East Lansing, Michigan

The city's downtown area is centered around Grand River Avenue, a wide, tree-lined boulevard that evolved out of the 19th-century plank road that connected Lansing to Detroit. Grand River Avenue and Michigan Avenue serve as a dividing line between the Michigan State University campus and the rest of the city. Immediately north of downtown are college town neighborhoods, where students and year-round residents can live close to the city's downtown and MSU's campus.

East Lansing has more than 25 neighborhoods, many of which have neighborhood associations that sponsor social events, attend to neighborhood issues, and often advocate for neighborhood interests in meetings of the City Council and city commissions.[10]

A section of the city has been designated a Historic District, and a Historic District Commission has been established by the City Council.[11] In addition, many landmark structures in the older neighborhoods have been identified within a Landmark Structures Historic District of the Historic Preservation Code.[12]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 48,579 people, 14,774 households, and 4,811 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,574.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,380.2/km²). There were 15,787 housing units at an average density of 1,161.7 per square mile (448.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.4% White, 10.6% Asian, 6.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 14,774 households, of which 13.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 67.4% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 21.6 years. 7.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 62.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 14.6% were from 25 to 44; 9.2% were from 45 to 64; and 6.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 46,525 people, 14,390 households, and 5,094 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,136.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,597.2/km²). There were 15,321 housing units at an average density of 1,362.2 per square mile (525.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.91% White, 8.21% Asian, 7.40% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.69% of the population.

There were 14,390 households, out of which 16.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.6% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 64.6% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 9.0% under the age of 18, 58.6% from 18 to 24, 16.4% from 25 to 44, 9.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,217, and the median income for a family was $61,985 (these figures had risen to $29,885 and $81,941 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[15]). Males had a median income of $43,767 versus $30,556 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,333. About 11.0% of families and 34.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Michigan State University, a member of the Big Ten Conference, is the largest education institution in the State of Michigan (9th largest in the United States),[19] reflecting East Lansing's history as a college town. MSU has more than 200 programs of study including both the allopathic College of Human Medicine (MD) and osteopathic College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) medical school and one veterinary medicine school (DVM), a law school (JD, L.L.M., and M.J.), and numerous PhD programs. There is also a Master of Arts in Technology (MAET) program.[20]

Nearby Lansing is home to several other colleges, including Thomas M. Cooley Law School which is the largest law school in the United States (by attendees), Davenport University, and Lansing Community College.

Most of the city is covered by the East Lansing Public Schools district.

Within Ingham County, portions of East Lansing are within the East Lansing school district, the Lansing School District, Okemos Public Schools, and Haslett Public Schools.[21]

Within Clinton County, portions of East Lansing are within the Lansing School District, the East Lansing School District, and Bath Community Schools.[22]

The East Lansing district has an enrollment of just over 3,400 students in grades K-12. The district also includes small portions of neighboring Lansing, Lansing Township, and Meridian Township. The district consists of six elementary schools, one middle school (MacDonald Middle School), and East Lansing High School. One fifth of the district's students come from outside of East Lansing through Michigan's Schools of Choice program.

• St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School,[23] 915 Alton Road
• Stepping Stones Montessori School,[24] 1370 Beech Street

Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides public bus transit throughout East Lansing, Lansing, and surrounding areas.

The Northern Tier Trail[25] is a shared-use pedestrian and bicycle path system connecting some parts of the northern half of the city; the Lansing River Trail begins on the campus of Michigan State University and extends west into downtown Lansing and then north towards the airport.

Amtrak and Indian Trails[26] provide intercity rail and bus services at the Capital Area Multimodal Gateway, which is located at 1240 South Harrison Road, within walking distance of the Michigan State University main campus. CATA transportation is also based out of the CAMG.

Amtrak offers daily service to East Lansing on its Port Huron to Union Station, Chicago train, the Blue Water. Two class one freight railroads serve the city including Canadian National Railway (CN) and CSX Transportation (CSXT).

Bus transportation is offered between East Lansing and Detroit Metro Airport twelve times daily by Michigan Flyer.

The Capital Region International Airport in nearby Lansing offers regional non-stop domestic flights; connections between East Lansing and the airport are offered by CATA (with a transfer in downtown Lansing); rental cars are also available at the airport.

Three major interstates and one U.S. Highway serve the East Lansing area including Interstate 96 (I-96), I-69, I-496, and U.S. Highway 127 (US 127).

• I-69 runs from Indianapolis, along the northern boundary of East Lansing, and east to Flint and Port Huron, connecting to Canada.
• BL I-69 is a loop route running through Lansing and East Lansing.
• US 127 is a north-south highway passing between Lansing and East Lansing, continuing northerly toward Clare and Grayling and southerly toward Jackson, Michigan and into Ohio.
• M-43 (Saginaw Street, Grand River Avenue) serves as a major east-west thoroughfare through the city. In downtown East Lansing, the route separates the central business district of the city from the campus of Michigan State University.
• M-143 (Michigan Avenue) is a route between M-43 and the Lansing city limit.

In 2007, the City of East Lansing celebrated its Centennial. The celebration began in January 2007 with a kick-off press conference at the Marriott Hotel in downtown East Lansing. Events throughout the year included an old fashion concert, a birthday party, and a historic homes tour. A fireworks show took place in August, along with many more events throughout the year.

Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University

• W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, is the oldest botanical garden in the United States
• Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens
• Beaumont Tower
• Red Cedar River
• Wharton Center for the Performing Arts (Great Hall and Pasant Theatre), the Fairchild Theatre,[31] and the MSU Auditorium[32] (Main Stage and Arena Theater)
• Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
• Abrams Planetarium[33] and the MSU Observatory
• Spartan Stadium
• Breslin Center
• MSU Forest Akers Golf Courses[34]
• MSU Pavilion
• MSU Federal Credit Union, the largest university-based credit union in the world
• CATA Bus Station
• Sparty is the nickname of The Spartan, a large statue representing the MSU mascot, a Spartan warrior. "Sparty" is frequently used as a landmark when giving directions on campus.
• The Rock is a large boulder, approximately five feet high, originally placed near Beaumont Tower by the Class of 1873, since relocated to a site northeast of the Farm Lane Bridge. It serves as a venue for student groups and is routinely graffitied by those groups.
• National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory

• Hannah Community Center (originally built as East Lansing High School, and later used as the junior high school, and then a middle school) featuring the Albert A. White Performing Arts Theatre[35]
• East Lansing Public Library[36]
• The "Habitrail", Hamster Cage, or Gerbil Cage, is a large multicolored parking structure near campus that resembles a Habitrail home for pet rodents. The controversial design resulted from the city's instructions to the architect that the building be "festive" and have "no brick".
• Saper Galleries, an award-winning art gallery serving clients internationally since 1978, is in a contemporary gallery building in downtown East Lansing on Albert Avenue.[37]
• Scene metrospace, the city sponsored art gallery located in the ground floor of the multicolored parking structure
• East Lansing Family Aquatic Center[38]
• Trowbridge railroad junction (located near Trowbridge Road[39]) and the nearby Amtrak depot are popular spots with railfans for train watching. At Trowbridge, the busy Grand Trunk Western Railroad line connecting Chicago to Toronto intersects the former Pere Marquette Railroad (now Conrail line from Detroit to Grand Rapids).

• The city of Lansing is adjacent to East Lansing. Lansing has, among other things, the State Capitol, Hall of Justice (Supreme Court), and Michigan Library and Historical Center.[40] Thomas M. Cooley Law School, the nation's largest law school, is located in downtown Lansing. Lansing also is the home of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team. There is a City Market[41] in downtown Lansing, next to the Grand River.
• Lake Lansing is nearby and is approximately 500 acres (200 hectares) in size. The lake has an outstanding beach, and is a summer favorite of swimmers, sunbathers, boaters and fishermen.[42] The Lansing Sailing Club and Michigan State University Sailing Club[43] have facilities on Lake Lansing where sailing regattas are held throughout the summer months.
• Meridian Mall is located in the suburb of Okemos, and Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing Township.