Trufant, Michigan

Trufant, Michigan
Census-designated place
Nickname:  Stump Fence Capital of the World[1]
Trufant Show map of Michigan Trufant Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 43°19′02″N 85°21′10″W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Montcalm
Township	Maple Valley
Area [2]
• Total	1.12 sq mi (2.89 km^2)
• Land	0.96 sq mi (2.48 km^2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.41 km^2)
Elevation [3]	906 ft (276 m)
Population  (2020)[4]
• Total	510
• Density	532.92/sq mi (205.73/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	49347
FIPS code	26-80720
GNIS feature ID	2804352[3]

Trufant is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Maple Valley Township, Montcalm County, Michigan, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Trufant was 510.[4]

History

Emery Trufant built the first water-powered sawmill here in 1872. He sold out to J. B. Hileman and Jacob Hesser, who later built a steam-powered mill on the site. Their firm platted the village of Trufant on March 10, 1875, and named it after Trufant, recognizing him as the first settler.[5] [6]

The community was first listed as a census-designated place prior to the 2020 census.

Geography

Trufant is in western Montcalm County, in the southeast part of Maple Valley Township. It is 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Howard City, 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Cedar Springs, and 13 miles (21 km) northwest of Greenville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Trufant CDP has a total area of 1.12 square miles (2.90 km^2), of which 0.96 square miles (2.49 km^2) are land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km^2), or 14.25%, are water.[2] Muskellunge Lake is in the eastern part of the CDP; it drains south through a chain of lakes to Clear Creek and eventually the Flat River, a tributary of the Grand River.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	510		—
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

References

1. "Yes, there really is a 'Stump Fence' festival in Michigan". MLive Media Group. August 30, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
2. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Trufant, Michigan
4. "P1. Race – Trufant CDP, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
5. Schenck, John S. (2005) [1881]. "Maple Valley". History of Ionia and Montcalm counties, Michigan. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. p. 479. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
6. Dasef, John W. (2005) [1916]. "Maple Valley Township". History of Montcalm County, Michigan its people, industries and institutions...with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. pp. 180–181. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.