Blaine Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Blaine Township is a civil township
of Benzie County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 491. It is located in the southwest portion of the county. There are no significant population centers in the township; the nearest towns are Arcadia
to the south, Benzonia
to the northeast, and Elberta
to the northwest. M-22
is the township's main thoroughfare.
For a very brief period in the early 1890s, a town called Watervale 44°33′13"N 86°12′52"W was inhabited in the township along Lower Herring Lake. The town participated in the sawmill
boom that brought a period of prosperity to northern Michigan. Abandoned in 1894, the town was made into a summer resort
in 1917. Today the resort is known as the Inn at Watervale and the Watervale Historic District. Watervale maintains its nineteenth-century atmosphere and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places
http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-18835_18896-67165--M_2003_5,00.html.
The township's economy is heavily agricultural, with apple
s and cherries
two prominent crops. Fruit orchards dominate much of the landscape.
Blaine Township is home to two churches, Herring Lake Church (nondenominational) and Blaine Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A gravity hill
located at the site of Blaine Christian Church on Putney Road near its intersection with Joyfield Road is a well-known local landmark.
Since 1991 the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
had maintained a nature preserve along Upper Herring Lake (the Upper Herring Nature Preserve). Just north of the township's southern border is Inspiration Point, a high headland overlooking Lake Michigan where a platform has been built atop the bluff. The point is a popular lookout and is a prominent stop along the scenic route of Highway 22.
, the township has a total area of 21 square miles (54.4 km²), of which, 19.4 square miles (50.2 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (7.39%) is water. It is bordered on the north by Gilmore Township
, on the east by Joyfield Township
, on the south by Arcadia Township
in Manistee County
, and on the west by Lake Michigan
. Besides Lake Michigan, the township's most distinguishing physical features are Lower and Upper Herring Lakes, connected and fed by Herring Creek.
of 2000, there were 491 people, 215 households, and 153 families residing in the township. The population density
was 25.3 per square mile (9.8/km²). There were 431 housing units at an average density of 22.2 per square mile (8.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.98% White, 0.41% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.85% of the population.
There were 215 households out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples
living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the township the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 19.1% from 25 to 44, 35.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $21,465. About 2.9% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and none 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 Benzie County
Benzie County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 10,312 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
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 491. It is located in the southwest portion of the county. There are no significant population centers in the township; the nearest towns are Arcadia
Arcadia Township, Manistee County, Michigan
Arcadia Township is a civil township of Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 621....
to the south, Benzonia
Benzonia, Michigan
Benzonia is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 519 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Benzonia Township at the southeast end of Crystal Lake on U.S...
to the northeast, and Elberta
Elberta, Michigan
Elberta is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. The village located in the east of Gilmore Township, on the south side of Lake Betsie, which is formed by the Betsie River before flowing into Lake Michigan. The village is on M-22 just...
to the northwest. M-22
M-22 (Michigan highway)
M-22 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It is long and follows the Lake Michigan shoreline of the Leelanau Peninsula, making up a portion of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour. It also passes through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore...
is the township's main thoroughfare.
For a very brief period in the early 1890s, a town called Watervale 44°33′13"N 86°12′52"W was inhabited in the township along Lower Herring Lake. The town participated in the sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
boom that brought a period of prosperity to northern Michigan. Abandoned in 1894, the town was made into a summer resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
in 1917. Today the resort is known as the Inn at Watervale and the Watervale Historic District. Watervale maintains its nineteenth-century atmosphere and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-18835_18896-67165--M_2003_5,00.html.
The township's economy is heavily agricultural, with apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s and cherries
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
two prominent crops. Fruit orchards dominate much of the landscape.
Blaine Township is home to two churches, Herring Lake Church (nondenominational) and Blaine Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A gravity hill
Gravity hill
A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill , is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope...
located at the site of Blaine Christian Church on Putney Road near its intersection with Joyfield Road is a well-known local landmark.
Since 1991 the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy is a 501 3 non-profit organization based in Traverse City, Michigan. It is an independent organization with its own by-laws, policies, board, staff, and budget. The organization is funded by private donors as well as local, state, and national...
had maintained a nature preserve along Upper Herring Lake (the Upper Herring Nature Preserve). Just north of the township's southern border is Inspiration Point, a high headland overlooking Lake Michigan where a platform has been built atop the bluff. The point is a popular lookout and is a prominent stop along the scenic route of Highway 22.
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 21 square miles (54.4 km²), of which, 19.4 square miles (50.2 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (7.39%) is water. It is bordered on the north by Gilmore Township
Gilmore Township, Benzie County, Michigan
Gilmore Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the US state of Michigan. The population was 850 at the 2000 census. The township is "L"-shaped, with...
, on the east by Joyfield Township
Joyfield Township, Michigan
Joyfield Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 777 at the 2000 census. the township is located in the south central portion of the county...
, on the south by Arcadia Township
Arcadia Township, Manistee County, Michigan
Arcadia Township is a civil township of Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 621....
in Manistee County
Manistee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,527 people, 9,860 households, and 6,714 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 14,272 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
, and on the west by Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. Besides Lake Michigan, the township's most distinguishing physical features are Lower and Upper Herring Lakes, connected and fed by Herring Creek.
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 491 people, 215 households, and 153 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 25.3 per square mile (9.8/km²). There were 431 housing units at an average density of 22.2 per square mile (8.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.98% White, 0.41% 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 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.85% of the population.
There were 215 households out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% 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, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the township the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 19.1% from 25 to 44, 35.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $23,750 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 $21,465. About 2.9% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.