East Tawas, Michigan

East Tawas
City
City of East Tawas
Downtown East Tawas along Newman Street
Location of East Tawas, Michigan
Coordinates: 44°17′8″N 83°29′21″W / 44.28556°N 83.48917°W / 44.28556; -83.48917
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Iosco
Area[1]
• Total	3.29 sq mi (8.52 km2)
• Land	2.84 sq mi (7.36 km2)
• Water	0.45 sq mi (1.17 km2)
Elevation	584 ft (178 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	2,808
• Estimate (2012[3])	2,755
• Density	988.7/sq mi (381.7/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	48730
Area code(s)	989
FIPS code	26-24420[4]
GNIS feature ID	0625264[5]

East Tawas is a city in Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,808 at the 2010 census.

History

George P. Perkins, a representative of a New York lumber firm, began this place in 1862. It was incorporated as a village in 1887 and as a city in 1895. The adjacent community of Tawas Beach was annexed into East Tawas in 1922.^[6]

Geography

• According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.29 square miles (8.52 km²), of which 2.84 square miles (7.36 km²) is land and 0.45 square miles (1.17 km²) is water.^[1]
• It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Climate

Major highways

• US 23 has been designated the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, and runs along (or parallels) the Lake Huron shore.
• M-55, accessed through Tawas City, is one of only three state highways that extend across the U.S. state of Michigan's Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. Its east end terminates in Tawas City at the junction of US 23.^[8]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,808 people, 1,332 households, and 756 families residing in the city. The population density was 988.7 inhabitants per square mile (381.7/km²). There were 1,728 housing units at an average density of 608.5 per square mile (234.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 1,332 households of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.2% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.70.

The median age in the city was 50.9 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.7% were from 25 to 44; 31.2% were from 45 to 64; and 27.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.2% male and 54.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 2,951 people, 1,382 households, and 815 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,026.0 per square mile (395.6/km²). There were 1,691 housing units at an average density of 587.9 per square mile (226.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.80% White, 0.03% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 1,382 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,229, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $30,375 versus $22,538 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,168. About 6.9% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Downtown

Vintage traffic signal in downtown East Tawas

Although a small city, East Tawas has a very lively downtown area. The main downtown area is generally defined as the six-block area between Sawyer, Lincoln, Bay, and Main Street, with Newman Street serving as the main thoroughfare. Downtown East Tawas is home to many small shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as a movie theater.

Local attractions

Lake Huron from Tawas Point State Park

The city is on Tawas Bay, and Tawas Point State Park is nearby, which is considered to be an especially good locale for birding.^[11]

The Tawas Point Light is located there.^[12]

One of the main Winter attractions in the Tawases is known as Perchville USA. When winter freezes Tawas Bay each year, hundreds of perch fisherman move fishing shanties onto the bay's ice, making Perchville USA, the largest non-land community festival in Northeast Michigan. Perchville was created by a Harold Gould, a local druggist. Today it is organized by the local Chamber of Commerce. This celebration was created to draw tourism to the town for ice fishing. Visitors would be able to rent ice shanties, which were set up on the ice in the form of a town. Perchville's annual Chili Cookoff Competition began eighteen years ago, and is still one of the main attractions to this day. One of the most popular events at Perchville is the Polar Bear Swim. This year (2012) marked the 62nd annual Perchville USA. Silver Valley Winter Sports Festival was originally combined with Perchville, but the former was discontinued.^[13]

Near the center of East Tawas you will find Newman Street. Newman Street offers many activities and is where many local businesses are situated, such as the Tawas Bay Movie Theater, Ben Franklin, the Village Chocolatier, Mr. Jack’ss, Wingin’ It, Branham’s Jewelry, Tawas Community Center, and many others. These businesses contribute to the economy of the city. They also support the local area schools. During summer, Newman Street hosts many street festivals. One of the most popular festivals is Tuesday Night Live, where a band plays as people dance in the street. Also, during Tawas’ annual Summerfest, a car show and street dance is held on Newman Street. Amid the Summerfest, the street hosts a 1 and 5 mile run, plus a kid’s bike and animal parade. Newman Street is full of cultural and fun activities.

Education

Tawas Area Schools is a local public school district. Holy Family School is a private parochial elementary school in East Tawas serving approximately 107 students in grades K-7. It is affiliated with the Diocese of Gaylord of the Roman Catholic Church, and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association.

Media

Notes

External links

• Clarke Historical Library, Bibliography on Iosco County
• City of East Tawas
• Diocese of Gaylord

Municipalities and communities of Iosco County, Michigan, United States
County seat: Tawas City
Cities	East Tawas Tawas City Whittemore
Charter townships	Au Sable Oscoda
General law townships	Alabaster Baldwin Burleigh Grant Plainfield Reno Sherman Tawas Wilber
CDPs	Au Sable Oscoda Sand Lake
Other unincorporated communities	Hale Long Lake

Coordinates: 44°16′46″N 83°29′25″W / 44.27944°N 83.49028°W / 44.27944; -83.49028