Over the last fifty years, the community of Mason, known for its rural farming atmosphere and quaint Victorian historical homes, has been on the move.  Or at least, many of the residents have.  Mason is known to be a great community to live and work in.  The historical Ingham County Courthouse and downtown leaves a warm and lasting impression.  Mason is known to be a well planned community with numerous neighborhoods with character. 

During the past six years, from the years 2000 through 2006, nearly 700 housing units have been added to the housing stock inventory.  The previous fifty years also demonstrates an evolving community.   

The 1950 U.S. Census carries the official count of Mason residents as 3,514.  This growth continued and is counted every ten years, bringing us to 7,164 residents in the year 2000.   

The housing stock has been growing, too.  In 1950, there were 1,151 housing units in Mason.  In 2000, the count was up to 2,961.  The City’s unofficial estimates for April 1, of 2006, is 3,600 housing units*.   

During Mason’s fifty year period, the city population grew an additional 103%, more than doubling in size.  Housing units grew an additional 157% by the year 2000 and an estimated 212% by current estimates*.   As our nation continues to grow, so does Mason. 

The population per housing unit has gone from an average of more than three people per home to a little over two per household today.  Why is that?  A number of reasons, but a big part of it is that families have fewer children today.  More people tend to live on their own than live with family members either as young adults or senior citizens.  Our social norms have changed with the changing developments of the family unit.   

Mason has developed from a small village in 1865 to a thriving small city in 2010.  We are the County Seat to the Capital County of Ingham.  Something that we all hold dear is Mason being the only city, which is not the same city, which has the established state capital in it as well as the County Seat, throughout the fifty states. 

We as citizens of Mason are most fortunate.  We have the Ingham County Courthouse and numerous historic churches as the cornerstones of our community.  The community has been growing from the inside outward, which utilizes much less land, maintaining the family farm environment that is part of our identity.  It is a fine place, when after a short period of time living in Mason, you know your neighbors names.  As we continue to evolve, there is much to be thankful for.