Shepherd is a village in Isabella County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,469 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Coe Township.
History
The community was first settled by lumberman Isaac Shepherd and others along the Salt River. It was given a post office named Salt River on August 8, 1857, and formally platted in 1866. By 1885, the railroads expanded into the area, and Salt River received a station named Shepherd, as it was located on Isaac Shepherd's estate. The name of the post office was changed to Shepherd on March 8, 1887. That same year, most of the community was destroyed by a fire but soon rebuilt and incorporated as a village in 1889.
In 1958, the village began hosting the annual Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival, which has grown to includes many exhibits, crafts, music, food, and a parade.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,515 people, 640 households, and 412 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 699 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 94.2% White, 0.5% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.
There were 640 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.
The median age in the village was 37.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.
2000 census
As of the census
Images
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File:Shepherd, Michigan historic image (1911).jpg|
File:Shepherd, Michigan post office.jpg|
File:Shepherd, MI village office.jpg|
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