Athens Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Athens Township is a civil township
of southwest Calhoun County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
, about 15 miles south of Battle Creek
. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 2,571.
, the township has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), all land. The Nottawa Creek
and the Pine Creek are the largest streams in the township, both flowing generally from northeast to southwest. The Pine Creek joins Nottowa Creek approximately one mile west of the village of Athens.
of 2000, there were 2,571 people, 956 households, and 738 families residing in the township. The population density
was 71.1 per square mile (27.5/km²). There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 27.7 per square mile (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.93% White, 0.19% African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races
, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 956 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $43,929, and the median income for a family was $49,607. Males had a median income of $37,039 versus $26,500 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,864. About 3.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
of southwest Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, about 15 miles south of Battle Creek
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the township population was 2,571.
History
Euro-American settlers first came to what would become Athens Township in 1831. Unlike in many other parts of Michigan the Potawatamie were never fully driven out, although their Reservation was dissolved in 1833. The first Athens Township Meeting was held in 1835. As of 1913 there were about 60 Potawatamie residents of Athens Township, out of about 1500 residents. Based on the 1910 US census for Athens Township and Village there were 1537 residents, of whom 5 were listed as mulattos (four of them children of a mulatto mother and white father) and 69 were listed as Indians. Of the 69 Indians, 40 were living the Indian Village Reservation that at that time existed in Athens Township. At least two of the Indians were Ottawas and not Potawatamies.Communities
- The Village of AthensAthens, MichiganAthens is a village in Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,111 at the 2000 census. The village is located in southern Athens Township, and is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was settled in 1831.-Geography:According to the United...
is located in the township. - The Pine Creek Indian Reservation is also located in the township.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), all land. The Nottawa Creek
Nottawa Creek
Nottawa Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Michigan that flows into the St. Joseph River at , approximately three miles east of the village of Mendon....
and the Pine Creek are the largest streams in the township, both flowing generally from northeast to southwest. The Pine Creek joins Nottowa Creek approximately one mile west of the village of Athens.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,571 people, 956 households, and 738 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 71.1 per square mile (27.5/km²). There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 27.7 per square mile (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.93% White, 0.19% African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 956 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $43,929, and the median income for a family was $49,607. Males had a median income of $37,039 versus $26,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $18,864. About 3.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.