According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 15.87 square miles (41.10 km2), of which 15.67 square miles (40.59 km2) is land and 0.20 square miles (0.52 km2) (1.26%) is water.[4] Holt is the second most-populated CDP (after Forest Hills) and the fifth largest by area in the state of Michigan.
The community is south of Lansing, just south of I-96 between US-127 and M-99. The city of Mason is about 6 miles (10 km) southeast, and the village of Dimondale is about 6 miles (10 km) west.
Holt is home to an ancient glacial esker. This esker, the longest in Michigan at roughly 20 miles (32 km), can be traced from south Lansing through Holt to just beyond Mason.[5]
History
The first permanent settlers of Delhi Township, John Norris and Fred Luther, arrived in 1837. In 1850, 402 settlers resided in the township.[6] By 1857, Delhi Center (now Holt) had a post office, hotel, tavern, and several other businesses. The post office at Delhi Center was renamed "Holt" in 1860 to prevent confusion with Delhi Mills in Washtenaw County. Joseph Holt was the U.S. Postmaster General during that time.[7]
The northern part of Holt was originally not part of the community and was a separate area known as "Five Corners" or "North Holt".[8]
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 11,315 people, 4,502 households, and 3,101 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,623.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,012.8/km2). There were 4,719 housing units at an average density of 1,094.0 per square mile (422.4/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.89% White, 2.43% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.63% of the population.
There were 4,502 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,382, and the median income for a family was $52,528. Males had a median income of $41,322 versus $30,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,733. About 5.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
^Felton, Jim, Inge Kyler, Russell Jessop, Nancy Meese, Leon North, Guy Sweet, Gregory N. Veltema, Harvey Wood. (1987). A Michigan Sesquicentennial History of Delhi Township (Holt, Michigan: The Michigan Sesquicentennial Agency for Delhi Township, 1987), 1-2.
Felton, Jim; Inge Kyler; Russ Jessop; Nancy Meese; Leon North; Guy Sweet; Gregory N. Veltema; Harvey Wood (1987). A Michigan Sesquicentennial History of Delhi Township. Holt, Michigan: Michigan Sesquicentennial Agency for Delhi Township. pp. 1–5, 23–25.
Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 198. ISBN978-0-8143-1838-6.
