Mancelona is a village located in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of Mancelona Township and is situated within Antrim County. According to the 2020 census, the village had a population of 1,344.

History

In 1869, Perry Andress created a farm in the area and named it after his daughter, Mancelona Andress. Two years later, the Township of Mancelona was formed and also named after her. In 1872, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was extended through the area, and a train station called Mancelona was built.

In 1882, a company called "John Otis & Company" built a large charcoal furnace just south of Mancelona. The company also laid out a town around the furnace and named it "Furnaceville." Soon after, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad built a station in that town. The furnace became successful, and in 1886, a group of businessmen from Grand Rapids purchased the company. They renamed the company Antrim Iron Works and changed the town's name to Antrim. A large blast furnace and iron works were built on the site, and the new company began operating. The iron company closed in 1945 and was torn down in the 1980s.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.00 square mile (2.59 km), all of it land. The village is located at 44°54′08″N 85°03′39″W  /  44.90222°N 85.06083°W  / 44.90222; -85.06083.

Mancelona is known for its close proximity to many bodies of water, including the Jordan River, and the Elk River Chain of Lakes Watershed, especially Torch Lake.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the village had 1,390 people, 518 households, and 349 families. The population density was 1,390.0 people per square mile (536.7 per square kilometer). There were 594 housing units, with an average density of 594.0 per square mile (229.3 per square kilometer). The racial composition of the village included 95.1% White, 1.1% Native American, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 0.9% of the population.

There were 518 households, with 40.2% having children under 18 living with them. Of these households, 40.9% were married couples, 19.3% had a female householder, 7.1% had a male householder, and 32.6% were other types of families. Twenty-five point nine percent of all households included only one person, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.68 people, and the average family size was 3.19 people.

The median age in the village was 34.1 years. Twenty-nine point six percent of residents were younger than 18, 10.2% were between 18 and 24, 24.9% were between 25 and 44, 23.2% were between 45 and 64, and 12.1% were 65 or older. The gender distribution was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

As of the 2000 census, the village had 1,408 people, 535 households, and 367 families. The population density was 1,420.7 people per square mile (548.5 per square kilometer). There were 582 housing units, with an average density of 587.3 per square mile (226.8 per square kilometer). The racial composition included 95.60% White, 0.36% African American, 1.35% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.71% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 2.20% of the population.

There were 535 households, with 36.1% having children under 18 living with them. Of these households, 46.7% were married couples, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. Twenty-five point six percent of all households included only one person, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 people, and the average family size was 3.07 people.

The population was distributed as follows: 28.9% were younger than 18, 9.9% were between 18 and 24, 28.2% were between 25 and 44, 21.2% were between 45 and 64, and 11.8% were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $32,375. Males had a median income of $25,313, while females had a median income of $18,917.

Major highways

US 131 goes through the town from southwest to northeast. Northeast of Mancelona, the highway continues through Alba, Boyne Falls, and Walloon Lake before ending at US 31 in downtown Petoskey. To the southwest, US 131 travels through Kalkaska and Fife Lake, then turns south and becomes a freeway, continuing toward Cadillac, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo.

M-66 is a north–south highway that passes through Mancelona. To the north, M-66 goes through East Jordan and ends at Charlevoix. To the south, M-66 travels with US 131 to Kalkaska, then continues south to the east of US 131, passing through Lake City, Marion, and eventually reaching Ionia and Sturgis.

M-88 is an east–west highway that starts in downtown Mancelona. The entire route of M-88 is within Antrim County, passing through Bellaire and Central Lake before ending at US 31 in Eastport.

C-38 is an east–west county-designated highway that extends east from M-88. East of Mancelona, C-38 enters Otsego County.