Mason

History

In 1836 Charles Noble knew that Michigan would be seeking a central location for a new capital when it became a state. He purchased an area of forest, cleared 20 acres (81,000 m2), and founded Mason Center. The "Center" was soon dropped. In 1847, however, the state chose Lansing Township 12 miles (19 km) northward to be its capital due to its potential for water power. Noble managed to make Mason the county seat instead. Ingham County's first downtown courthouse was built in 1843, and was replaced in 1858, and the economy thrived in the first decades based on sawmills, carriage and cart factories, copper shops, a steam flourmill and a buffalo robe manufacturer. In 1865, Mason was incorporated as a village; in 1875 the town became a city. In the 1800s, Mason was the center of Ingham County activity, even more than was Lansing, the state capital. In 1877, Lansing attempted to take the status of county seat for itself, but the two cities made an agreement that moved some county offices and courts to Lansing in exchange for Mason remaining the county seat. As a result, Michigan is the only state in the country with a capital city that is not also a county seat. Up into the early 1900s, the local Ojibwa tribe had a visible presence in the town. In the 1900s, The Wyeth Corporation began producing baby formula in Mason, but that was discontinued in the 1990s. Today, it is home to the headquarters of Dart Container Corporation. Michigan Packaging Company, Gestamp Hardtech, and Ingham Intermediate School District also have facilities in the Mason area. Cattle can still be seen grazing within the city limits.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Sycamore Creek flows through the city. Mason sits upon the Mason Esker, which is one of the longest eskers in the western hemisphere.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,730
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  11,855
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,995
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  10,417
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  9,720
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  9,661
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9,277
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9,275

Largest nearby schools

• Michigan Connections Academy
  Other · Okemos · 1,656 students · 22.7:1 ratio
• Holt Senior High School
  High · HOLT · 1,626 students · 17.1:1 ratio
• Okemos High School
  High · OKEMOS · 1,466 students · 18.6:1 ratio
• Everett High School
  High · LANSING · 1,232 students · 20.2:1 ratio
• Mason High School
  High · MASON · 954 students · 19.5:1 ratio
• Gardner International School
  Elementary · LANSING · 844 students · 18.3:1 ratio
• Holt Junior High School
  Middle · HOLT · 781 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Mason Middle School
  Middle · MASON · 776 students · 18.5:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.7 — 2026-05-04
  8 km N of Maybee, Michigan
• M 3.3 — 2015-06-30
  5 km NNE of Burlington, Michigan
• M 4.2 — 2015-05-02
  5 km S of Galesburg, Michigan