Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Calhoun county. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,364.

It is the world headquarters of Kellogg Company, founded by brothers, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and William Keith Kellogg, who invented cold breakfast cereal as an alternative to the traditional meat based breakfast. It is also the home of Post Cereals, which was part of General Foods Corporation and is now part of Kraft Foods.

Battle Creek was featured in the T.C. Boyle novel The Road to Wellville and the movie of the same name.

In 1982, the Battle Creek Township merged with the city of Battle Creek, under pressure from Kellogg Company, which threatened to move its headquarters away from Battle Creek if the city and township did not merge.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 113.1 km² (43.7 mi²). 110.9 km² (42.8 mi²) of it is land and 2.2 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (1.92%) is water, making Battle Creek the third largest city in Michigan by area, and one of only three incorporated municipalities in the state over 40 mi² in size. Of this area, part of the Fort Custer Army National Guard Base/Industrial Park takes up 4.96 mi² or approximately 10.6% of the total land area of the city.

Demographics

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As of the census² of 2000, there were 53,364 people, 21,348 households, and 13,363 families residing in the city. The population density was 481.1/km² (1,246.0/mi²). There were 23,525 housing units at an average density of 212.1/km² (549.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.65% White, 17.80% black or African American, 1.94% Asian, 0.77% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.11% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. 4.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,348 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,491, and the median income for a family was $43,564. Males had a median income of $36,838 versus $26,429 for females. The per capita income for...