Scio Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Scio Township is a civil township
of Washtenaw County
of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the township's population was 15,759. The township is situated west of Ann Arbor
.
ted by Dr. Cyril Nichols from Vermont. A post office was established in 1835. The office was moved to Delhi Mills and renamed in February 1871, though the Scio office was re-established in September 1871. The post office took its name from the township; however, early township records were destroyed by fire, and it was uncertain why "Scio" was chosen. There are at three origins suggested for the name. The first suggests it derives from the Greek island of Chios
, and the second that was named after Scio, New York
, although it was also named for Chios. Thirdly by coincidence "scio" also means "I know" in Latin
, so following the American Civil War some people assumed this was the origin of the name.
Documents regarding the naming of townships in the State of Michigan archives indicate that Scio Township and its northern neighbor Webster Township were named on the same date, unlike other townships in Washtenaw County. This date followed the establishment by the United States of America of diplomatic relations with the modern nation of Greece, following the Greek War of Independence
(1821–1830). U.S. Senator Daniel Webster had introduced a resolution, recorded in the Congressional Record that is widely considered one of his better orations (printed in the Collected Works of Daniel Webster). He advocated that the USA be the first nation to diplomatically recognize Greece. Webster referred to the 1822 destruction of Scio, the then current French translation of Chios , derived from the Genoese dialect. In Webster's era, French was the language of international diplomacy. Eugène Delacroix's
1824 painting depicting "Scène des massacres de Scio"
and numerous publications brought the Greek cause to the attention of Americans. Ypsilanti Township was named after the first leader of the secret organization that coordinated the beginning of the revolution, Alexander Ypsilanti . Senator Webster also referenced General Demetrius Ypsilanti. The Town of Ypsilanti was named after the victor of the final battle of the revolution, Alexander's brother Demetrius. The sister townships of Scio and Webster were named as a monument to the birth of the new Greek republic, the end of its citizen's subjection, and the first American senator to support their nation.
Delhi Mills was platted as "Michigan Village" by Jacob Doremus in 1836, but was renamed Delhi. In 1842, Norman C. Goodale, known as the founder of Delhi Mills, acquired all the unsold lots. The Scio post office was transferred here in 1871 and operated until 1903.
, the township has a total area of 34.3 square miles (88.8 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.76%) is water.
of 2000, there were 15,759 people, 6,070 households, and 4,425 families residing in the township. The population density
was 463.0 per square mile (178.8/km²). There were 6,338 housing units at an average density of 186.2 per square mile (71.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.53% White, 4.13% African American, 0.27% Native American, 3.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 1.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.
There were 6,070 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $73,705, and the median income for a family was $87,498. Males had a median income of $60,313 versus $38,000 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $36,837. About 1.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% 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 Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
of 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's population was 15,759. The township is situated west of Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
.
Communities
- Delhi Mills is an unincorporated community in the northeast corner of the township on the Huron RiverHuron River (Michigan)The Huron River is a river in southeastern Michigan, rising out of the Huron Swamp in Indian Springs Metropark in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie on the boundary between Wayne County and Monroe County...
. - DexterDexter, MichiganDexter is a village in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The majority of the village is in the northwest corner of Scio Township with a small portion in Webster Township. The population was 4,067 at the 2010 census...
is a village in the northwest corner of the township, also on the Huron River. The Dexter post office with 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...
48130 also serves northwest Scio Township. - Scio is the former site of an early community in the township on the Huron River about midway between Delhi Mills and Dexter at the current location of the intersection of Zeeb Rd and Huron River Dr.
- Sunward CohousingSunward CohousingSunward redirects here. For the company manufacturing model rockets, a trebuchet, a catapult, and hobby products, see Sunward Aerospace Group Limited.Sunward Cohousing is an intentional community located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA...
was the first cohousingCohousingA cohousing community is a type of intentional community composed of private homes supplemented by shared facilities. The community is planned, owned and managed by the residents – who also share activities which may include cooking, dining, child care, gardening, and governance of the...
community to be established in Scio, followed by Great Oak Cohousing and Touchstone Cohousing - The city of Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
is to the southeast and has incorporated some land from the township. The Ann Arbor post office with ZIP code 48103 also serves much of southeastern Scio Township.
History
Samuel W. Foster bought a mill site on the Hellmouth River at what is now Scio in 1835. The community was platPlat
A 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 by Dr. Cyril Nichols from Vermont. A post office was established in 1835. The office was moved to Delhi Mills and renamed in February 1871, though the Scio office was re-established in September 1871. The post office took its name from the township; however, early township records were destroyed by fire, and it was uncertain why "Scio" was chosen. There are at three origins suggested for the name. The first suggests it derives from the Greek island of Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, and the second that was named after Scio, New York
Scio, New York
Scio is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,914 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southern half of the county and north of the Village of Wellsville.- History :...
, although it was also named for Chios. Thirdly by coincidence "scio" also means "I know" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, so following the American Civil War some people assumed this was the origin of the name.
Documents regarding the naming of townships in the State of Michigan archives indicate that Scio Township and its northern neighbor Webster Township were named on the same date, unlike other townships in Washtenaw County. This date followed the establishment by the United States of America of diplomatic relations with the modern nation of Greece, following the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
(1821–1830). U.S. Senator Daniel Webster had introduced a resolution, recorded in the Congressional Record that is widely considered one of his better orations (printed in the Collected Works of Daniel Webster). He advocated that the USA be the first nation to diplomatically recognize Greece. Webster referred to the 1822 destruction of Scio, the then current French translation of Chios , derived from the Genoese dialect. In Webster's era, French was the language of international diplomacy. Eugène Delacroix's
Eugène Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
1824 painting depicting "Scène des massacres de Scio"
The Massacre at Chios
The Massacre at Chios is the second major oil painting by the French artist Eugène Delacroix. The work is more than thirteen feet high, and shows some of the horror of the wartime destruction visited on the Island of Chios...
and numerous publications brought the Greek cause to the attention of Americans. Ypsilanti Township was named after the first leader of the secret organization that coordinated the beginning of the revolution, Alexander Ypsilanti . Senator Webster also referenced General Demetrius Ypsilanti. The Town of Ypsilanti was named after the victor of the final battle of the revolution, Alexander's brother Demetrius. The sister townships of Scio and Webster were named as a monument to the birth of the new Greek republic, the end of its citizen's subjection, and the first American senator to support their nation.
Delhi Mills was platted as "Michigan Village" by Jacob Doremus in 1836, but was renamed Delhi. In 1842, Norman C. Goodale, known as the founder of Delhi Mills, acquired all the unsold lots. The Scio post office was transferred here in 1871 and operated until 1903.
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 34.3 square miles (88.8 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.76%) 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 15,759 people, 6,070 households, and 4,425 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 463.0 per square mile (178.8/km²). There were 6,338 housing units at an average density of 186.2 per square mile (71.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.53% White, 4.13% African American, 0.27% Native American, 3.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% 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 1.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.
There were 6,070 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% 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, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $73,705, and the median income for a family was $87,498. Males had a median income of $60,313 versus $38,000 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 $36,837. About 1.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.