Lansing is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan, located mostly in Ingham County; a small portion extends into adjacent Eaton County. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 119,128. The Lansing metropolitan area is unique in that there are three medical schools, two law schools, a Big Ten Conference university (Michigan State), the state capital (all three branches of government), a State Appellate Court, a Federal Court, and the Michigan State Library and Historical Center all within an area of less than 200,000 people.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 91.3 km2 (35.2 mi2). 90.8 km2 (35.0 mi2) of it is land and 0.5 km2 (0.2 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.57% water.
Lansing is located in the south central part of the lower peninsula where the Grand River meets the Red Cedar River. The city occupies most of what had formerly been part of Lansing Charter Township. It has also annexed adjacent tracts of land in Delta Charter Township and Windsor Township in Eaton County to the west and Delhi Charter Township in Ingham County to the south. The city also controls two non-contiguous tracts of land through conditional land transfer agreements with Meridian Charter Township and Alaiedon Township in Ingham County to the southeast.
The Grand River, the largest river in Michigan, flows through downtown Lansing, and the Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Grand River, flows through the campus at Michigan State University. There are two lakes in the area, Park Lake and Lake Lansing, both northeast of the city. Lake Lansing is approximately 500 acres (2 km2) in size and is a summer favorite for swimmers, boaters, and fishermen. Michigan State University Sailing Club and the Lansing Sailing Club are located on Lake Lansing, where sailing regattas are hosted throughout the summer.
Lansing has an historic City Market that is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the United States. The city has two downtowns: the business and govenrnment center with the State Capitol, and historic Lansing Old Town, with many of the architecturally significant buildings dating to the mid-1800s. REO Town, just south of downtown, was the birthplace of the automobile in the United States, where Ransom Eli Olds built factories along Washington Avenue.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 119,128 people, 49,505 households, and 28,366 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,312.3/km2 (3,399.0/mi2). There are 53,159 housing units at an average density of 585.6/km2 (1,516.8/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 65.28% White, 21.91% Black, 0.80% Native American, 2.83% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.54% from other races, and 4.60% from two or more races. 9.98% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 49,505 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% are married couples living together, 17.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.08.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,833, and the median income for a family is $41,283. Males have a median income of $32,648 versus $27,051 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,924. 16.9% of the population and 13.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.2% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The Lansing metropolitan area's major industries are government, education, and automobile manufacturing. As the state capital, the city employs government workers. Lansing is the seat of all three branches of state government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Additionally, many of the state's governmental departments are headquartered in the city. General Motors has offices in Lansing and several manufacturing facilities immediately outside the city. The Lansing area is headquarters to three major national insurance companies: Auto Owners Insurance Company, Jackson National Life, and the Accident Fund. Michigan State University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Sparrow Hospital, and Lansing Community College are significant employers in the region. A number of high technology companies have grown up in and around Lansing as a result of the early availability of high speed cable Internet deployed in 1996. Companies include Spartan Internet Consulting, ACD.net, and Liquid Web.
Source:
LansingMI.com
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