Kalkaska, Michigan

thumb|right|250px|Kalkaska Village Offices

Kalkaska ( ) is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of and only incorporated municipality in Kalkaska County. Its population was 2,132 at the 2020 census, an increase from 2,020 at the 2010 census.

Kalkaska is part of the Traverse City metropolitan area. The village has hosted the National Trout Festival since 1935.

History

thumb|right|250px|U.S. Post Office in Kalkaska

In 1872, Albert A. Abbott arrived here from Decatur, and the following year, platted his land and became the first postmaster. In 1874, Kalkaska became a station on a new Pennsylvania Railroad line from Walton to Petoskey. Today, this line is part of the Great Lakes Central Railroad.

On July 5, 1908, a fire began in the middle of the business block and burned most of the stores. Local photographer E. L. Beebe took a number of photographs of the fire; the resulting postcards were widely sold and can still be found today. Two years later, another fire started in downtown Kalkaska. Again, in 1925, downtown Kalkaska was devastated by the largest fire since the fire of 1908.

In 1916, noted author Ernest Hemingway visited and fished in Kalkaska, and later immortalized the town in his story "The Battler". A historical marker has been placed at the nearby Rugg Pond, on the Rapid River, where Hemingway reportedly fished one night from the power house.

On July 10, 1951, the Kalkaska State Bank was robbed by an armed man, who fled and later attempted to escape on foot through a nearby swampy area. After three days of what was termed the largest manhunt in Northern Michigan history, involving the FBI and local and state authorities, the gunman, Raymond J. Turcotte, who had a long string of prior convictions, including manslaughter, was captured south of the town. Turcotte confessed to the bank robbery and served 18 years in the Michigan State Prison in Jackson, including a term for escape in 1961.

Discovery of natural gas and oil in the area during the 1970s led to significant growth for the village, but the growth has since shifted toward tourism.

In 1993, the Kalkaska schools made national headlines when a financial crisis resulted in a two-month-long closure. Subsequent funding reform improved the outlook for Kalkaska and similar small rural districts in Michigan.

In 2014, Walmart announced plans to open a store in Kalkaska. Previously, the closest store was in Traverse City, over 20 miles away. A debate in Kalkaska ensued on whether the community's small-town character could be preserved. The store was never built due to Walmart's decision to restructure growth plans.

The Record Eagle reported in 2019 that Kalkaska was poised for substantial growth due to housing shortages in the Traverse City area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which are covered by water.

The North Branch of the Boardman River flows through the south of the village. The river continues west into neighboring Grand Traverse County, turns north, and empties into Grand Traverse Bay, a bay of Lake Michigan. Just to the north of the village, though, are the headwaters of the Little Rapid River. This stream also flows into the Grand Traverse Bay, although it is part of the Chain of Lakes watershed.

Kalkaska experiences a notable amount of snowfall, as it is located in a snowbelt that receives heavy amounts of lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan.

Climate

This climatic region has large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Kalkaska has a humid continental climate, Dfb on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Kalkaska had a population of 2,132. The median age was 42.7 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.8 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 899 households in Kalkaska, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.4% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, 2,020 people, 871 households, and 482 families resided in the village. The population density was . The 1,015 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 95.6% White, 0.6% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.8% of the population.

Of the 871 households, 29.2% had children under 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.7% were not families. About 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the village was 37.9 years; 23.4% of residents were under 18; 9.8% were between 18 and 24; 25.3% were 25 to 44; 24.3% were 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census

The Kalkaska area is known as a fishing destination with inland lakes and the Boardman, Rapid, and Manistee Rivers. Kalkaska has held the National Trout Festival in the last week of April each year since 1933. A giant statue of a brook trout is in the town square. The New York Times featured author Jim Harrison wrote about the festival in his 1991 book Just Before Dark: Collected Non-fiction.

Arts and culture

Tourists are attracted to the area to visit the surrounding lakes (including Torch Lake) and rivers such as the Jordan River, Rapid River, and Manistee River. Kalkaska offers two major festivals, the National Trout Festival held at the end of April to honor the opening of trout season, and the Kalkaska County Agricultural Fair, held the first week of August, to showcase local livestock from 4-H youth clubs, handicrafts from residents, and entertainment. Fall foliage color tours are also popular with visitors.

The first weekend of November brings with it the Iceman Cometh biking challenge. Kalkaska hosts the starting line for a 27.2-mile off-road biking race that runs from the western edge of the village to Traverse City along the VASA Trail. The turnout for the race very easily doubles the population within the village, numbering in the several thousands. For mountain biking enthusiasts, this is a famous race, and completing the race is an achievement in itself.

The village is home to Chalker Park and the Imagination Station. The Mill Pond Park is a small park with a pavilion.

The Kalkaska Area Recreation Transportation (KART) Trail is a nonmotorized pathway that encircles the county's governmental, educational, and recreational campuses. Expansion plans for it include connecting it with the TART Trail.

Kalkaska is home to the Kalkaska Battlers who play in the Kaliseum. A recreational facility in the village.

Education

Schools in Kalkaska are administered by Kalkaska Public Schools. One high school is in the district, Kalkaska High School.

Infrastructure

Transportation

thumb|Kalkaska City Airport

Airport

Kalkaska City Airport has a paved runway.

Major highways

U.S. Route 131
M-66
M-72

Notable people

Emil Frisk (1874–1922), professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and St. Louis Browns from 1899 to 1907
Renee Raudman, voice and television actress
Ron Ryckman Sr., member of the Kansas Senate
Betty Wanless (1928–1995), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
Ron Winter, former NCAA and NFL official

References

External links

Kalkaska Village website