Grayling ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the only incorporated community in Crawford County. As of the 2020 census, Grayling had a population of 1,867. The city is surrounded by Grayling Charter Township, but the two are administered autonomously.
The city is located in the middle of the Northern Michigan region at the junctions of Interstate 75, U.S. Route 127, M-72, and M-93. Grayling is well known for hosting the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon in July of every year since 1947. The city is named after the grayling species of fish once abundant in the Au Sable River, although the species has been extirpated in Michigan since 1936. There have been many attempts to bring grayling back to the area but none have been successful. History
Michael Shoat Hartwick was Grayling's first settler. On the west side of the railroad tracks, he built a log hotel. The railroad platted out 40 acres (where Grayling now stands), naming it "Crawford". Fish swimming in the river were identified as grayling, and it is said that the residents preferred the name "Grayling" to "Crawford," and renamed the area after the fish.
Grayling's access to two major rivers (Au Sable River and Manistee River), and the presence of the vast forest around it, made it important in the lumber era. Logs were floated down the rivers to the lakes.
Grayling has had other names through the years. It was called "AuSable", "Forest", "Crawford Station", and during the lumbering era "Milltown".Ibid.
The Arctic grayling that had inhabited much of Northern Michigan was eventually wiped out. The logging practice of using river beds to move logs in the springtime destroyed the breeding grounds for these fish. Before they could recover, non-native sport fish such as brook trout were introduced in the 1890s and competed with the grayling for food.
The Grayling Fish Hatchery was founded in 1914 by timber baron Rasmus Hanson (1846–1927). He hoped to restore the grayling to the Au Sable River system; ironically, its disappearance was caused, at least in part, by the massive habitat destruction caused by logging, which was the source of Mr. Hanson's and other lumber barons' immense wealth. Other famous contributors to the initial costs of the hatchery included Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, and Thomas Edison. The grayling became extinct in Michigan. Nevertheless, the hatchery continued to play an important role in natural resource conservation. In 1926, it was sold to the state of Michigan. It continued to be operated as a fish hatchery and tourist attraction until the mid-1960s. In 1995, Michigan sold the property to Crawford County. It is being operated by a privately owned fish farm, although continues to be open to the public during the summer.
Rasmus Hanson is an important person in the history of Grayling. He was born in 1846 in Denmark and emigrated to the United States some time later. At age 16 he began working in the lumber field. Two years later, E. N. Salling, Nelson Michelson, and Hanson organized the first Salling-Hanson Company. After nearly 50 years of service, the Salling Hanson Company had shut down its operation in January 1927. Hanson was a successful entrepreneur and created many businesses in Northern Michigan. Along with being one of three lumber barons of Northern Michigan, Hanson owned the Michigan Sugar Company and the Bay City Sugar Company. In 1916, he donated 13,826 acres of cut-over land in Crawford County to the state of Michigan for use as a forest game preserve and military reservation. This land became the first state-owned game preserve. The area south of Lake Margrethe (named in honor of Hanson's wife, Margrethe) continues to be used as a National Guard base that serves Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana guards., originally published in the Otsego County Herald Times, October 6, 1927 Since 1947, Grayling has been the starting point of the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, which is held every year on the last weekend of July. This is the longest nonstop canoe race in North America.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (1.47%) is water. The middle branch of the Au Sable River passes through the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The city is near Lake Margrethe. Hartwick Pines State Park is just north and northeast of Grayling. The Huron portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forests is about the same distance due east. North Down River Road is east of the city along the Au Sable River, which runs parallel to it. It is a designated National Scenic Byway for the that go into Oscoda. The Lumberman's Monument is located along the byway. An oilfield is located about south of M-93 on Military Road.
Geographic features *Much of the area sits on the "Grayling outwash plain", a unique habitat named for the city.
Climate This climatic region has large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Grayling has a humid continental climate, Dfb on climate maps.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Grayling had a population of 1,867. The median age was 39.6 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.2 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 765 households in Grayling, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 29.0% were married-couple households, 23.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 39.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 891 housing units, of which 14.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,673 89.6% Black or African American 16 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native 22 1.2% Asian 13 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 6 0.3% Two or more races 137 7.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 90 4.8%
2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 1,884 people, 764 households, and 419 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 890 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 764 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.2% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.00.
The median age in the city was 38.6 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 20.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 1,952 people, 828 households, and 481 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 895 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.88% White, 0.51% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 828 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.4% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,250, and the median income for a family was $29,850. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $20,060 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,089. About 21.6% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over. Arts and culture
Historical sites and local events The area is proud of its history, and has preserved landmarks, which it uses for historical events, including reenactments.Grayling Area Visitors Bureau. Crawford County Historical Museum: Located in downtown's restored railroad depot, the museum offers a nostalgic look at the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly the lumbering era. The depot was saved from demolition by a community effort. The grounds also include a caboose, a military building dedicated to Camp Grayling and local ex-military personnel, a trapper's cabin, and an old-fashioned fire station. Wellington Farm Park is a , non-profit living history museum It is dedicated to interpretation of farm life during the Great Depression. Many farming activities are conducted daily with vintage equipment, tools, and methods. The park has many historical buildings including a blacksmith shop, farm market, gristmill, pavilion, sawmill, and summer kitchen. A nature trail is there. Several events are hosted throughout the summer and fall, including "Dairy Days", "Tractor & Engine Show", "Punkin-Chunkin", Halloween Hayrides, and numerous weekend activities. The farm is located on Military Road West of I-75. Lake Margrethe is an important attraction of Camp Grayling, and was named after the wife of Rasmus Hanson. It is a favorite fishing and recreation lake for soldiers in their off-duty hours, but also has much use from area residents, campers, and tourists, who access it from the state forest campground located at the lake's northwest corner. A number of recurring events occur in the area. A calendar is available. Grayling is the starting point for the Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, which runs from Grayling to Oscoda. It is one of three marathon races that constitute canoe racing's Triple Crown. The race is always held the last full weekend in July during the town's annual AuSable River Festival. Hartwick Pines State Park – the location of one of the few remaining old growth eastern white pine forests – has events throughout the year. Particularly notable are "cross country skiing by lantern light" on numerous dates throughout the winter. Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts, located at the Kirtland Community College in Roscommon, Michigan, hosts many visiting performers, including regular visits from The Second City traveling ensemble.