Dowagiac ( ) is a city in Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,879 at the 2010 census. It is part of the South Bend– Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Dowagiac is situated at the corner of four townships: Wayne Township to the northeast, LaGrange Township to the southeast, Pokagon Township to the southwest, and Silver Creek Township to the northwest. The city name comes from the

Potawatomi The Potawatomi , also spelled Pottawatomi and Pottawatomie (among many variations), are a Native American people of the western Great Lakes region, upper Mississippi River and Great Plains. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a m ...

word ''dewje'og'' meaning "fishing

ear home An ear is the organ that enables hearing and, in mammals, body balance using the vestibular system. In mammals, the ear is usually described as having three parts—the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear consists ...

water". Dowagiac is the headquarters of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and is also contained within the

reservation __NOTOC__ Reservation may refer to: Places Types of places: * Indian reservation, in the United States * Military base, often called reservations * Nature reserve Government and law * Reservation (law), a caveat to a treaty * Reservation in India, ...

History

Dowagiac was first platted in 1848. It was incorporated as a village in 1863 and as a city in 1877. Dowagiac gained national attention in June 1964 after police began investigating multiple reports of what became known as the

Dewey Lake Monster The Dewey Lake Monster, also known as the Sister Lakes Sasquatch, in Michigan folklore, is purported to be an ape-like creature, similar to descriptions of Bigfoot, that was allegedly sighted in the summer of 1964 near Dewey Lake and Sister Lakes ...

. In 1854, Dowagiac was the final destination for the first group of orphans brought to the Midwest from New York City on the Orphan Train.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Dowagiac Woods Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary, commonly referred to as Dowagiac Woods, is a woods located in Cass County, Michigan. It is maintained and preserved by the Michigan Nature Association, known as "MNA". History These woods were virtually unknown ...

Nature Sanctuary, commonly referred to as

, a woods located in Cass, is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Michigan's exceptional natural habitats and extraordinary and endangered plants and animals. The

Dowagiac River The Dowagiac River is a southwesterly flowing U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed May 19, 2011 stream in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is tributary to ...

flows from the stream which rises as the "Dowagiac Drain" in central Decatur Township in southern Van Buren County, Michigan. It is joined first by the "Red Run" and then by the "Lake of the Woods Drain" near the southern edge of Hamilton Township, it becomes the "Dowagiac River" before entering Wayne Township in Cass County. North of the city of Dowagiac, the river passes through the "Dowagiac Swamp". Just west of Dowagiac, the river is joined by its principal tributary, the "Dowagiac Creek".

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,879 people, 2,337 households, and 1,463 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,674 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 73.5% White, 14.3% African American, 3.0% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 2.4% from other races, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population. There were 2,337 households, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age in the city was 32 years. 29.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 12.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,147 people, 2,421 households, and 1,542 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,631 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 76.95% White, 15.63% African American, 2.02% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 1.59% from other races, and 3.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population. There were 2,421 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were

living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.06. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,926, and the median income for a family was $33,443. Males had a median income of $28,534 versus $22,282 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,659. About 14.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those aged 65 or over.

Transportation

Air

Dowagiac Municipal Airport has a long paved runway for private pilots with a turf runway as well.

Highways

The city is at the junction of

M-51 M51 or M-51 may refer to: * M-51 (Michigan highway), a state highway in Michigan * M51 highway (Russia) * M51 (Cape Town), a Metropolitan Route in Cape Town, South Africa * M51 Skysweeper, an anti-aircraft gun * M51 MACI mine * M51 SLBM, a French ...

and M-62. M-51 connects with Niles to the southwest and with I-94 to the northeast. M-62 connects with

Cassopolis Cassopolis is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Cass County. It is located mostly in LaGrange Township with a small portion extending east into Penn Township. The village and county are named after statesman Lewis ...

eight miles (13 km) to the southeast and with M-140 nine miles (14 km) to the west.

Bus

One of the oldest dial-a-ride services in Michigan, Dowagiac DART began service in June 1975 with a three-bus fleet. The service is provided to the community of Dowagiac with service extended out to Southwest Michigan College. The service is provided by the city administration and is operated from a multi-modal terminal located on an Amtrak line. In its former life, the building was originally a Michigan Central, and later a Penn Central, train station. The building has been preserved and is maintained by the City of Dowagiac.

Rail

Dowagiac is served by Amtrak trains with daily service to Chicago and Detroit. The historic depot is located at 200 Depot Drive in the downtown area. Baggage cannot be checked at this location; however, up to two suitcases in addition to any personal items such as briefcases, purses, laptop bags, and infant equipment are allowed aboard as carry-ons. Also, this historical train depot is where the first orphans from the orphan train were dropped off and adopted.

Education

Dowagiac is served by the

Dowagiac Union School District Dowagiac ( ) is a city in Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,879 at the 2010 census. It is part of the South Bend– Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Dowagiac is situated at the corner of four t ...

, consisting of the following schools: * Justus Gage Elementary * Kincheloe Elementary * Patrick Hamilton Elementary * Sister Lakes Elementary * Dowagiac Middle School * Dowagiac Union High School Dowagiac is also home to

Southwestern Michigan College Southwestern Michigan College is a public community college with its main campus near Dowagiac, Michigan. It also has a campus just outside the city limits of Niles, Michigan. History Southwestern Michigan College was founded on November 19, ...

. SMC is a two-year school that offers on-campus housing.

Notable people

* Dave Behrman – Michigan State and Buffalo Bills football player, AFL and NFL first-round draft pick in 1963 *

Philo D. Beckwith P.D. (Philo D.) Beckwith (1835–1889) was the founder of Round Oak Stove Company (later officially known as the Estate of P.D. Beckwith Inc.) and Mayor of Dowagiac, Michigan. Born in 1835 in New York City, Philo D. Beckwith settled in Dowagiac, ...

– Founder of

Round Oak Stove Company The Round Oak Stove Company was founded in Dowagiac, Michigan in 1871 by Philo D. Beckwith. Beckwith cast his first stove around 1867 to heat his struggling foundry and shortly after, the Michigan Central Railroad ordered the heaters for its depo ...

and Mayor of Dowagiac *

Dickinson Bishop Dickinson H. Bishop (March 24, 1887 – February 16, 1961) was an American businessman who traveled on board the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, RMS ''Titanic'' while on his honeymoon with bride Helen, ''née'' Walton. They both ...

– Businessman and ''Titanic'' sinking survivor * David Cargo – Governor of New Mexico 1967–71 * Wally Fromhart—Notre Dame football player *

Billi Gordon Wilbert Anthony Gordon Jr. (September 2, 1954 – February 22, 2018), better known as Billi Gordon, was an American author, television writer, neuroscientist, actor and model,Seaver, Linda. ''The Secret of Her Excess'' ''Oakland Tribune'' (8-13-87 ...

– Model, actor, author, screenwriter, Doctor of Functional Human Brain Research *

James Heddon James is a common English language surname and given name: * James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambigua ...

– Inventor of the artificial fishing lure * Sean Hill – NFL player * Judith Ivey – Tony Award-winning actress *

Franz Jackson Franz Jackson (November 1, 1912 – May 6, 2008) was an American saxophonist and clarinetist of the Chicago jazz school. Early life Jackson was born in Rock Island, Illinois, United States on November 1, 1912. "He received his first lessons on sa ...

- Saxophonist and clarinet player * Webb Miller (journalist) – Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and author * Adolph Otto Niedner – Custom gunsmith and wildcat cartridge inventor and Mayor of Dowagiac * Carrie Newcomer – Singer-songwriter * Kenneth Porter – World War I pilot, credited with 5 enemy aircraft destroyed *

Donavon F. Smith Donavon Francis Smith (October 2, 1922 – September 10, 1974) was a United States Army Air Forces flying ace during the World War II. He accrued 5.5 victories in the war. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1973 at the rank of lieuten ...

– World War II pilot and USAF lieutenant general, credited with 5.5 enemy aircraft destroyed *

William Alden Smith William Alden Smith (May 12, 1859 – October 11, 1932) was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan. After the 1912 sinking of the ''Titanic'', Smith chaired the Senate hearings into the disaster. The audience ...

– US Senator * Chris Taylor – wrestler, Olympic medalist *

Emery Valentine Emery (or Emory) Valentine (1858 – September 9, 1930) was an American politician and the sixth mayor of Juneau, Alaska, from 1908 to 1912 and from 1917 to 1919. He was also a miner, goldsmith, jeweller, assayer, gunsmith, watchmaker, ar ...

– Alaskan statesman and businessman