Census-designated place & unincorporated community in Michigan, United StatesOkemos, MichiganCensus-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated communityThe Red Cedar River flowing through Okemos.Location within Ingham CountyOkemosLocation within the state of MichiganShow map of MichiganOkemosLocation within the United StatesShow map of the United StatesCoordinates: 42°42′21″N 84°24′49″W / 42.70583°N 84.41361°W / 42.70583; -84.41361[1]CountryUnited StatesStateMichiganCountyInghamTownshipsAlaiedon, Meridian, and WilliamstownSettled1839Named afterChief OkemosArea[2] • Total17.01 sq mi (44.06 km2) • Land16.86 sq mi (43.66 km2) • Water0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2)Elevation[1]866 ft (264 m)Population (2020) • Total25,121 • Density1,490.15/sq mi (575.37/km2)Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)ZIP codes48805, 4886448895 (Williamston)Area code517FIPS code26-60340[3]GNIS feature ID2393172[1]
Okemos (/ˈoʊkəməs/ OH-kə-məss) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population of the CDP was 25,121 at the 2020 census. Okemos is part of the urban area of Lansing–East Lansing, and is located nearby the campus of Michigan State University. Okemos is located mostly within Meridian Charter Township, with a small portion extending south into Alaiedon Township and east into Williamstown Township.
Okemos contains its own post offices with the 48805 and 48864 ZIP Codes, as well as its own school district, Okemos Public Schools, that also serves portions of the surrounding area.
History[edit] Chief Okemos historic marker at the Four Corners of OkemosPioneer Freeman Bray platted the village in 1841, giving it the name of Hamilton. Residents called it Okemos, after chief John Okemos ("Little Chief"), of the Ojibway (Chippewa) people. In 1859, the State legislature officially named the village "Okemos" in honor of the chief.[4]
The Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Grand River, flows from east to west through Okemos.
Climate[edit]This climatic region is typified by 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, Okemos has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[5]
Demographics[edit] Historical population CensusPop.Note%± 201021,369—202025,12117.6%U.S. Decennial Census[6]As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 21,369 people, 8,824 households, and 5,416 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,274.7 inhabitants per square mile (492.2/km2). There were 9,384 housing units at an erage density of 554.9 per square mile (214.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 76.5% White, 14.4% Asian, 5.1% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 3.3% of the population.
There were 9,194 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The erage household size was 2.44 and the erage family size was 3.04.
In the CDP, 23.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 14.5% was from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for an erage household in the CDP was $62,810, and the median income for a family was $88,459 (These figures had risen to $75,736 and $101,903 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[7]). Males had a median income of $60,601 versus $41,393 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $33,401. About 3.3% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 0.5% of those age 65 or over.
In 2011, CNN Money Magazine rated Okemos as the 12th-best city to live in for "the rich and single".[8]
Education[edit] Okemos High SchoolMost of Okemos is served by Okemos Public Schools,[9] the district which operates Okemos High School.
Portions of the district for Okemos Public Schools extends into Alaiedon Township to the south, Williamstown Township to the east, and Haslett to the north.[9]
Notable people[edit] Tris Bader, professional basketball player Bill Boyle, soccer player and coach[10] Kim Chi, stage name of Sang-Young Shin, a Korean-American drag queen, artist[11][12] Alma Cooper, Miss USA 2024[13] Doc Corbin Dart, punk rock musician Curtis Cregan, singer and theater actor Monica Drake, author Cynthia Frelund, sports analyst and writer currently working for NFL Network Lawrence Joseph Giacoletto, electrical engineer and inventor Madison Hubbell, 2018 US Olympic ice dancer James Hynes, novelist, born in Okemos in 1955[14] Susan Jacoby, author, born and raised in Okemos Josh Meyers, comedian, Mad TV cast member Seth Meyers, comedian, Saturday Night Live attended Edgewood Elementary[15] Taylor Moton, NFL player, attended Okemos Public Schools Tyler Oakley, YouTuber, blogger, and LGBT activist[12] Larry Page, co-founder of Google, went to Montessori School in Okemos Heather Raffo, playwright, author of Nine Parts of Desire[16] John Bennett Ramsey, father of JonBenét Ramsey, attended Okemos High School[17] Andrew Robl, professional poker player Ben Schneider, founding member of the indie rock band Lord Huron[18] Tom Welling, actor, played Clark Kent in television series Smallville Points of interest[edit] Goetsch–Winckler House. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and of the earlier examples of his "Usonian" houses. The Meridian Historical Village[19] Meridian Farmers' Market[20] Ferguson Park,[21] along the Red Cedar River on Okemos Road, is thought to be the meeting place where Chief Okemos and the war chiefs held their powwows.[citation needed] The park is part of the oldest settlement in the area along the plank road between Detroit and the Capitol in Lansing.[citation needed] The Hamilton Building at 2160 Hamilton Road (near the Four Corners of Okemos), is the oldest commercial building in Okemos, and replaced the old Walker General Store, which was built in 1853. The Hamilton Building held its first ice cream social on June 11, 1904, and was built to house the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a charity organization. The planks in the building are from the walnut grove on which it sits. Along with Ferguson Park, it is also part of the oldest settlement in the area along the old plank road between Detroit and the Capitol in Lansing. Meridian Mall The Hope Borbas Okemos branch[22] of the Capital Area District Library References[edit] ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Okemos, Michigan ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008. ^ How Okemos Began: A Short History, Retrieved March 17, 2023 ^ "Okemos, Michigan Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved May 23, 2019. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016. ^ 2005-2007 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, United States Census Bureau ^ "Best places for the rich and single". CNNMoney. Retrieved May 23, 2019. ^ a b "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ingham County, MI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2023. ^ "Bill Boyle". Niagara Purple Eagles. Retrieved February 9, 2025. ^ "r/rupaulsdragrace - Cute moment shared between Short Change and Kim Chi". reddit. March 26, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2020. ^ a b "Fruity Drag Art Transformation (ft. Kim Chi) + MAKEUP GIVEAWAY". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. ^ Atwood, Sarah (April 24, 2024). "Okemos grad Alma Cooper crowned Miss Michigan, hopes to uplift 'girls of color'". Lansing State Journal. ^ "About". James Hynes. Retrieved March 18, 2018. ^ "SETH MEYERS BIO, CHILDHOOD, FAMILY, EDUCATION, CAREER, RELATIONSHIP, AND ONLINE PRESENCE". Famebytes.com. October 11, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2020. ^ Montoya, Maria C. and Did Cuthbert. "Theater Guy: Loyola stages Heather Raffo's nine-character monologue play Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine." The Times-Picayune. February 23, 2008. Retrieved on April 13, 2014. ^ Paulson, Steven K. (February 14, 1997). "JonBenet prosecutor vents anger". Lansing State Journal. Associated Press. p. 4A. Retrieved January 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. ^ Jennings, Zeke (December 10, 2012). "A Q&A with Okemos native Ben Schneider, whose band Lord Huron is on the rise". mlive. Retrieved September 5, 2023. ^ "Meridian Historic Village". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007. ^ "Meridian Farmers' Market | Meridian Township, MI". June 2, 2024. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024. ^ "Ferguson Park - Charter Township of Meridian". Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2020. ^ "Okemos Library — CADL Website". December 12, 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2019. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Okemos, Michigan. External links[edit] Okemos Public Schools Meridian Mall vteMunicipalities and communities of Ingham County, Michigan, United StatesCounty seat: MasonCities East Lansing‡ Lansing‡ Leslie Mason Williamston Map of Michigan highlighting Ingham CountyVillages Dansville Stockbridge Webberville Charter townships Delhi Lansing Meridian Civil townships Alaiedon Aurelius Bunker Hill Ingham Leroy Leslie Locke Onondaga Stockbridge Vevay Wheatfield White Oak Williamstown CDPs Edgemont Park Haslett Holt Okemos Othercommunities Columbia Fitchburg Onondaga Footnotes‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties Michigan portal United States portal Places adjacent to Okemos, Michigan Haslett, Michigan Shaftsburg, Michigan East Lansing, Michigan Okemos, Michigan Williamston, Michigan Holt, Michigan Mason, Michigan Dansville, Michigan Authority control databases InternationalVIAFWorldCatNationalGermanyUnited StatesIsraelGeographicMusicBrainz area