Shields is an unincorporated community in Thomas Township, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes, but with no legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population of the CDP was 7,035 at the 2020 census.
The community of Shields is located on M-46/Gratiot Road just west of the Tittabawassee River.
History
A post office operated in Shields from August 15, 1894 until Dec 15, 1902.
The Shields brothers William and Arthur were born in 1826 and 1830 respectively in County Armagh, Ireland. Along with their family, they immigrated to Michigan settling in Thomas Township in 1842. The bachelor brothers settled on in section three. Eventually the southeastern part of the Township came to be known as the Shields area.
Paines is a place within James Township and the CDP located on Dutch Road between River Roads and Stroebel Roads. Paines was first settled in 1871 and named for A. B. Paine, a local brick manufacturer. It was a station at the junction of the Michigan Central and the Pere Marquette rail lines. A post office named "Painesville" was established on October 10, 1873, closed on May 29, 1876, and reopened on July 14, 1876. The office was renamed "Paines" on October 19, 1880 and continued until June 30, 1904.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (1.06%) is water.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Shields had a population of 7,035. The median age was 48.8 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.8 males age 18 and over.
92.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 7.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 3,043 households in Shields, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.4% were married-couple households, 13.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.