Gaines is a village in Genesee County in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

. The population was 380 at the 2010 census. The village is within Gaines Township.

History

The Village of Gaines area did not see a settler until 1856. The first passenger train passed through the future village site on July 4, 1856, and a post office, Gaines Station, was established that same year. In 1859, the village was platted. The

Grand Trunk Western Railroad The Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company is an American subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway operating in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Since a corporate restructuring in 1971, the railroad has been under CN's subsidiary holding ...

depot, built in 1884. The Village of Gaines was incorporated in 1875. The Gaines Train Station saw its last passengers boarded and disembarked in 1957. In the 1970s, a business occupied the building. After setting vacant for years, the S.O.S. – Save Our Station group of Gaines residents organized in 1992 to restore the station. SOS later incorporated as the nonprofit Gaines Station Incorporated. After $100,000 in repairs in 1997, the station was turned over to the village. The station was then began its use as the smallest branch of he Genesee District Library. On July 15, 2017, a Michigan Historical Marker was unveiled for the station. In August 2016, the village's lone police officer retired. By March 9, 2017, the village council formally dissolved the police department and Gaines Township purchased the police car.

Government

The

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...

was incorporated under the General Law Village Act provisions making its government form a weak mayor-council. The governing body is the Village Council which comprises the Village President, its presiding officer, and 6 trustees. Treasurer and Clerk are elected. The trustee are elected for two-year terms. The elected officers are elected to one year terms. Police services are provided by Gaines Township. Village Council

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the village has a total area of , all land. It lies within Gaines Township at the border with Argentine Township.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2010, there were 380 people, 154 households, and 98 families living in the village. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 171 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 97.9%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 0.3%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.1% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 154 households, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age in the village was 38.5 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 12.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 366 people, 143 households, and 98 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 155 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 93.72%

, 1.91%

, 0.55% Asian, 1.37% from

, and 2.46% from two or more races.

of any race were 1.64% of the population. There were 143 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.99. In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males. The median income for a household in the village was $44,375, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $50,625 versus $22,500 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the village was $19,790. About 8.5% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

{{authority control Villages in Genesee County, Michigan Villages in Michigan Populated places established in 1856 1856 establishments in Michigan