Colfax Township, Mecosta County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Colfax Township is a civil township
of Mecosta County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 1,975 at the 2000 census
.
, the township has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.1 square miles (90.9 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.87%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,975 people, 734 households, and 566 families residing in the township. The population density
was 56.2 per square mile (21.7/km²). There were 806 housing units at an average density of 22.9 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.76% White, 0.46% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 734 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples
living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% 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 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $46,071, and the median income for a family was $50,917. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $23,938 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,418. About 5.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% 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 Mecosta County
Mecosta County, Michigan
Mecosta 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...
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"....
. The population was 1,975 at 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...
.
Communities
- Rodney is an unincorporated community in the southeast part of the township at 43°40′25"N 85°19′42"W. The Rodney 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...
, 49342, serves areas in the eastern and north central parts of the township. The Rodney ZIP code also serves the most of the western part of Martiny TownshipMartiny Township, MichiganMartiny Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,606 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
as well as small areas of northeast Austin TownshipAustin Township, Mecosta County, MichiganAustin Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,415.-Geography:...
and northwest Morton TownshipMorton Township, MichiganMorton Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,597 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* Canadian Lakes is an unincorporated community in the southwest part of the township....
to the south and the southeast corner of Grant TownshipGrant Township, Mecosta County, MichiganGrant Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 680.-Geography:...
and the southwest part of Chippewa TownshipChippewa Township, Mecosta County, MichiganChippewa Township is a civil township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,239.-Communities:*Chippewa Lake is a small community within the township on Chippewa Lake and Lake Street...
to the north. This town is also the home to the characters of Jef Mallett's FrazzFrazzFrazz is a syndicated comic strip by Jef Mallett that, on the surface, is about school custodian Edwin "Frazz" Frazier and the school where he works, but which, according to Mallett, is really about discovery. The strip debuted on 2 April 2001....
, a comic strip about a school janitorJanitorA janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
named Edwin "Frazz" Frazier, a Renaissance manRenaissance ManRenaissance Man is a 1994 comedy film, directed by Penny Marshall, starring Danny DeVito, Gregory Hines, James Remar, and Ed Begley, Jr. It also features Mark Wahlberg in one of his earliest roles....
and ultra-triathlete. His bored genius sidekick Caulfield, girlfriend Jane Plainwell, friend James Burke, boss Mr. Spaetzle, discordant teacher Mrs. Olsen, and athletic adversary Coach Hacker all reside in Rodney, and are (except for Caulfield, who is a student,) staff at the fictional "Bryson Elemetary School." - The city of Big RapidsBig Rapids, MichiganBig Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
is to the west and the Big Rapids ZIP code, 49307, serves all the areas of the township not served by the Rodney ZIP code.
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 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.1 square miles (90.9 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.87%) 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 1,975 people, 734 households, and 566 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 56.2 per square mile (21.7/km²). There were 806 housing units at an average density of 22.9 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.76% White, 0.46% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 734 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% 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, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% 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 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $46,071, and the median income for a family was $50,917. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $23,938 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 $19,418. About 5.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.