In 1836 three entrepreneurs named Dibble, Kingsbury and Kendall bought 480 acres (1.9 km2) along the Thornapple River from Detroit banker Eurotas P. Hastings. The three platted the area into lots, and soon a small community arose. In 1843, the state legislature designated Hastings as the County Seat of Barry County. The first paper, the Barry County Pioneer, began publishing in 1851, and a second paper, the Republican Banner, began in 1856. The latter publication, a weekly paper published on Thursdays, continues to be published as the Hastings Banner.
Hastings was incorporated as a village in 1855, with a population of around 300, and on March 11, 1871, Hastings officially became a city. The Barry County Courthouse, which is still in use today, was built in 1893. The city grew slowly, reaching 6,500 people in 1960 and remaining nearly flat through 1990.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.28 square miles (13.68 km2), of which 5.20 square miles (13.47 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.[6] The Thornapple River passes through the city from east to west.
As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 7,350 people, 2,910 households, and 1,849 families living in the city. The population density was 1,413.5 inhabitants per square mile (545.8/km2). There were 3,231 housing units at an average density of 621.3 per square mile (239.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.
There were 2,910 households, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% 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 3.07.
The median age in the city was 36.2 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 7,095 people, 2,759 households, and 1,826 families living in the city. The population density was 1,353.3 inhabitants per square mile (522.5/km2). There were 2,898 housing units at an average density of 552.8 per square mile (213.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.14% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 2,759 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% 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 3.08.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,033, and the median income for a family was $44,886. Males had a median income of $35,226 versus $24,727 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,042. About 5.9% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Each April, Hastings hosts a three-day jazz festival.[12]
Hastings is home to The Fair Ground Festival, an annual music festival. [13]
Hastings Live provides three months of concerts and children's programming each summer.[14]
The Hastings Performing Arts Center opened in 2019 and hosts concerts and programming year round.[15]
The annual Barry-Roubaix cycling in Hastings was founded in 2013.[16]
St. Rose Of Lima is a Catholic elementary school offering grades K-6 as well as a licensed preschool program.
Barry County Christian School
Community College
Kellogg Community College (with its main campus in Battle Creek, Michigan) maintains a regional campus at the Fehsenfeld Center in Hastings since 1996.[17]
^"Station: Hastings, MI". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
