Belvidere Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Belvidere Township is a civil township
of Montcalm County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 2,438.
, the township has a total area of 36.1 square miles (93.5 km²), of which, 34.8 square miles (90.1 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (3.38%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,438 people, 952 households, and 699 families residing in the township. The population density
was 70.0 per square mile (27.0/km²). There were 1,324 housing units at an average density of 38.0 per square mile (14.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.94% White, 0.37% African American, 1.97% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.25% from other races
, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 952 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $33,477, and the median income for a family was $37,717. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $15,920. About 7.4% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% 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 Montcalm County
Montcalm County, Michigan
-Michigan State Highways:* M-46* M-57* M-66* M-82* M-91-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,266 people, 22,079 households, and 16,183 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 25,900 housing units at an average density...
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"....
. 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 2,438.
Communities
- Six Lakes is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at 43°25′30"N 85°09′00"W on M-46M-46 (Michigan highway)M-46 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan between Muskegon and Port Sanilac, terminating near Lake Michigan and Lake Huron on each end. Except for the north–south segment that corresponds with the US Highway 131 freeway between Cedar Springs and Howard City, M-46 is...
where M-66M-66 (Michigan highway)M-66 is a north–south state trunkline highway on the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Indiana state line in the south to Charlevoix in the north. M-66 is the only state highway to traverse almost the entire north–south distance of the LP. It starts as a...
branches to the north. A settlement named "Sumnerville" laid out by L. C. Sumner in 1873 and located approximately one half mile (1 km) east of Six Lakes was the first village platPlatA plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in the township. The settlement saw some growth, but when the Chicago, Saginaw and Canada Railroad (which became part of the Pere Marquette RailwayPere Marquette RailwayThe Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
and then the Chesapeake and Ohio RailwayChesapeake and Ohio RailwayThe Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
) was built and a station was established nearer to the Flat RiverFlat River (Michigan)The Flat River is a tributary of the Grand River in the western part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises as the outflow of the six lakes system in Belvidere Township, west of Edmore in Montcalm County. It flows mostly south and slightly west through Montcalm County, Ionia County, and Kent...
, Sumner subsequently sold his holdings and moved to EdmoreEdmore, MichiganEdmore is a village in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,244.Edmore was founded and platted by Edwin B. Moore, a real estate man, in 1878, and named with a contraction of his name. A post office was established on July 22, 1878 with...
. Hiram Clark and Dr. J. B. Daniels purchased 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) of land around the rail station, then platPlatA plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted "Six Lakes" on May 13, 1876. A post office was established on December 20, 1878. The Six Lakes post office with ZIP codeZIP CodeZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
48886 serves most of Belvidere Township as well as smaller portions of Cato TownshipCato Township, MichiganCato Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,920 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
to the west, Douglass TownshipDouglass Township, MichiganDouglass Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,377 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*Entrican, is a small unincorporated community on the Flat River at ....
to the south and Millbrook TownshipMillbrook Township, MichiganMillbrook Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
to the north in Mecosta CountyMecosta County, MichiganMecosta County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. The county is named after Chief Mecosta, the leader of the Potawatomi Native American tribe that once traveled the local waterways in search of fish and game. Chief Mecosta was one of the signers the Treaty of Washington in 1836. The easily...
. - The village of EdmoreEdmore, MichiganEdmore is a village in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,244.Edmore was founded and platted by Edwin B. Moore, a real estate man, in 1878, and named with a contraction of his name. A post office was established on July 22, 1878 with...
is to the east in Home TownshipHome Township, Montcalm County, MichiganHome Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,708.-Communities:...
and the Edmore ZIP code 48829 also serves portions of eastern Belvidere Township. - The village of LakeviewLakeview, MichiganLakeview is a village in Cato Township in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,112 at the 2000 census. The village is within Cato Township.- History :...
is to the west in Cato TownshipCato Township, MichiganCato Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,920 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
and the Lakeview ZIP code 48850 also serves portions of northwest Belvidere Township. - The city of StantonStanton, MichiganStanton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,504. It is the county seat of Montcalm County...
is to the south and the Stanton ZIP code 48888 also serves a portion of southern Belvidere 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 36.1 square miles (93.5 km²), of which, 34.8 square miles (90.1 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (3.38%) 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 2,438 people, 952 households, and 699 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 70.0 per square mile (27.0/km²). There were 1,324 housing units at an average density of 38.0 per square mile (14.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.94% White, 0.37% African American, 1.97% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.25% 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 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 952 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $33,477, and the median income for a family was $37,717. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,893 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 $15,920. About 7.4% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.