Caro, Michigan
Caro is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 4,145. It is the county seat of Tuscola County6. Caro is located north of Flint and east of Saginaw in "The Thumb" of Michigan.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 6.2 km² (2.4 mi²). 6.1 km² (2.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.84%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 4,145 people, 1,738 households, and 1,042 families residing in the village. The population density was 675.3/km² (1,746.0/mi²). There were 1,899 housing units at an average density of 309.4/km² (799.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.62% White, 0.55% African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.95% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.
There were 1,738 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,226, and the median income for a family was $39,432. Males had a median income of $36,307 versus $25,833 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,152. About 5.1% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Village traditions
Caro is the home of the Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival, an October tradition began in 1981 by a small group of local residents. Annually, the four-day festival attracts appoximately 50,000 visitors. Local farmers grow pumpkins that are delivered to primary school youth who decorate the pumpkins and submit them for display on the courthouse lawn where they are judged in one of five competitive categories. In addition, the Pumpkin Festival Royal Court is selected based on the largest pumpkins grown.
The festivities begin each year with the annual Lip-Sync contest and various sports tournaments that have included 3-on-3 basketball, walleyball, tennis, and golf. The festival culminates with the Grand Parade. In 2003, nearly 200 units participated in the parade, including 14 marching bands from across the state of Michigan, local merchants, churches, and organizations and Miss Michigan.
In late summer, Caro also hosts the Cars and Crafts Weekend. State Street, the main road through town, is closed between Frank Street and the courthouse building. Local artisans sell handcrafted goods and many merchants sport sidewalk sales. Additionally, residents show-off historic automobiles.
In late July/early August, Caro hosts the Tuscola County Fair at the county fairgrounds. The fair has been a county tradition for over 100 years and includes games and rides, awards for skilled crafts and animal rearing, and grandstand events. Grandstand events include the tractor pull, harness racing, a rodeo, and a demolition derby.
Caro industry
Caro is the home of one of Pioneer Sugar Company's longest continually operating facilities. Local sugarbeet farmers retain joint ownership of the plant.
Recently, Michigan Ethanol, a partner of Broin Companies, opened an ethanol production facility in southwest Caro.
The Caro Center, a mental health facility operated by the State of Michigan, originally opened as a support center for individuals with epilepsy and operated as a self-supportive community, producing its own vegetables and maintaing live stock. Following, it converted to an institution for the developmentally disabled, then a home for the mentally impaired, and now operates as a facility for forensic patients.
Agriculture
Caro is a rural community that supports many cash-crop farms just outside the village limits. Local farmers harvest crops that included sugarbeets, corn, wheat, dry beans and soy beans. Recently, the agriculture of the area has seen an increase in the number of organically grown crops. Most of the farms are family-owned and operated and vary in size from couple hundred acres to 3,000 plus acres.
Caro today
Caro has worked hard to maintain a small, hometown feel while striving to attract a more diverse population of visitors and residents. However, as large commercial retailers continue to move into the village, including big-box stores like Wal-Mart, locally owned businesses have difficulty continuing operations.