Mesick, Michigan

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.31 square miles (3.39 km²), of which 1.30 square miles (3.37 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 394 people, 161 households, and 103 families residing in the village. The population density was 303.1 inhabitants per square mile (117.0/km²). There were 190 housing units at an average density of 146.2 per square mile (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.7% White, 0.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 161 households of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.0% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the village was 37.8 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 11% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 447 people, 159 households, and 114 families residing in the village. The population density was 392.9 per square mile (151.4/km²). There were 185 housing units at an average density of 162.6 per square mile (62.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.66% White, 0.67% African American, 0.22% Native American, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.

There were 159 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the village, the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $21,136 versus $22,639 for females. The per capita income for the village was $10,600. About 16.3% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Mesick is the Mushroom Capital of the United States. To celebrate this, the town has held the Mushroom Festival every Mother's Day weekend since 1959.

On 29 July 1864 in Mesick, Howard Aaron Baker, son of Aaron Cooper Baker and Clarissa Perkins, became the first Caucasian child to be born in Wexford County, MI (until 1843 called Kautawabet County after a Potawatami chief, but renamed after Wexford County, Ireland). Aaron (a fur-trader) and Clarissa, among the first settlers of Mesick, had settled there in late 1863 following Aaron's honorable discharge from the 29th Ohio Infantry, Company "C", on 10 July 1863.

Churches and religious groups in Mesick

Churches in Mesick include