Keeler Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Keeler Township is a civil township
of Van Buren County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the population was 2,601.
Keeler Township is largely agricultural, though it has a large influx of summer visitors who own cottages or stay at summer resorts in the Sister Lakes area in the township's southwest corner. The Sister Lakes area, though unincorporated, has the largest collection of retail establishments in the township. (The area extends into adjacent Silver Creek Township
in Cass County
.)
Township offices are in Keeler, which also has some stores.
-like creature. ABC News
filed a report after hearing about monster hunters congregating in the area following the claimed sighting.
, the township has a total area of 35 square miles (90.6 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (2.88%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,601 people, 870 households, and 629 families residing in the township. The population density
was 76.5 per square mile (29.5/km²). There were 1,562 housing units at an average density of 45.9 per square mile (17.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.85% White, 1.35% African American, 1.15% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 5.61% from other races
, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.57% of the population.
There were 870 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.2% 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 2.71 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,955, and the median income for a family was $47,083. Males had a median income of $32,069 versus $26,016 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,989. About 9.2% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% 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 Van Buren County
Van Buren County, Michigan
-Parks, preserves, natural areas:* Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre preserve of dunes in Covert Township* Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre preserve in Columbia Township...
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 population was 2,601.
Keeler Township is largely agricultural, though it has a large influx of summer visitors who own cottages or stay at summer resorts in the Sister Lakes area in the township's southwest corner. The Sister Lakes area, though unincorporated, has the largest collection of retail establishments in the township. (The area extends into adjacent Silver Creek Township
Silver Creek Township, Michigan
Silver Creek Township is a civil township of Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in Cass County
Cass County, Michigan
Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 51,104. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a total population of 316,663 and is sometimes considered part of Greater Michiana...
.)
Township offices are in Keeler, which also has some stores.
History
In the 1964 the Sister Lakes area gained national notoriety when an area resident reported seeing a BigfootBigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
-like creature. ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
filed a report after hearing about monster hunters congregating in the area following the claimed sighting.
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 square miles (90.6 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (2.88%) 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 2,601 people, 870 households, and 629 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 76.5 per square mile (29.5/km²). There were 1,562 housing units at an average density of 45.9 per square mile (17.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.85% White, 1.35% African American, 1.15% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 5.61% 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 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.57% of the population.
There were 870 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 22.2% 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 2.71 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,955, and the median income for a family was $47,083. Males had a median income of $32,069 versus $26,016 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 $19,989. About 9.2% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.