South Haven Charter Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
South Haven Charter Township is a charter township
of Van Buren County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 4,046 at the 2000 census
. The city of South Haven
is located to the northwest of the township.
The city of South Haven
has annexed portions of land that was once within the township boundaries, but is administratively autonomous. There are no other incorporated municipalities within the township. The area south of South Haven is considered to be a part of the city's urban area. Other settlements are in the unincorporated communities:
, which has its mouth at South Haven. The southern portion is drained by Deerlick Creek and other unnamed creeks.
I-196
/US 31
runs mostly north-south through the township, roughly parallel with the Lake Michigan shore and skirting the east side of South Haven. M-140
runs due north-south through the township into South Haven. M-43
runs southeast-northwest through Maple Grove Corners into South Haven.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 17.5 square miles (45.4 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 4,046 people, 1,645 households, and 1,092 families residing in the township. The population density
was 230.7 per square mile (89.1/km²). There were 1,890 housing units at an average density of 107.8 per square mile (41.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.11% White, 12.61% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 1.93% from other races
, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% of the population.
There were 1,645 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $38,922. Males had a median income of $31,754 versus $22,363 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,097. About 9.1% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 10.2% 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 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"....
. The population was 4,046 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...
. The city of South Haven
South Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
is located to the northwest of the township.
The city of South Haven
South Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
has annexed portions of land that was once within the township boundaries, but is administratively autonomous. There are no other incorporated municipalities within the township. The area south of South Haven is considered to be a part of the city's urban area. Other settlements are in the unincorporated communities:
- Maple Grove Corners is at 42°22′32"N 86°14′38"W. The elevation is 682 feet above sea levelSea levelMean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. - Crystal Beach a development area on the shores of Lake MichiganLake MichiganLake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
several miles south of South Haven and just north of Van Buren State ParkVan Buren State Park (Michigan)Van Buren State Park is a state park on Lake Michigan south of South Haven, Michigan, United States. The park, which is maintained and operated by the Department of Natural Resources, is located in the southwest corner of South Haven Township and the northwest corner of Covert Township, just north...
. It is at 42°21′24"N 86°17′53"W. The FIPS place code is 19130.
Geography
The northern portion of the township is drained by the Black RiverBlack River (Southwest Michigan)
Black River is a river in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Michigan that empties into Lake Michigan in South Haven at , where it discharges past the South Pier Lighthouse. The river takes its name from the dark brown color of its water, which is caused by suspended sediments and organic...
, which has its mouth at South Haven. The southern portion is drained by Deerlick Creek and other unnamed creeks.
I-196
Interstate 196
Interstate 196 is a long freeway spur route in the US state of Michigan linking Grand Rapids, Holland, South Haven, and Benton Harbor. I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties, after the 38th President of the United States,...
/US 31
U.S. Route 31
U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
runs mostly north-south through the township, roughly parallel with the Lake Michigan shore and skirting the east side of South Haven. M-140
M-140 (Michigan highway)
M-140 is a short state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. the route is entirely within Berrien and Van Buren counties. Although it runs near M-40, it was not designated as a spur from M-40. M-140 originally only existed north of Watervliet, as a designation to replace a rerouted U.S...
runs due north-south through the township into South Haven. M-43
M-43 (Michigan highway)
M-43 is a state trunkline highway in southwestern and central parts of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from South Haven to Webberville along an indirect path through both rural areas and larger cities...
runs southeast-northwest through Maple Grove Corners into South Haven.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 17.5 square miles (45.4 km²), all land.
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 4,046 people, 1,645 households, and 1,092 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 230.7 per square mile (89.1/km²). There were 1,890 housing units at an average density of 107.8 per square mile (41.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.11% White, 12.61% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 1.93% 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 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% of the population.
There were 1,645 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% 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, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $38,922. Males had a median income of $31,754 versus $22,363 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 $17,097. About 9.1% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.