Portage Township, Houghton County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Portage Township is a charter township
of Houghton County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 3,156. The city of Houghton
is adjacent to the north side of the township. Portage Lake is the eastern boundary in the north and the township extends well south of Houghton to the Baraga County
line.
, the township has a total area of 116.6 square miles (301.9 km²), of which, 112.6 square miles (291.7 km²) of it is land and 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²) of it (3.39%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,156 people, 1,257 households, and 804 families residing in the township. The population density
was 28.0 per square mile (10.8/km²). There were 1,584 housing units at an average density of 14.1 per square mile (5.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.98% White, 0.22% African American, 0.41% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 0.25% from other races
, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population. 35.7% were of Finnish, 15.6% German
, 6.5% English
, 5.8% French
and 5.1% Italian
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 1,257 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 26.9% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 113.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $33,080, and the median income for a family was $44,213. Males had a median income of $33,958 versus $23,221 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,655. About 8.1% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Charter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
of Houghton County
Houghton County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,016 people, 13,793 households, and 8,137 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 17,748 housing...
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 3,156. The city of Houghton
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
is adjacent to the north side of the township. Portage Lake is the eastern boundary in the north and the township extends well south of Houghton to the Baraga County
Baraga County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 8,746 people, 3,353 households, and 2,223 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 4,631 housing units...
line.
Communities
- Dakota HeightsDakota Heights, MichiganDakota Heights is an unincorporated community in Portage Township, Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an enclave surrounded on all four sides by the extreme western part of the city of Houghton Dakota Heights is an unincorporated community in Portage Township, Houghton County in...
is a small unincorporated community in the township, cut off from the rest of the township by the city of Houghton. - Dodgeville is a small, unincorporated community, located at 47°05′39"N 88°34′52"W, about two miles south of Houghton.
- Hurontown is a small, unincorporated community, located at 47°06′40"N 88°34′25"W, adjacent to and surrounded by Houghton on the west, north and east; from 1867-1872 it was part of Houghton. It was 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 1862 by E.J. Hulbert. - TapiolaTapiola, MichiganTapiola is an unincorporated community in Houghton County, Michigan, United States. Tapiola is located in Portage Township, west of Keweenaw Bay.- History :...
is an unincorporated community located near Otter Lake in the 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 116.6 square miles (301.9 km²), of which, 112.6 square miles (291.7 km²) of it is land and 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²) of it (3.39%) 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 3,156 people, 1,257 households, and 804 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 28.0 per square mile (10.8/km²). There were 1,584 housing units at an average density of 14.1 per square mile (5.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.98% White, 0.22% African American, 0.41% Native American, 2.15% 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 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population. 35.7% were of Finnish, 15.6% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 6.5% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 5.8% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and 5.1% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 1,257 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% 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, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 26.9% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 113.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $33,080, and the median income for a family was $44,213. Males had a median income of $33,958 versus $23,221 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 $17,655. About 8.1% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.