Salem Township, Allegan County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Salem Township is a civil township
of Allegan County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 3,486 at the 2000 census
.
, the township has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93.3 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.6 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.75%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,486 people, 1,151 households, and 941 families residing in the township. The population density
was 97.5 per square mile (37.6/km²). There were 1,181 housing units at an average density of 33.0 per square mile (12.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.99% White, 0.14% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.57% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.84% of the population.
There were 1,151 households out of which 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,203, and the median income for a family was $54,625. Males had a median income of $37,768 versus $26,164 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,620. About 2.6% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
, a veteran of the Civil War
, represented Salem Township in the State Legislature from 1881-1883.
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 Allegan County
Allegan County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-196* I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.-US highways:* US-31* US-131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-40* M-89* M-179* M-222-Allegan County Intercounty Highways:* A-2* A-37* A-42* A-45-Demographics:...
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 3,486 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
- Burnips is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at 42°43′55"N 85°50′22"W. It was first known as Salem Center. James Burnips was a local landowner and built the first store there in 1856. He began selling lots of land for building in 1858. A post office named "Burnip's Corners" opened in 1868, and the name was changed to "Burnips" in 1915. The 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...
is 49314. - Diamond Springs is an unincorporated locale in the southeast corner of the township on the Rabbit RiverRabbit RiverThe Rabbit River is a tributary of the Kalamazoo River within Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river's watershed covers of land and drains most of north-central and northeast Allegan County as well as small portions of Barry, Kent and Ottawa counties.The river rises in farmland...
at 42°40′50"N 85°53′49"W. It was first settled in 1867 and had a post office from 1871 until 1875, and then reopened again six months later until closing in 1905. - New Salem is an unincorporated community in the northeast corner of the township at 42°45′14"N 85°48′07"W. A post office first opened there in 1857 and opened and closed several times until 1865, after which it remained in operation until closing 1905.
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 36.0 square miles (93.3 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.6 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.75%) 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 3,486 people, 1,151 households, and 941 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 97.5 per square mile (37.6/km²). There were 1,181 housing units at an average density of 33.0 per square mile (12.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.99% White, 0.14% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.57% 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 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.84% of the population.
There were 1,151 households out of which 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% 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 18.2% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,203, and the median income for a family was $54,625. Males had a median income of $37,768 versus $26,164 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 $19,620. About 2.6% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
The Honorable Francis Adam GoodmanFrancis Adam Goodman
Francis Adam Goodman served the public most of his life as a politician and as a Union Army soldier. He was born March 3, 1827 in Rimbach, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, the son of Wilhelm and Mary Gutmann...
, a veteran of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, represented Salem Township in the State Legislature from 1881-1883.