Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It serves as the county seat of Isabella County, which is located in Central Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population of Mount Pleasant was 21,688. The city is surrounded by Union Charter Township but operates independently as a separate political entity.

A portion of the city, which includes 8,741 people, is located within the Isabella Indian Reservation. This reservation is the home of the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation. The tribe’s Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, located in nearby Chippewa Township, is also within the reservation’s boundaries.

Mount Pleasant is home to the main campuses of Central Michigan University, one of the largest universities in the state with 20,000 students at Mount Pleasant, and Mid Michigan Community College. The student population nearly doubles the city’s population during the academic year, making it a college town. Even though the city is named Mount Pleasant, the surrounding area is mostly flat and does not have any mountains or hills.

History

Until the middle of the 1800s, this area was home to groups of the Ojibwa people, who were called the Chippewa by English speakers. In the early 1800s, these groups gave up large areas of land to the United States government, which wanted to allow European Americans to settle there.

The federal Graduation Act of 1854 let settlers buy land from the government at lower prices. The first white settlers arrived in what became Mount Pleasant. Under the Treaty of 1855, Ojibwa groups (Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation) from Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black rivers were moved to land in Isabella County (Isabella Indian Reservation).

Many non-Native people soon moved to Mount Pleasant, expecting good relationships with Native people. The Homestead Act of 1862 also brought many new settlers to Mount Pleasant, including European immigrants. These settlers worked to build homes and farms on free land provided by the U.S. government in exchange for developing it.

The village and future city grew. In 1875, a serious fire started at the Fancher Building on the corner of Broadway and Main streets. It spread east along Broadway, destroying several buildings. Seven years later, another fire damaged buildings on the south side of Broadway.

In 1879, the first library in Mount Pleasant was created. Named "The Library, Literary, and Musical Association of Mount Pleasant," its first books came from the personal collections of the board members.

In 1890, W.A. Jordan founded Mount Pleasant Business College. In 1892, the school expanded and changed its name to Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, adding teacher training to its curriculum. This school became the start of what is now Central Michigan University. The Mount Pleasant main campus is the largest of eight CMU locations in Michigan, with more than 10,000 undergraduate students living on campus or in campus-affiliated housing in the fall of 2022.

On January 3, 1893, the U.S. government opened an Indian boarding school called the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. Native American children were forced to stop using their cultural traditions and instead learn English and adopt European-American customs. The school operated for 40 years and closed in 1933.

Since the late 1900s and early 2000s, the role of such schools has been reviewed, and the harm caused to children has been recognized. Native American groups have worked to help people understand and heal from these experiences. On July 17, 2009, the White Bison Wellbriety Journey for Forgiveness visited Mount Pleasant to acknowledge this part of the city’s history. The boarding school building was later abandoned, but the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation bought it from the state of Michigan.

In 1928, large amounts of oil were found in the Mount Pleasant area. A farm owned by the Lilly family was the first to produce oil, making hundreds of barrels each day. Although oil supplies eventually decreased, this history is shown in the Mount Pleasant city seal, which includes an image of an oil drill. Mount Pleasant High School’s mascot, the Oiler, also reflects the city’s oil history. The city became known as the "Oil Capital of Michigan."

Geography

The city has a total area of 7.83 square miles (20.28 km²). Out of this, 7.74 square miles (20.05 km²) is land, and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km²) is water. The Chippewa River flows through the city. Mount Pleasant is located about 61 miles (98 km) north of Lansing, Michigan's state capital, along US 127.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Mount Pleasant had a population of 21,688. The median age was 24.1 years. 14.0% of residents were under the age of 18, and 10.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,986 households in Mount Pleasant, of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 25.7% were married-couple households, 28.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 8,956 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%, and the rental vacancy rate was 9.7%.

As of the census of 2010, there were 26,016 people, 8,376 households, and 3,100 families living in the city. The population density was 3,361.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,297.8/km²). There were 8,981 housing units at an average density of 1,160.3 per square mile (448.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 3.9% African American, 2.0% Native American, 3.0% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 8,376 households, of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 63.0% were non-families. 31.6% 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 2.35, and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 22 years. 11% of residents were under the age of 18; 53.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.8% were from 25 to 44; 11.9% were from 45 to 64; and 7.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,946 people, 8,449 households, and 3,126 families living in the city. The population density was 3,327.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,284.6/km²). There were 8,878 housing units at an average density of 1,138.5 per square mile (439.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.12% White, 3.67% African American, 1.54% Native American, 2.85% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.

There were 8,449 households, out of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 63.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 11.5% under the age of 18, 54.1% from 18 to 24, 16.9% from 25 to 44, 10.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

The median

Transportation

• US 127 is an important road that goes from north to south, linking cities like Lansing and Jackson in the south and Clare and Grayling in the north.
• Bus. US 127 (Mission Street) is a circular road that goes through the middle of the city, connecting to US 127 at both ends.
• M-20 goes east toward Midland and Bay City and west toward Big Rapids.
• Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport is 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) to the northeast of the central business district.

Education

• Central Michigan University
• Mid Michigan Community College – Mount Pleasant Campus
• Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
• Mount Pleasant Public Schools, which includes Mount Pleasant High School
• Sacred Heart Academy, a private Catholic school

Local media

• The Morning Sun (Published every day)
• Central Michigan Life (Published on Mondays and Thursdays during the school year)
• The Pulse – also called Central Michigan Pulse (Published weekly on Thursdays)

• WMMI (830 AM) – Country music (based in Shepherd)
• WCMU (89.5 FM) – CMU Public Radio
• WMHW-FM (91.5 FM) – CMU College Student Radio/The Mountain (Adult Album Alternative)
• WCEN-FM (94.5 FM) – The Moose – Country music (based in Hemlock; previously located in Mount Pleasant)
• WCFX (95.3 FM) – 95.3 CFX Today's Best Music – Top 40 (based in Clare)
• W266BU (101.1 FM) – CMU College Student Radio/The Beat (Rhythmic Contemporary) (repeats the HD2 signal from WMHW-FM)
• WCZY-FM (104.3 FM) – My 104.3 – Adult Hits

• WCMU (Channel 14) – PBS

Notable people

• James "Gerbs" Bauer, astronomer
• Mark Beard, racing driver
• Ryan Brehm, three-time NCAA champion golfer
• Paul Carey, baseball broadcaster, Detroit Tigers
• Tom Crean, college basketball coach
• Dick Enberg, sports broadcaster
• John Engler, former Governor of Michigan
• Isaac A. Fancher, mayor of Mount Pleasant and state politician
• Cindy Figg-Currier, pro golfer
• William S. Hammack, engineer and YouTube personality
• Len Kasper, baseball broadcaster, Chicago Cubs
• Matt LaFleur, head coach, Green Bay Packers
• Mike LaFleur, head coach, Arizona Cardinals
• Grace McArthur, folk artist
• James E. McBryde, Michigan state legislator and salesman
• Sara Murray, CNN political correspondent
• Dan Pohl, pro golfer
• Kelly Robbins, pro golfer
• Dan Schafer, musician and songwriter
• John William Tebbel, journalist, editor, writer, teacher, and media historian.