West Branch Township, Dickinson County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
West Branch Township is a civil township
of Dickinson County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 67.
, the township has a total area of 111.8 square miles (289.7 km²), of which, 111.5 square miles (288.7 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.
of 2000, there were 67 people, 29 households, and 18 families residing in the township. The population density
was 0.6 per square mile (0.2/km²). There were 150 housing units at an average density of 1.3 per square mile (0.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.55% White, 5.97% Native American, and 4.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.48% of the population. 16.1% were of Finnish, 10.7% English
, 10.7% Swedish, 8.9% French
, 8.9% Polish
, 7.1% American
, 5.4% Dutch
and 5.4% German
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 29 households out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the township the population was spread out with 16.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 13.4% from 25 to 44, 44.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 123.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $21,875, and the median income for a family was $19,583. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $12,286. There were 11.1% of families and 11.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 20.0% of those over 64.
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 Dickinson County
Dickinson County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 27,472 people, 11,386 households, and 7,583 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 13,702 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
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, the township population was 67.
Communities
There are no incorporated municipalities in the township.- Alfred is a tiny locale at 46°05′02"N 87°37′57"W near where the north branch of the Ford River joins the main branch. It was a stop on the Escanaba and Lake Superior RailwayEscanaba and Lake Superior RailwayEscanaba and Lake Superior Railway may refer to:*Escanaba and Lake Superior Railway , predecessor of the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad*Escanaba and Lake Superior Railway , predecessor of the Chicago and North Western Railway...
. A post office operated there from 1903 until 1910. - Ralph is an unincorporated community in the township on the Ford RiverFord River (Michigan)-References:*...
at 46°06′31"N 87°47′01"W.
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 111.8 square miles (289.7 km²), of which, 111.5 square miles (288.7 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (0.35%) 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 67 people, 29 households, and 18 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 0.6 per square mile (0.2/km²). There were 150 housing units at an average density of 1.3 per square mile (0.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.55% White, 5.97% Native American, and 4.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.48% of the population. 16.1% were of Finnish, 10.7% 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...
, 10.7% Swedish, 8.9% 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...
, 8.9% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, 7.1% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 5.4% Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
and 5.4% 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....
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 29 households out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the township the population was spread out with 16.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 13.4% from 25 to 44, 44.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 123.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $21,875, and the median income for a family was $19,583. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $18,750 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 $12,286. There were 11.1% of families and 11.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 20.0% of those over 64.