Reese is a village in
Tuscola and
Saginaw
Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greate ...
counties 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 ...
of
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 ...
. Located almost entirely in Tuscola County's
Denmark Township, the village includes only a tiny portion of
Blumfield Township
Blumfield Township is a civil township of Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 Census, the township population was 1,960.
History
Blumfield Township was established in 1853. It was the site of one sawmill and several f ...
in Saginaw County. The population was 1,454 at the
2010 census.
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
An economy is an area of th ...
, the village has a total area of , all land.
History
The area of what is the village of Reese today was first settled in 1865 when Mrs. Louisa Woodruff and her son built the first home (near the current intersection of Reese and Saginaw roads.) The Saginaw-Watrousville plank road was opened in 1871, which increased access to the community from Saginaw and the surrounding area. In 1873, the Detroit and Bay City railroads were built and Hudson B. Blackman plotted a tract of land adjacent to the original community (near the current intersection of Saginaw and Meridian streets) and named it Reese, in honor of Alvin H. Reese the railroad superintendent.
William B. Stark was born in 1831 in New York and came to Denmark, Tuscola County, in 1865. Six brothers and one sister came to live with him in the following years. They lived in tents in the dense forest of the area in what is now Camp Street. In 1873, William's brother, Joseph, came to the area and opened a hotel near the corner of Reese and Saginaw roads. He was the fourth family to move to the area, with the others being his brother, the Woodruffs, and the Rogerses.
In the fall of 1865, A.W. Gates, a stage proprietor from Saginaw, established a plank road from East Saginaw, through Reese, and into Watrousville. In 1871, Gates established a mail and stage route along the plank road. Gates kept his express and stage offices in Rogers’ hotel. The post office was also in Rogers’ hotel. The post office was named Gates in 1871 after the man responsible for its establishment. In the fall of 1871, Daniel Woodruff opened a grocery and provision store across the street from the hotel, and George Melatt and Archie Scott opened a blacksmith shop. In September 1872, Asenath M. Rogers, Roberts’ wife, surveyed and platted eleven acres and called it Gates.
In 1873, G. W. Reese brought the Detroit & Bay City Railroad through the town. Hudson B. Blackman then platted a tract of land adjoining Gates, and called it Reese, in honor of the railroad superintendent. The station, post office and town were then renamed after him. Thomas Haniford and Michael Doyle probably worked for that same railroad, and Eustius Gall, born in Switzerland, was an engineer. Blackman also donated the right–of–way and grounds on which the depot sat.
In 1875, Aseneth Rogers surveyed and platted an addition to the village of Gates. With the railroad station at the east end of town being called Reese, the post office of Gates at the west end eventually merged, the entire village and surrounding area becoming known as Reese. James N. Taylor, whom, according to the 1880 census was born in Virginia, served as postmaster from 1878 to at least 1883. In 1889, he and his family lost most of their possessions in a house fire.
In 1905 Gatestown was a common name of the west end of the community, still in use in 1915 and as late as 1940.
The village grew rapidly and within five years had a population of more than 300. In 1877, Reese was described as the railroad and trading point for a large section of farming country. Along with transporting people to and from the area the railroad would also transport timber, limestone and produce to markets throughout Michigan. In the early 1900s, the railroad also was used by local farmers to ship hogs and cattle to Detroit. Stages were also running daily from Saginaw to Caro. The depot served both railroads, as two train order boards were present. (One on a mast for the NYC and one on the building for the PM). Reese Crossing was not an interlocking but it was protected by a target that was set by approaching train crews. The east–west route is that of the Pere Marquette, and the north–south route going by the grain elevator is the Michigan Central branch line between Denmark Jct. and Bay City. The target was set vertical for a Michigan Central movement on the Denmark Jct. Branch.
In 1946, the
C&O Railway purchased the line. In 1985 the C&O combined with
B&O to form
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...
. In 1988, Huron and Eastern Railway purchased the rail line which is still in operation today. In 1993, Reese celebrated 120 years of rail service. Reese area farmers are one of the Huron & Eastern Railway's major shippers. Even today the farming success depends on efficient use of the rail system.
The first school meeting in the area was held in April 1866 and school was taught in a lumber shanty. There were 200 children of school age in the district. The original Reese School was built in 1880. The left side of the building was the original structure which was remodeled and increased in size in 1912. On April 25, 1913, a student set fire to the school and it burned to the ground. A new school was built in 1914 at a cost of $10,231. That structure remained, with renovations and additions, until it was torn down in 1962. it was replaced by the present middle school building which was erected from 1957 to 1966. In 1972, the gymnasium was refaced. At that time, the building housed both middle school and high school aged students. The present elementary school was built in 1957 and housed the lower grades. Total district enrollment was 1,308 students. The current Reese High School as built at a cost of $3,195,000 and opened for the 1976–77 school year housing grades 9-12. The middle school housed grades 6–8, with grades K-5 in the present elementary building. Total enrollment for the district was 1,358 students. The middle school closed at the end of the 2014–15 school year, with students moving into the high school building. RMS went up for sale in 2015 but after a year of no purchase agreements, it was demolished in 2016. There are also three parochial elementary schools that serve the district. In 1971, 44 teachers from the elementary and high school went on strike. After refusal to go back to work, the Reese Board of Education fired all 44. Reese 44 members were the first teachers in Michigan fired for demanding a fair contract by striking. This produced the phrase "Remember the Reese 44".
Remembering the Reese 44, MEA Voice, June 2008
/ref>
The area continues to be largely agricultural. Corn, soybeans, navy beans, and sugar beets are the major crops produced. There is very little dairy or other livestock.
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 1,454 people, 635 households, and 418 families residing 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 690 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 97.2% White
White is the lightness, 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 diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 0.7% African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.2% Native American
Native Americans or Native American may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North and South America and their descendants
* Native Americans in the United States
* Indigenous peoples in Cana ...
, 0.7% Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.8% 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 0.4% 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 for ...
or 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 4.3% of the population.
There were 635 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% 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, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.84.
The median age in the village was 42.8 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
2000 census
At the 2000 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 ...
, there were 1,375 people, 591 households and 397 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 627 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 98.47% White
White is the lightness, 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 diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 0.07% African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.29% Native American
Native Americans or Native American may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North and South America and their descendants
* Native Americans in the United States
* Indigenous peoples in Cana ...
, 0.07% Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.29% 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 0.80% 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 for ...
or 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 1.82% of the population. Reese's ancestral background is mainly German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
with 51%. 10% are Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent
* Polish chicken
*Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
, 9% English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national id ...
, 9% French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
, 8% Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
and 4% from the United States.
There were 591 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.86.
22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median household income
The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of ...
was $40,469 and the median family income was $50,556. Males had a median income of $40,938 compared with $25,250 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 $22,498. About 3.2% of families and 4.6% 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 ...
, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Reese Public Schools
Reese Public Schools is a school district in Michigan. The district serves areas in Bay County, Saginaw County, and Tuscola County.Gilchrist, Tom.Forty-two seek Reese principal's job, which goes to Hurst of Bridgeport-Spaulding" ''The Saginaw Ne ...
operates public schools. Reese Elementary School houses kindergarten thru fifth grade, and Reese High School houses sixth thru twelfth grades. In addition, Reese also has two parochial schools. St. Elizabeth is a Catholic School that has grades kindergarten thru eighth, and Trinity Lutheran also has grades kindergarten thru eighth. Also, nearby Richville, also in the Reese Public Schools district, has St. Michaels elementary school which is Lutheran, also housing kindergarten thru eighth grade.
References
{{authority control
Villages in Saginaw County, Michigan
Villages in Tuscola County, Michigan
Villages in Michigan
Populated places established in 1865