Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Vicksburg, Michigan

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Country
  
United States

County
  
Kalamazoo

Time zone
  
Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)

Elevation
  
260 m

Population
  
3,097 (2013)

Area code
  
269

State
  
Michigan

Incorporated
  
1871

FIPS code
  
26-82300

Zip code
  
49097

Local time
  
Sunday 5:50 PM

Vicksburg, Michigan httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Weather
  
13°C, Wind S at 11 km/h, 45% Humidity

Area
  
8.158 km² (7.796 km² Land / 36 ha Water)

Vicksburg is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,906 at the 2010 census. The west part of the village is in Schoolcraft Township and the east part is in Brady Township.

Contents

Map of Vicksburg, MI 49097, USA

History

John Vickers, the town's namesake, settled in the area in 1831. It was incorporated as a village of the state in 1871. A Michigan Registered Historic Site plaque reads:

VICKERS' MILL: In 1831, John Vickers built a brush dam over the eight-foot waterfall on Portage Creek and erected a log grist mill. The mill is believed to have been the first mill in Kalamazoo County. The dam created a pond that supplied water power to the mill, and formed the sizeable Sunset Lake, around which pioneers built homes and set up businesses. Vickers died in 1842. On October 18, 1871, the village was incorporated as Brady, but one day later, a petition passed to rename it Vicksburg.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.15 square miles (8.16 km2), of which 3.01 square miles (7.80 km2) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water. Vicksburg is located on the shore of Sunset Lake.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,906 people, 1,120 households, and 773 families residing in the village. The population density was 965.4 inhabitants per square mile (372.7/km2). There were 1,233 housing units at an average density of 409.6 per square mile (158.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.9% White, 0.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 1,120 households of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the village was 33 years. 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,320 people, 908 households, and 629 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,265.9 per square mile (489.5/km²). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 521.6 per square mile (201.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.38% White, 0.34% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.64% of the population.

There were 908 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village, the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $41,780, and the median income for a family was $49,167. Males had a median income of $36,094 versus $25,573 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,178. About 4.9% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Events

Each year during the second weekend in June for the last 33 years, Vicksburg has held in the village a classic car show. It has grown to be one of the largest classic and antique car shows in the state of Michigan with hundreds of cars on display.

Vicksburg Car Show 2009 Vicksburg Car Show 2008 Vicksburg Car Show 2007 Vicksburg Car Show 2006

Annual Summer Festival - Located at the Vicksburg Recreation Park, The Vicksburg Lions Club has hosted this event for 37 years. The festival features Otto's Beer & Bratwurst Tent, Family Night, Volleyball and Horseshoe Tournaments, and Live Music. The B&B Annual Summer Festival begins the third Thursday in July and runs through Saturday night.

Vicksburg in the national media

On November 14, 1977 (and continued on November 21, 1977), author Bil Gilbert wrote a long feature story in Sports Illustrated on the impact of high school football on life in a small town. He chose to write about Vicksburg High School and mentioned many local citizens and establishments in his article.

Notable people

  • Leon Roberts, Major League Baseball outfielder, was born in Vicksburg
  • References

    Vicksburg, Michigan Wikipedia