Founded: 1869
First Settler: The first settler in Lapeer was Alvin N. Hart,
who was born in Cornwall, Connecticut on February
11, 1804. He came to Lapeer in 1831 and platted
the Village of Lapeer on November 8, 1833.
Population: 9,072 (2000 Census)
Registered Voters: 5,000
Median Age: 33.2
Demographics: 89.9% White,
6.0% African American, 3.3% Hispanic, .6% Asian,
and .5% American Indian (2000 Census)
3.7% of Lapeer residents speak a language other
then English
Growth Rate: 16.9% (10th highest
in Michigan for comparable cities)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3% (2000
Census)
Average Commute Time for City
Residents: 26.8 minutes
Most Common Employment:
Manufacturing 26.4%
Educational, Health 24.5%
Retail 10.3%
Size: 5.5392 sq. miles/14.349
sq. kilometers
Location: 43.04 degrees north
of the equator and 83.32 degrees west of the
prime meridian. Lapeer to Washington DC is 448
miles. The distance to the Michigan state capital
is 69 miles (as the crow flies).
City Commission: The City
Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall the
first and third Mondays of every month. The meetings
are attended by five commissioners the mayor
and the city manager.
Schools: City of Lapeer residents
are under the Lapeer Community Schools, which
includes 11 elementary schools, 1 junior high,
2 high schools, and 1 charter school. The board
of education meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday
of every month. The meeting places are rotated
among the district’s schools. The board holds
work sessions on the third Thursday of every
month at the administration building at M-24
and Genesee Street.
Higher Education: Mott Community
College, the University of Michigan-Flint, and
Baker College have classes at the former site
of the Oakdale state home that is located at
Genesse St. and DeMille Boulevard.
Housing: 52.2% housing owned,
47.7% rented.
5.4% vacancy rate
Historic Buildings: The City’s historic courthouse, built in
the mid-1800s, is Michigan’s oldest. Although it is no longer
used for court hearings, it has been preserved as a historic
landmark. Other historic buildings include the old post office,
several churches, City Hall, the Pix Theatre, the Marguerite
DeAngeli Library and the homes within the Piety Hill historic
district.
Important Residents: Prominent
Lapeer County residents included Governor John
T. Rich, Governor Moses Wisner, State Supreme
Court Chief Justice Joseph B. Moore, Congressman
Louis C. Cramton, and author Marguerite DeAngeli.
Parks and
Recreation: Lapeer operates the $5
million City of Lapeer Community Center, which
offers a swimming pool, indoor track and an
assortment of the latest exercise equipment.
There is also the 70,345 square-foot Polar
Palace Ice Arena on Davison Road. Outdoor enthusiasts
can bask in the glory of Mother Nature at one
of the City’s many parks, some of which are
Cramton Park on Genesee Street, Anrook Park
on Saginaw Street and Rowden Park on M-24.
The 181-acre park system offers tennis courts,
picnic areas, camping areas, playgrounds and
a pedestrian path. |
