Brown City is a city in Lapeer and Sanilac counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population was 1,302. The city is mostly located in Sanilac County, with a small part of the city in Lapeer County.

History

Brown City was founded in 1879 as a stop on the Port Huron and Northwestern Railway, which later became part of the Pere Marquette Railroad. The area grew quickly into an important place for shipping lumber and grains. Brown City became a village in 1887 and a city in 1907. The Marquette Flyer offered early train service for passengers and mail between Detroit and Ludington. In the 1920s, the Pere Marquette was taken over by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and officially joined it on June 6, 1947.

The city was governed under the 4th Class City Act. In 1998, city residents voted to change its status from a 4th class city.

On April 30, 1998, the Huron and Eastern Railway bought the Port Huron Subdivision from Saginaw to Brown City from CSX. Brown City has a long history of reported Bigfoot sightings. The railway line southeast of Brown City still exists, connecting to the Avoca grain elevator, but it has not been used since the Huron and Eastern Railway acquired it.

Geography

The United States Census Bureau reports that the city has a total area of 1.09 square miles (2.82 km ), which is all land.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the city had 1,325 people, 524 households, and 350 families. The population density was 1,215.6 people per square mile (469.3 per square kilometer). There were 587 housing units, with an average density of 538.5 per square mile (207.9 per square kilometer). The racial makeup included 97.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals made up 2.3% of the population.

Of the 524 households, 35.5% had children under 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples, 16.8% had a female householder without a husband, 4.0% had a male householder without a wife, and 33.2% were non-families. Twenty-seven point five percent of households had only one person, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 people, and the average family size was 3.07 people.

The median age in the city was 37.3 years. Twenty-seven point eight percent of residents were under 18, 8.4% were 18 to 24, 24.6% were 25 to 44, 24.5% were 45 to 64, and 14.9% were 65 or older. The gender distribution was 46.3% male and 53.7% female.

As of the 2000 census, the city had 1,334 people, 520 households, and 361 families. The population density was 1,247.3 people per square mile (481.6 per square kilometer). There were 562 housing units, with an average density of 525.5 per square mile (202.9 per square kilometer). The racial makeup included 97.90% White, 0.07% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.60% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals made up 3.30% of the population.

Of the 520 households, 34.8% had children under 18, 54.2% were married couples, 12.1% had a female householder without a husband, and 30.4% were non-families. Twenty-six point seven percent of households had only one person, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 people, and the average family size was 3.08 people.

In 2000, 28.6% of the population was under 18, 9.4% were 18 to 24, 29.2% were 25 to 44, 19.1% were 45 to 64, and 13.6% were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 89.6 males.

In 2010, the median household income was $33,906, and the median family income was $40,000. Males earned a median income of $36,750, while females earned $20,938. The per capita income was $15,929. Nine percent of families and 11.7% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under 18 and 11.9% of those 65 or older.