Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is the county seat of Isabella County, which is part of Central Michigan. The population of Mount Pleasant was 21,688 as of the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Union Charter Township, but is politically independent.

Part of the city (with a population of 8,741) is located within the Isabella Indian Reservation, the base of the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation. The tribe's Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in nearby Chippewa Township is also within the reservation 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 population of the city during the academic year, making it a college town. Despite its name, the surrounding area is mostly flat and does not feature any mountains or hills.

History

thumb|left|1884 map of Mt. Pleasant.

Until the mid-19th century, this area was occupied by historical bands of the Ojibwa people, known by English speakers as the Chippewa. In the early decades of the century, they ceded vast amounts of land to the United States government, which wanted to enable settlement by European Americans.

The federal Graduation Act of 1854 allowed settlers to purchase land from the government at discount rates, and the first white settlers began to arrive in what became Mount Pleasant. Under the Treaty of 1855, the Ojibwa bands (Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation) from the Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black rivers were relocated to land in Isabella County (Isabella Indian Reservation).

Many non-natives soon moved to Mount Pleasant, predicting prosperous relations with the natives. The Homestead Act of 1862 also attracted many new settlers to Mount Pleasant, including new European immigrants, They worked to develop their stake on free lands offered by the US government in exchange for their labor in developing it for residence and agriculture.

The village and future city developed. In 1875, a devastating fire started at the Fancher Building on the north corner of Broadway and Main streets. It moved east down Broadway, destroying several buildings. Seven years later another fire would damage buildings on the south side of Broadway.

In 1879 the first library was established in Mt. Pleasant. Known as "The Library, Literary, and Musical Association of Mount Pleasant," its first books were made up of the personal book collections of the board members.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The Chippewa River runs through the city. Mount Pleasant is located approximately north of Lansing, Michigan's state capital, along US 127.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

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% of residents 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.

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.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 17,135 || 79.0%

|-

| Black or African American || 1,370 || 6.3%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 602 || 2.8%

|-

| Asian || 745 || 3.4%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 9 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 294 || 1.4%

|-

| Two or more races || 1,533 || 7.1%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,250 || 5.8%

|}

2010 census

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 . There were 8,981 housing units at an average density of . 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.

2000 census

As of the census

  • Central Michigan Life (Published Monday and Thursday during the academic year)
  • The Pulse - aka Central Michigan Pulse (Weekly - Published on Thursdays)

;Radio stations:

  • WMMI (830 AM) - Country music (licensed to 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 (licensed to Hemlock; formerly located in Mount Pleasant)
  • WCFX (95.3 FM) - 95-3 CFX Today's Best Music - Top 40 (licensed to Clare)
  • W266BU (101.1 FM) - CMU College Student Radio/The Beat (Rhythmic Contemporary) (repeats WMHW-FM's HD2 signal)
  • WCZY-FM (104.3 FM) - My 104-3 - Adult Hits

;TV stations:

  • WCMU (Channel 14) - PBS

Notable people

  • James "Gerbs" Bauer, astronomer
  • Mark Beard, racing driver
  • Ryan Brehm, 3-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. engineering, YouTube personality engineerguy
  • 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.

Sister cities

  • Okaya, Japan
  • Valdivia, Chile