St. Clair Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
St. Clair Township is a civil township
of St. Clair County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 6,423 at the 2000 census
with a projection of 6,842 in 2006. The city of St. Clair
is located near the southeast corner of the township.
, the city's name is taken from the river, which in turn was named for Lake Saint Clair
. An expedition led by the French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle named it Lac Sainte-Claire, because they entered the lake on August 12, 1679, the feast day
of Saint Clare of Assisi
. The lake is named on English maps as early as 1710 as Saint Clare. But as early as the Mitchell Map
in 1755, the spelling is presented with the current spelling as St. Clair. The name is sometimes attributed as honoring the American Revolutionary War
General and Governor of the Northwest Territory
Arthur St. Clair
, but the name was in use with the current spelling long before St. Clair was a notable figure. However it is possible that earlier name of the lake was conflated with that of the general in naming some of the political entities near the lake and the river, such as St. Clair County
, St. Clair Township, and the cities of St. Clair
and St. Clair Shores
.
The origin of the name has also been confused with that Patrick Sinclair
, a British officer who purchased land on the St. Clair River
at the outlet of the Pine River
. There, in 1764, he built Fort Sinclair, which was in use for nearly twenty years before being abandoned.
, the township has a total area of 39.6 square miles (102.6 km²), of which, 39 square miles (101 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.62%) is water.
of 2000, there were 6,423 people, 2,266 households, and 1,828 families residing in the township. The population density
was 164.9 per square mile (63.7/km²). There were 2,394 housing units at an average density of 61.5 per square mile (23.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.18% White, 0.26% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.26% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 2,266 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.1% were married couples
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $58,711, and the median income for a family was $65,924. Males had a median income of $52,045 versus $27,106 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $24,705. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% 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 St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
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 6,423 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...
with a projection of 6,842 in 2006. The city of St. Clair
St. Clair, Michigan
St. Clair is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,802 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the St. Clair River near the southeast corner of St. Clair Township.-Geography:...
is located near the southeast corner of the township.
Naming
Being situated on the western banks of the St. Clair RiverSt. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
, the city's name is taken from the river, which in turn was named for Lake Saint Clair
Lake Saint Clair (North America)
Lake St. Clair is a fresh-water lake named after Clare of Assisi that lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, and its midline also forms the boundary between Canada and the United States of America. Lake St. Clair includes the Anchor Bay along the Metro Detroit coastline...
. An expedition led by the French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle named it Lac Sainte-Claire, because they entered the lake on August 12, 1679, the feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
of Saint Clare of Assisi
Clare of Assisi
Clare of Assisi , born Chiara Offreduccio, is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi...
. The lake is named on English maps as early as 1710 as Saint Clare. But as early as the Mitchell Map
Mitchell Map
The Mitchell Map is a map made by John Mitchell , which was reprinted several times during the second half of the 18th century. The Mitchell Map was used as a primary map source during the Treaty of Paris for defining the boundaries of the newly independent United States...
in 1755, the spelling is presented with the current spelling as St. Clair. The name is sometimes attributed as honoring the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
General and Governor of the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
, but the name was in use with the current spelling long before St. Clair was a notable figure. However it is possible that earlier name of the lake was conflated with that of the general in naming some of the political entities near the lake and the river, such as St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
, St. Clair Township, and the cities of St. Clair
St. Clair, Michigan
St. Clair is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,802 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the St. Clair River near the southeast corner of St. Clair Township.-Geography:...
and St. Clair Shores
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
St. Clair Shores is a suburban city bordering Lake St. Clair in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms a part of the Metro Detroit area, and is located approximately northeast of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,715. The current mayor is...
.
The origin of the name has also been confused with that Patrick Sinclair
Patrick Sinclair
Lieutenant-General Patrick Sinclair was a British Army officer and governor in North America. He is best remembered for overseeing the construction of Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island in what was to become the U.S. state of Michigan.-Biography:Sinclair was born in Lybster, Scotland, and enlisted...
, a British officer who purchased land on the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
at the outlet of the Pine River
Pine River (Michigan)
Pine River may refer to any of the following streams in the U.S. state of Michigan:# Pine River . The main branch forms with the confluence of the East and West Branches of the Pine River at in Alcona County...
. There, in 1764, he built Fort Sinclair, which was in use for nearly twenty years before being abandoned.
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 39.6 square miles (102.6 km²), of which, 39 square miles (101 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.62%) 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 6,423 people, 2,266 households, and 1,828 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 164.9 per square mile (63.7/km²). There were 2,394 housing units at an average density of 61.5 per square mile (23.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.18% White, 0.26% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.26% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 2,266 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.1% 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, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $58,711, and the median income for a family was $65,924. Males had a median income of $52,045 versus $27,106 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 $24,705. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.