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Dowagiac, MI

Ranked #1,964 in Travel & Places, #69,101 overall

Dowagiac Michigan the "Grand Old City"

Dowagiac, pronounced doe-WAH-jak, is my home town. I still have family living there today and visit often as I live just 20 minutes from there. Hopefully this lens will be of interest to you. If you have a link I should add please use the contact here on this page to email me.

Dowagiac's first residents were the Potawatomi, Chippewa and Ottawa tribes of Native Americans. When settlers from the east discovered the area and the Dowagiac Creek, they quickly harnessed the waterpower to start the industrial base that would become today's City of Dowagiac.

Text source: City of Dowagiac Official Website on 06/20/2010

Photo Source: Paxson Family: Eighth Generation

How to pronounce Dowagiac

Dowagiac

Native American name of Dowagiac has been mispronounced many times. This sign in town makes it easy to correctly say the name. Dowagiac was home to most notably Round Oak Stove and Heddon Lures. But was also home to some other very interesting businesses. Now the historical downtown area thrives with activity.

Photo taken by: Dennis Burlingham
Find him & more of his photos at: http://everywheremag.com/people/fotoguy49057

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Statistics About Dowagiac, MI 49047

The population of 49047 is 15,856.

That's #6615 out of all 42,305 zip codes.

83% of the population is white, which is 9 points more than the national average.

The average household income in 49047 is $37,022, which is $7,324 more than the typical average.

This contributes to the average house being worth $82,200. When the survey was done in 2000, that represented a difference of 4% from the typical value.

Men make up 48% of the population, and the typical age in this part of MI is 36.8.

Stats about: Dowagiac, MI

Population: 15,856
Number of Households: 7,832
Average House Value: $82,200
Average Income per Household: $37,022
Elevation: 902 ft

Population Breakdown:

Population Chart

Quick tabs on what you can find here.

Dowagiac Union Schools

Dowagiac Union School Mascot

I am trying to find the story of how the mascot has changed over the years. If anyone has that information please forward it to me using the contact link here.

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Dowagiac Union Schools

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Fantasy Name Generator

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdbCcYzeRP8

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Dynasty Hair District - Home

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Dynasty Hair District - Home

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Dowagiac Central High School/Dowagiac Jr. High School

Photos taken by Michael Bradford (Thanks for allowing them to be used here!)

Est. 1925 as Central High School then became the Middle School (Jr. High) until it was torn down in 2006 to make way for a medical building. This article explains more about the new building. http://www.dowagiacnews.com/2007/03/27/medical-arts-named-for-mayor-lyons/ <br /> <br />

Est. 1925 as Central High School then became the Middle School (Jr. High) until it was torn down in 2006 to make way for a medical building. This article explains more about the new building. http://www.dowagiacnews.com/2007/03/27/medical-arts-named-for-mayor-lyons/

Est. 1925 as Central High School then became the Middle School (Jr. High) until it was torn down in 2006 to make way for a medical building. This article explains more about the new building. http://www.dowagiacnews.com/2007/03/27/medical-arts-named-for-mayor-lyons/

Close up of top front of the building
Dowagiac Jr. High just before it was torn down.
Smokestack

Dowagiac Yearbooks

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Southwestern Michigan College

SMC

Southwester Michigan College Dowagiac MI

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Museum at Southwestern Michigan College

An interactive adventure in local history. In addi more...1 point

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Home | Southwestern Michigan College

Southwestern Michigan College has high quality tra more...0 points

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History of SMC

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Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) - National Honor Society for Community Colleges

Recognizes student scholarship achievement. Invita more...0 points

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septic tank pumping lawrenceville

Septic pumping, tank cleaning, Plumber, sewer repa more...0 points

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Dynasty Hair District - Home

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Dowagiac Postcards

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Places of Interest in Dowagiac

Wicks Apple House
At Wicks Apple House, we just about have it all. A family adventure you don't want to miss. We have an old fashion haunted house & corn maze open in fall, a century old cider mill open mid-September thru October (which you can watch operate), fruit & vegetable market in season, restaurant, bakery, and our gift shop. Hopefully we're not forgetting anything. Please come and visit us but be sure to check our website for the operating times of the various activities.
Southwestern Michigan College Museum
Interactive local history museum with something for the entire family. The Museum has the largest public collection related to the Round Oak Stove Company and hundreds of local history artifacts of interest on display. Two science galleries, a permanent history gallery and a temporary exhibits gallery. We have a store with fun and educational gifts
The Beckwith Theatre Company
The Beckwith Theatre Company is a not-for-profit community theater group dedicated to bringing the best in live theater to our community. We are an all volunteer group, both on stage and back stage. Our present group was formed back in 1990, but The Beckwith Theatre Company dates back to the turn of the century, when the city of Dowagiac was known around the world as the home of the Round Oak Furnace. The Beckwith Theatre Company does theater all year long. Our productions include dramas, comedies, musicals, and even a bit of Shakespeare.
Sister Lakes
A Beautiful Vacation Resort Area For Vacations & Week-End Getaways. The Sister Lakes area includes Round Lake, Big Crooked, Little Crooked, Magician, Dewey and Cable Lakes. In 1877, a post office was opened between the 'Sister' lakes of Round and Crooked, thus the name. Located in the heart of the fruit and vegetable belt of Southwest Lower Michigan. Ideal vacation destination to enjoy all four seasons.
Mill Pond
Great fishing location in Dowagiac. See area & get directions
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN
This book is available for purchase from a link on this page but, you can read it online for free from Google Books using this link. Very interesting reading.
Michigan UnderWater Divers Club
Michigan UnderWater Divers Club Someone from the club is diving just about every week. Check it out.
Sprague's Family Fun Farm
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables all summer long. Blueberries, raspberries, peaches,nectarines, sweet cherries, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers and onions. Come on out for fall supplies. Choose from a variety of apples. Sprague's is the areas headquarters for Honeycrisp apples. Pick out the biggest pumpkin you can find. Have a hay ride in one of our hay wagons. Try and tackle the 6 1/2 acre corn maze.

Businesses in Dowagiac

Dowagiac_Businesses

I need more business website addresses. Please add yours here or contact me with the link using the "contact" link on this page and I will add it.

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Dowagiac Round Oak Stove Restoration

Buying, collecting & restoring Round Oak Stove more...2 points

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Booth's Country Florist

Delivers fresh flowers throughout the Dowagiac, MI more...1 point

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Judd Lumber Company & Rental Center, Dowagiac - Lumber & Building Materials in Southwestern Michigan

Michigan's oldest lumberyard, established in 1859, more...0 points

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Encore Dance Company & Encore School of the Arts

A strong commitment to bring the arts student inst more...0 points

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Harding's Markets

Grocery Store0 points

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Imperial Furniture

"The best kept secret in South West Michigan& more...0 points

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Hales True Value Hardware

"This store has everything, if they don't hav more...0 points

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CWimberley Automotive Group

A family-owned and operated business. It is also o more...0 points

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Dowagiac Chamber Member Business Directory

Listing of local businesses0 points

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Remy Hair Extensions-Clip in Human Hair Extensions | Half Wigs

Remy hair extensions, Human hair extensions, clip more...0 points

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Weekly Menu Subscription for Renal, Diabetic and Heart Healthy Diets

Healthy Diet Menus for You provides people with we more...0 points

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TeePee Tent

Teepee tent is a conical tent traditionally made o more...0 points

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Medical Outsourcing

Medical outsourcing offers acquired recognition co more...0 points

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Cobb insurance

Bill Parsons Agency is an Insurance Agency that wi more...0 points

Restaurants in Dowagiac, MI

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Caruso's Candy Kitchen

Reviews of Caruso Candy Kitchen1 point

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Wood Fire

Fine dining, romantic jazz. Italian cuisine with m more...0 points

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Zeke's

Full service family restaurant with full bar. Part more...0 points

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Round Oak

Distinctive casual dining in a nostalgic decor. We more...0 points

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Trackside

Best Breakfast spot in town at 109 W Railroad St0 points

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The Dowagiac Chamber's list of Restaurants

List of Casual & Fine Dining in Dowagiac0 points

Before you leave...

please leave a comment near the bottom of this page.

Recreation in Dowagiac, MI

Outdoor, bars, bowling, golf, boating

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Wounded Minnow Saloon Facebook Fan Club Page

236 S Front St Downtown Dowagiac2 points

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Five Mile Drive-In Theatre

Operates one screen; shows double-features (two mo more...1 point

Historic Dowagiac

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Heddon Museum

Hours: Tuesday evening 6:30 to 8:30 & the last more...1 point

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Early Dowagiac Photos & Information

A community rich in history1 point

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Heddon Museum

This link for Heddon has photos...1 point

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Dowagiac Daily News

Local newspaper1 point

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Take an historic walking tour of Dowagiac

Walking through the city to see the sites.0 points

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Places Of Interest near Dowagiac, MI

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Online visual tour of Modern Day Dowagiac Landmarks

Dogwoods in bloom, to historic locations such as t more...0 points

Pickett's Corners in Dowagiac Michigan

Humphrey Stagecoach Line Stop 1844-1868

53480 Glenwood Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047 <br /> This site of the old stage stop has been permanently marked. The existing Grange Hall is located at Pickett's Corners. Directly across from the building a monument to the stage coach stop has been erected. <br /> <br /> Photo taken by Teddi Kella<br /> For more information on the Pickett family visit:<br /> http://home.earthlink.net/~geneals/pickett.htm

53480 Glenwood Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047
This site of the old stage stop has been permanently marked. The existing Grange Hall is located at Pickett's Corners. Directly across from the building a monument to the stage coach stop has been erected.

Photo taken by Teddi Kella
For more information on the Pickett family visit:
http://home.earthlink.net/~geneals/pickett.htm

53480 Glenwood Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047
This site of the old stage stop has been permanently marked. The existing Grange Hall is located at Pickett's Corners. Directly across from the building a monument to the stage coach stop has been erected.

Photo taken by Teddi Kella
For more information on the Pickett family visit:
http://home.earthlink.net/~geneals/pickett.htm
Plaque reads:
PICKETT'S CORNERS

Tavern and Post Office
Built by Selah Pickett 1844
Humphrey Stagecoach Line Stop
1844-1868
Placed by Captain Samuel Felt Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
and Lyell J. Wooster, Great Grandson

Photo taken by Teddi Kella
Sorry this is so blurry. I will take another soon.
Photo taken by Teddi Kella

Dowagiac & Cass County Family Histories, Legends & Genealogies

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Dowagiac Family Trees Genealogy

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Cemetery Registration-Michigan

submit & view tombstone photos1 point

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Franz Jackson's Site

Legendary Jazz Musician from Dowagiac1 point

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Paxson Family Eighth Generation

Wonderful page about this family. It also includes more...1 point

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Vital Records Indexes for Cass County Michigan

Free online search of vital records for Cass Count more...1 point

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A Pickett Family of (Pickett's Corners)

The Pickett family history. Mostly in Wayne Townsh more...1 point

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Cass County Michigan Genealogy and History

Cass County, MIGenweb, welcomes you to Cass County more...1 point

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Chris Taylor (wrestler)

(June 13, 1950 - June 30, 1979) was an American fr more...0 points

Pictures of places in Dowagiac

If you have any pictures you'd like featured please contact me so I can add them here.

Dowagiac District Library<br /> Carnegie Library Dowagiac Michigan was built with a donation of $12,500 by Andrew Carnegie in 1903.<br /> <br /> Photo taken by: Dennis Burlingham<br /> Find him & more of his photos at: http://everywheremag.com/people/fotoguy49057

Dowagiac District Library
Carnegie Library Dowagiac Michigan was built with a donation of $12,500 by Andrew Carnegie in 1903.

Photo taken by: Dennis Burlingham
Find him & more of his photos at: http://everywheremag.com/people/fotoguy49057

Dowagiac District Library
Carnegie Library Dowagiac Michigan was built with a donation of $12,500 by Andrew Carnegie in 1903.

Photo taken by: Dennis Burlingham
Find him & more of his photos at: http://everywheremag.com/people/fotoguy49057
Riverside Cemetery

Photo taken by: Dennis Burlingham
Find him & more of his photos at: http://everywheremag.com/people/fotoguy49057
http://everywheremag.com/photos/31337
Civil War Monument in Dowagiac Michigan

Photo taken by: Dennis Burlingham
Find him & more of his photos at: http://everywheremag.com/people/fotoguy49057
http://everywheremag.com/photos/30622

History of Sister Lakes in Dowagiac, MI

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Round Oak Stoves

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Books about Dowagiac

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Books on the History of Cass County, MI

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What do you think of this lens? Did you ever live in Dowagiac? Have you ever visited Dowagiac?

  • Reba Eaglebarger Waterson Aug 13, 2011 @ 7:57 pm | delete
    i was born and raised in dowagiac, mi. i'm either the 5th or 6th generation of my family from my mom's sidr to live in dowagiac. i'm proud to be from dowagiac and still live there.
  • mbrownauthor Aug 11, 2011 @ 5:14 pm | delete
    Great lens. I'm from Muskegon, MI and have also lived in Grand Rapids.
  • anna williams Jul 21, 2011 @ 6:03 pm | delete
    Very thorough and informative.
  • poutine Jun 26, 2011 @ 8:01 pm | delete
    Quite a well presented topic.
    I had never heard of this town before.
  • poutine Jun 26, 2011 @ 8:01 pm | delete
    Quite a well presented topic.
    I had never heard of this town before.
  • dawn Jun 2, 2011 @ 1:16 pm | delete
    I played volleyball at SMC 89-91, and am trying to locate some of the wrestlers, basketball and baseball players that were there then, along with some locals we hung with
    ...any way you could help me?
  • Teddi14 Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:02 pm | delete
    You could contact the SMC alumni association. Search facebook of course. Also, check out this lens on finding people: http://www.squidoo.com/how_to_find_someone
  • agalova Feb 2, 2011 @ 9:26 pm | delete
    Nice lens! We were there this past summer.
  • poddys Nov 13, 2010 @ 12:10 pm | delete
    Very nice tribute to your home town. I lived in South Bend for 12 years, but only drove through Dowagiac once, without stopping.
  • ShamanicShift Sep 26, 2010 @ 8:22 pm | delete
    Fascinating great lens--You make me want to visit!
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Dowagiac Facebook Groups

Social Networking at it's best!

Dowagiac Facebook

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http://www.facebook.com/groups/178238768910832/

Dowagiac Facebook Group "You know you grew up more...1 point

Who's blogging about Dowagiac?

Updated Daily

Dowagiac defeats Parchment 7-3 in a girls soccer district semifinal on Wednesday
Dowagiac scored four first-half goals en route to a district final berth on Saturday. Meredith Stutz scored a goal and an assist to lead Parchment, and Paige Berg and Jessica Cummins each added goals. Dowagiac will play the winner of the Paw ...
Vikings win in rout over Dowagiac
STEVENSVILLE ? The formula for victory in the Division 2 pre-district softball game between Niles and Dowagiac was simple. The Vikings pounded out 16 hits and rolled to a 12-1 win over the Chieftains, who managed just two hits.
Dowagiac beats Comstock 5-1 in soccer district
Breanna Williams and Kelsie Primley each scored two goals for Dowagiac in the district win. The victory sends Dowagiac into Wednesday's 5 pm second round at Paw Paw against the winner of Berrien Springs and Parchment. Dowagiac could meet Paw Paw in the ...
SMC concert to benefit fund
DOWAGIAC ? The 20th anniversary of the Southwestern Michigan College Brass Band founded by Jonathan Korzun will be celebrated with a John Philip Sousa-type concert at 7:30 pm Friday in the theater of the Dale A. Lyons Building on SMC's Dowagiac campus.
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