Bedford Charter Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Bedford Charter Township is a charter township
located in the northwest corner of Calhoun County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan
Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 9,517. Most of the township lies north of the Kalamazoo River
and the city of Battle Creek
. Three small noncontiguous areas of the township lie south of the Kalamazoo River
.
, the township has a total area of 29.8 square miles (77.2 km²), of which, 29.4 square miles (76.1 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.41%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,517 people, 3,667 households, and 2,651 families residing in the township. The population density
was 324.0 per square mile (125.1/km²). There were 3,841 housing units at an average density of 130.8 per square mile (50.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.05% White, 12.09% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races
, and 2.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
There were 3,667 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $44,462, and the median income for a family was $51,230. Males had a median income of $37,331 versus $26,435 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,303. About 4.3% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Charter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
located in the northwest corner of 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"....
. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan
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...
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 9,517. Most of the township lies north of the Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo River
The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
and the city 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...
. Three small noncontiguous areas of the township lie south of the Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo River
The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
.
Communities
- Much of the township is considered to be part of the Battle Creek urban area, and the township's economy is closely linked to the city. The township became a charter township in part to protect against further annexation by the city.
- Level Park-Oak ParkLevel Park-Oak Park, MichiganLevel Park-Oak Park is a census-designated place for statistical purposes in Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The CDP population was 3,605 at the 2000 census...
is a census-designated placeCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
, covering an area along M-89M-89 (Michigan highway)M-89 is an east–west state highway in the US state of Michigan. It runs from near Ganges Township to Battle Creek. M-89 passes through Allegan County, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and Calhoun County. It also briefly crosses the southwest corner of Barry County.-Route description:M-89 begins...
, just north of the Kalamazoo RiverKalamazoo RiverThe Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
and just northwest of Battle Creek. It includes the unincorporated communities of Level Park and Oak Park which are adjacent areas along M-89. - Bedford is an unincorporated community and downtown development area located on M-37M-37 (Michigan highway)M-37 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The southern terminus is near the border between Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties at exit 92 of Interstate 94 southwest of Battle Creek. The northern terminus is at the Mission Point Light on Old Mission Point in Grand...
at 42°23′43"N 85°13′56"W, near the center of the township. - Morgan Corners and Orchard Park are both settlements located along the eastern boundary with Pennfield Charter TownshipPennfield Charter Township, MichiganPennfield Charter Township is a charter township of Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Most of Orchard Park has been incorporated into Battle Creek.
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 29.8 square miles (77.2 km²), of which, 29.4 square miles (76.1 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.41%) is water.
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 9,517 people, 3,667 households, and 2,651 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 324.0 per square mile (125.1/km²). There were 3,841 housing units at an average density of 130.8 per square mile (50.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.05% White, 12.09% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.85% 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 2.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
There were 3,667 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% 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, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $44,462, and the median income for a family was $51,230. Males had a median income of $37,331 versus $26,435 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 $20,303. About 4.3% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.