Buchanan Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Buchanan Township is a civil township
of Berrien County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,510. The city of Buchanan
is located in the southeast portion of the township.
Buchanan Township is bounded by Oronoko Township
to the north, Berrien Township
to the north and northeast, Niles Township to the east, Bertrand Township
to the south and southeast, Galien Township to the southwest, Weesaw Township
to the west, and Baroda Township
to the northwest.
No major highways transit the township, although U.S. 12
parallels the southern edge and U.S. 31
passes just to the east.
, the township has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86 km²), of which, 32.3 square miles (83.7 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (2.86%) is water.
The St. Joseph River
enters the township from the southeast, bends north by the city of Buchanan, and then flows mostly north through the eastern portion of the township.
of 2000, there were 3,510 people, 1,317 households, and 1,023 families residing in the township. The population density
was 108.7 per square mile (42.0/km²). There were 1,554 housing units at an average density of 48.1 per square mile (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.18% White, 1.20% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.43% from other races
, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 1,317 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% 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 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,503, and the median income for a family was $46,797. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $24,274 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,572. About 4.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.
, assisting freed and escaped slaves from southern states to reach freedom in the northern states or Canada. The resort is on the St. Joseph River and offers canoeing and boating.
Nearby is Redbud Track 'N' Trail, an event site featuring professional as well as amateur motocross racing
, known mostly for hosting a professional national on or near the 4th of July
. Attendance regularly reaches 30,000 for this weekend.
The 105 acre (0.4249203 km²) Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve
is located on the eastern bank of the St. Joseph River in the northeast corner of the township and is open year round.
Madron Lake is located within the township.
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 Berrien County
Berrien County, Michigan
Berrien County is a county located in the extreme southwest of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 156,813. The county seat is St. Joseph....
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, the township population was 3,510. The city of Buchanan
Buchanan, Michigan
Buchanan is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,681 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the southeast corner of Buchanan Township, about 5 miles west of Niles. It was named after James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States...
is located in the southeast portion of the township.
Buchanan Township is bounded by Oronoko Township
Oronoko Charter Township, Michigan
Oronoko Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,843 at the 2000 census.The Village of Berrien Springs is the only incorporated municipality within the township. Much of the eastern portion of the township is considered to be part...
to the north, Berrien Township
Berrien Charter Township, Michigan
Berrien Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,075.- Communities :...
to the north and northeast, Niles Township to the east, Bertrand Township
Bertrand Township, Michigan
Bertrand Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,380.- Communities :...
to the south and southeast, Galien Township to the southwest, Weesaw Township
Weesaw Township, Michigan
Weesaw Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,065 at the 2000 census. The township was organized in 1837.-Communities:...
to the west, and Baroda Township
Baroda Township, Michigan
Baroda Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,880....
to the northwest.
No major highways transit the township, although U.S. 12
U.S. Route 12 in Michigan
US Highway 12 is a US Highway that runs from Aberdeen, Washington to Detroit, Michigan. In the US state of Michigan it runs for . Previous to the creation of Interstate Highways in Michigan, US 12 ran along Michigan Avenue between Kalamazoo and Detroit, a highway corridor now served by I-94...
parallels the southern edge and U.S. 31
U.S. Route 31 in Michigan
US Highway 31 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Alabama, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that runs from the Indiana–Michigan state line at Bertrand Township to its terminus at Interstate 75 south...
passes just to the east.
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 33.2 square miles (86 km²), of which, 32.3 square miles (83.7 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (2.86%) is water.
The St. Joseph River
St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)
The St. Joseph River is a river, approximately long, in southern Michigan and northern Indiana in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming area in the watershed of Lake Michigan...
enters the township from the southeast, bends north by the city of Buchanan, and then flows mostly north through the eastern portion of the township.
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 3,510 people, 1,317 households, and 1,023 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 108.7 per square mile (42.0/km²). There were 1,554 housing units at an average density of 48.1 per square mile (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.18% White, 1.20% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.43% 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 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 1,317 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% 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, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% 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 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,503, and the median income for a family was $46,797. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $24,274 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 $19,572. About 4.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.
Attractions
Bear Cave is a camping resort in the northern part of the township featuring a cave which was once a stop along the Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
, assisting freed and escaped slaves from southern states to reach freedom in the northern states or Canada. The resort is on the St. Joseph River and offers canoeing and boating.
Nearby is Redbud Track 'N' Trail, an event site featuring professional as well as amateur motocross racing
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
, known mostly for hosting a professional national on or near the 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
. Attendance regularly reaches 30,000 for this weekend.
The 105 acre (0.4249203 km²) Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve
Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve
The Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, , is an arboretum, botanical garden, and nature preserve located at 13988 Range Line Road in Buchanan Township, Michigan. It is open to the public daily Tuesday through Saturday plus Sunday afternoons. An admission fee is charged.The Garden is...
is located on the eastern bank of the St. Joseph River in the northeast corner of the township and is open year round.
Madron Lake is located within the township.