Birch Run was established in 1852 as a station on the Pere Marquette Railroad. It was given a post office in 1954. In 1954, it was incorporated as a village.[4]
Birch Run was founded as a station on the Pere Marquette Railroad by John Moore, its first postmaster, in 1852. It was named after its creek, which runs through a large birch area. In 1863, the town was renamed Deer Lick and remained so until 1868 when it reverted to Birch Run. Birch Run was incorporated as a village in 1955.[5]
Birch Run's athletic teams are known as the Panthers.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.91 square miles (4.95 km2), of which 1.89 square miles (4.90 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[8]
As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 1,555 people, 655 households, and 398 families living in the village. The population density was 822.8 inhabitants per square mile (317.7/km2). There were 714 housing units at an average density of 377.8 per square mile (145.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 93.9% White, 1.1% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population.
There were 655 households, of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.99.
The median age in the village was 34.6 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 12.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,653 people, 699 households, and 459 families living in the village. The population density was 861.5 inhabitants per square mile (332.6/km2). There were 726 housing units at an average density of 378.4 per square mile (146.1/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.64% White, 0.42% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.91% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.27% of the population.
There were 699 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $41,685, and the median income for a family was $48,553. Males had a median income of $35,547 versus $28,512 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,631. About 3.8% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those of the age 65, or over.
Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN0-8143-1838-X. ISBN978-0814318386.
