Midland is a city in the state of Michigan and is the county seat of Midland County. The population was 42,547 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Midland metropolitan statistical area, part of the larger Saginaw-Midland-Bay City combined statistical area. The city is bordered by Midland Township, though the two are administered separately.

Midland is located at the confluence of Chippewa and Tittabawassee rivers in Central Michigan. The city is home to the headquarters of Dow Chemical Company, one of the largest chemical producers in the world, which was founded by Herbert Henry Dow in the city in 1897. The city is also home to Midland Center for the Arts and Northwood University.

History By the late 1820s, Midland was established as a fur trading post of the American Fur Company supervised by the post at Saginaw. Here agents purchased furs from Ojibwe trappers. The Campau family of Detroit operated an independent trading post at this location in the late 1820s.History of Saginaw County, Michigan (Chicago: Charles C. Chapman & Co., 1881) p. 126

Dow Chemical Company was founded in Midland in 1897, and its world headquarters are still located there. Through the influence of a Dow Chemical plant opening in Handa, Aichi, Japan, Midland and Handa have become sister cities. Dow Corning was also headquartered in Midland.

In 1969, the city unilaterally defined a Midland Urban Growth Area (MUGA), a two-mile territory around the city limits, in an attempt to control urban sprawl. As the county's only capable drinking water supplier, the city would provide water services to communities outside the MUGA such as the nearby village of Sanford. The city would not provide water services within the MUGA without annexation to the city of Midland. This allowed the city to control most of the growth in the county. Since 1991, the policy has since been revised with a series of Urban Cooperation Act Agreements with surrounding townships. Case-by-case redrawings of the MUGA line now allow Midland to sell water to the surrounding townships without annexation.

On May 19, 2020, the Sanford Dam and Edenville Dam both failed, prompting an evacuation of 10,000 Midland residents. Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency, predicting that parts of Midland and Sanford would be covered in nine feet of water within 12–15 hours. She urged residents to seek shelter with family and friends or at emergency shelters. This major "500 year" flooding event occurred just months after the COVID-19 stay at home order went into effect.

Geography The city lies within eastern Midland County, with a small portion extending east into Bay County. Most of the city's area is incorporated from Midland Township. The city is northwest of Saginaw and west of Bay City. Midland, along with Saginaw and Bay City make up the Tri-Cities Area, a sub-region of Flint/Tri-Cities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 5.41%, are water. The Chippewa River joins the Tittabawassee River at the city's downtown. The Tittabawassee is a tributary of the Saginaw River, flowing southeast to Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron.

Neighborhoods

There are more than 35 neighborhoods within the city, each having one or more subdivisions. According to the map, there are eight general areas: Downtown encompasses the central business district and is a hub for commerce, dining, and cultural activities. The Center City includes the historic "Circle", dating from 1938, which was the city's second business district. North Side neighborhoods north of downtown, often with a mix of residential areas, parks and schools. Country Club features upscale houses, large lots with trees, highest walkability and bike scores. Midland West neighborhoods are known as friendly and peaceful with well-maintained properties. It includes the Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers, parks and open spaces for recreation, often with a mix of housing styles and mature trees. Upscale Greystone Woods is located there. East End refers to the area east of downtown, often characterized by a mix of older residential and commercial spaces. A revitalization of Midtown started in 2018, along with Grove Park and surrounding neighborhoods and formation of the Midtown Midland Neighborhood Association. Industrial Park was the former location of Dow Chemical's plants along the Bay City Road corridor. In 2018, Dow Michigan Operations Industrial Park (I-Park), was created on the site that serves multiple companies as a logistics, manufacturing and R&D center for approximately 6,000 employees/contractors. While owned by Dow, it is supported by the Michigan Strategic Fund for modernization that will attract businesses with their utilities, logistics and environmental services. West Main Street Historic district was established in 1979 to preserve and document Midland's historical structures; specifically blocks and lots within the original Midland plat, offering a glimpse into the city's history. A commission reviews and must approve applications for construction, additions, alterations, repairs, moves, excavations, or demolitions of all properties within the district. South refers to the relatively small area south of the Industrial Park, site of a defunct lumber town (Mapleton) and train depot.

Discovery Square is an area in the city of Midland containing five prominent buildings designed by Alden B. Dow on land originally owned by his father, Herbert Henry Dow. They are: Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, Midland Center for the Arts, Michigan Molecular Institute, Dow Gardens and Alden Dow House and Studio. Alden Dow coined the name at the dedication of MCFTA in 1971.

Climate Midland has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with hot, rainy summers with cool nights and cold, snowy winters with average highs around freezing.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Midland had a population of 42,547. The median age was 39.2 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.7 males age 18 and over.

98.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 18,084 households in Midland, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.3% were married-couple households, 17.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 19,377 housing units, of which 6.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 36,811 86.5% Black or African American 836 2.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 157 0.4% Asian 1,448 3.4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 74 0.2% Some other race 459 1.1% Two or more races 2,762 6.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,650 3.9% 2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 41,863 people, 17,506 households, and 10,766 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 18,578 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.0% White, 2.0% Black, 0.3% Native American, 3.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 17,506 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% 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 2.94.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 41,685 people, 16,743 households, and 11,000 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 17,773 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.38% White, 1.82% Black, 0.29% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.

There were 16,743 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.6% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,444, and the median income for a family was $64,949. Males had a median income of $53,208 versus $31,098 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,818. About 5.5% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy Retail The city's major shopping district is located north of town, on Eastman Avenue near US-10. There are several big-box stores located here, as well as the Midland Mall. Midland's downtown, on Main Street, includes local restaurants, artist co-ops, and local retail.

Arts and culture Historical markers There are four recognized Michigan historical markers in the city. John and Almira Kelly House Midland County Courthouse Origins of Salt Industry / State Salt Well No. 1 The Upper Bridge

Sites of interest

Midland has many cultural opportunities in fields ranging from music and theater to science and the arts. The Midland Center for the Arts delivers hands-on exhibits in science, art and technology, at the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art. The center also provides two state-of-the-art auditoriums for audiences of 400 to 1500 to enjoy everything from the Midland Symphony Orchestra and Center Stage Theatre, to professional programming through MATRIX: Midland.

Midland County Historical Societies Heritage Park provides an opportunity to explore Midland County's history through a variety of avenues. The Herbert D. Doan Midland County History Center houses a research library, gift shop and the interactive Dorothy Dow Arbury Midland County History Gallery, which provides hands on exhibits for exploring Midland County's history. Also located at Heritage Park is the Herbert H. Dow Historical Museum, which explores the history and growth of Dow Chemical Company founded in Midland by Herbert H. Dow. Also located on the campus is the Bradley Home Museum and Carriage House; this 1874 house built by Benjamin F. Bradley allows visitors to see an historic home and furnishings of its time. The Carriage House holds an extensive collection of sleighs and carriages, and it has the largest working blacksmith shop in the Mid-Michigan area.