26-603402
GNIS feature ID	06339733

Okemos (IPA: /ˈoʊkəmɨs/) is an unincorporated community in Meridian Charter Township, Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a Census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes and does not have any separate legal existence as a municipality. Local government is provided by the township. The population was 22,805 at the 2000 census.

The Okemos Public Schools includes Okemos and some immediate surrounding areas. The nickname of the school's sports teams is the Chiefs. Some have questioned the political correctness of the mascot despite the town being named after a Native American chieftain. The use of the image of the Chieftain head has been removed from most school-funded items, although several self-supporting sports teams still wear it.

The settlement of Hamilton was founded in 1839 by Freeman Bray as a trading point with the surrounding Ojibwa people and as a farming community. In 1859, one year following the death of Chief John Okemos (on whose treaty lands the city was built), the city was renamed Okemos to honor the Native American chief.

It was originally a farming community, but has been entirely absorbed as a Lansing suburb. Downtown Okemos is located at the intersection of Hamilton and Okemos Roads. The most notable business is the Meridian Mall (located on M-43 Grand River Avenue), which is north of downtown Okemos.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 43.6 km² (16.8 mi²). 43.5 km² (16.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.18%) is water.

Lake Lansing is nearby and is approximately 500 acres (2.0 km²) in size. The lake has an outstanding beach, is a summer favorite of swimmers, sunbathers, boaters and fishermen, and boasts beautiful hiking and biking trails.

The Red Cedar River runs through Okemos.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 22,805 people, 9,194 households, and 5,645 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 523.8/km² (1,356.9/mi²). There were 9,592 housing units at an average density of 220.3/km² (570.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.01% White, 4.20% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 8.68% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population.

There were 9,194 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,810, and the median income for a family was $88,459. Males had a median income of $60,601 versus $41,393 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $33,401. About 3.3% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 0.5% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

• The Meridian Historical Village [1] and farmers market
• Ferguson Park [2], along the Red Cedar River on Okemos Road, is thought to be the meeting place where Chief Okemos and the war chiefs held their pow wows. The park is part of the oldest settlement in the area along the plank road between Detroit and the Capitol in Lansing
• The Hamilton Building at 2060 Hamilton Road (near the four corners in downtown Okemos), is the oldest commercial building in Okemos, and replaced the old Walker General Store, which was built in 1853. The Hamilton Building held it's first ice cream social on June 11, 1904, and was built to house the International Order of Odd Fellows, a charity organization. The planks in the building are from the Walnut grove on which it sits. Along with Ferguson Park, it is also part of the oldest settlement in the area along the old plank road between Detroit and the Capitol in Lansing
• The Dr. James F. Smiley House built in 1870, is located in historic downtown Okemos, near the four corners at 2142 Hamilton Road. Dr. Smiley was the town doctor. The porch was the last addition in 1930.
• Nancy Moore Park [3]
• Meridian Mall [4] whose motto is "Meridian Mall is the One, with a Million Square Feet of Fun!"
• Okemos Public Schools

External links

• Okemos Public Schools
• Meridian Mall
• Okemos Demographic information and map
• Map of Okemos

Municipalities and communities of Ingham County, Michigan
County seat: Mason
Cities	East Lansing | Lansing | Leslie | Mason | Williamston
Villages	Dansville | Stockbridge | Webberville
Townships	Alaiedon | Aurelius | Bunker Hill | Ingham | Leroy | Leslie | Locke | Onondaga | Stockbridge | Vevay | Wheatfield | White Oak | Williamstown
Charter townships	Delhi | Lansing | Meridian
CDPs	Haslett | Holt | Okemos

Coordinates: 42°43′20″N, 84°25′39″W

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