Tawas City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,005. It is the county seat of Iosco County. The city is adjacent to Tawas Township but is administratively autonomous.

Geography

• According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.6 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (20.47%) is water.
• It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Major highways

• US 23 runs along the Lake Huron shore, and is a proximate connector to I-75, which would be an approach to the city from the south. It has been designated the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, and runs along (or parallels) the Lake Huron shore.
• M-55 is one of only three state highways that extend across the U.S. state of Michigan's Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. Its east end terminates in Tawas City at the junction of US 23.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,005 people, 760 households, and 484 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,174.4 per square mile (452.7/km²). There were 969 housing units at an average density of 567.6/sq mi (218.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.55% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 760 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $37,235. Males had a median income of $28,789 versus $24,563 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,061. About 8.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Local attractions

The City is on Tawas Bay, Michigan, and Tawas Point State Park is nearby, which is considered to be an especially good locale for birding. It is said to be the most important "migrant trap" in the Saginaw Bay area. A fairly complete list of migratory birds that frequent the area is available. The Tawas Point Light is located there.

Administration

• Mayor: Ed Nagy
• Clerk: Kay Whitney
• Treasurer: Annette Corey
• Zoning Administrator: Kenneth Huber

Current as of July 2006

Education

Tawas Area Schools is a local public school district. Emanuel Lutheran School is a private parochial elementary school in Tawas City, serving approximately 70 students in grades K-8. It is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

Media

Area radio stations

• WIOS (1480 AM) - Music of Your Life
• WJOJ (89.7 FM) - Contemporary Christian (Harrisville)
• WCMB (95.7 FM) - CMU Public Radio (Oscoda)
• WHNN (96.1 FM) - Oldies (Bay City)
• WWTH (100.7 FM) - Country (Oscoda)
• WLEW (102.1 FM) - Adult Hits (Bad Axe)
• WQLB (103.3 FM) - Classic rock
• WKJC (104.7 FM) - Country
• WHST (106.1 FM) - Religious
• WKQZ (93.3 FM) - Modern Rock (Saginaw)
• WIOG (102.5 FM) - Contemporary hits (Saginaw)

Newspapers

• The Iosco County News-Herald is the newspaper of record for Iosco County.
• The Oscoda Press is a weekly newspaper serving northern Iosco County and southern Alcona County
• The Alpena News is the daily newspaper of record for much of northeastern lower peninsula of Michigan.
• Daily editions of the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are also available throughout the area, as well as the Bay City Times and The Saginaw News.

Notes

External links

• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Iosco County
• Emanuel Lutheran Church and School
• Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.
• Tawas Area Schools