Reed City, Michigan

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,425 people, 1,007 households, and 582 families living in the city. The population density was 1,165.9 inhabitants per square mile (450.2/km²). There were 1,136 housing units at an average density of 546.2 per square mile (210.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% White, 1.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 1,007 households, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 36.1 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.4% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.9% male and 55.1% female.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,430 people, 999 households, and 609 families living in the city. The population density was 1,265.3 per square mile (488.7/km²). There were 1,090 housing units at an average density of 567.5 per square mile (219.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.84% White, 1.07% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 999 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,756, and the median income for a family was $42,340. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $25,263 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,889. About 10.9% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

Two of the state's premier rail trails intersect in the city:

• White Pine Trail
• Pere Marquette Trail

The city is also at the crossroads of two US highways:

• US 10
• US 131

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between Grand Rapids and Petoskey, Michigan.[9]

The Pennsylvania Railroad ran trains from Grand Rapids to Cadillac, Petoskey and Mackinaw City on a route that includes land used now for the White Pine Trail, making stops in Reed City's union station; immediate connections in Grand Rapids with sleepers to eastern Indiana and Cincinnati were part of the schedule. Reed City was the most proximate PRR station to Idlewild, a significant African-American resort until the 1960s. In the final years service through town was reduced to summer only.[10] Passenger service ended between 1954 and 1955.[11][12]

The Pere Marquette Railway ran trains west from Reed City to Ludington and east to Saginaw, on a route that is included in the above cited rail trail. At Saginaw the trains were timed to meet with separate Bay City-originating trains to Detroit. The PM's successor, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway ended the Ludington to Saginaw trains in the latter months of 1949.[13][14]