Bath Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Bath Charter Township is a charter township
of Clinton County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 11,598, an increase from 7,541 in 2000. It is situated directly north of the city of East Lansing
.
.
Bath Township was the scene of the May 18, 1927, Bath School Disaster
, a series of bomb
ings of a farm, elementary school and car. The bombings killed 45 people and injured an additional 58; most of these were children in the second through sixth grades. The Bath School Disaster is the deadliest act of mass murder
in a school in United States
history, claiming more than three times as many victims as the Columbine High School massacre
, and half-again as many victims as the Virginia Tech shootings. It was also the worst act of domestic terrorism
in the United States until the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing
.
Disgruntled Bath Consolidated school board member Andrew Kehoe
, upset by a property tax
levy to fund the school building that he blamed for putting his farm into foreclosure
, first killed his wife and set his farm buildings on fire. As fire fighters arrived at the farm, an explosion rocked the school building. A detonator that Kehoe had planted in the school ignited dynamite
and hundreds of pounds of pyrotol
hidden inside the school's north wing, killing the majority of the victims. While rescuers gathered at the school, Kehoe drove up, called the school superintendent
over and detonated a bomb in his shrapnel-filled vehicle, killing himself and the superintendent, as well as killing and injuring several more. An additional 500 pounds (230 kg) of pyrotol that had failed to explode was subsequently found inside the school's south wing.
, the township has a total area of 35 square miles (90.6 km²), of which, 31.8 square miles (82.4 km²) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it (10.0%) is water.
of 2000, there were 7,541 people, 2,799 households, and 2,076 families residing in the township. The population density
was 208.6 per square mile (80.5/km²). There were 2,931 housing units at an average density of 81.1 per square mile (31.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.20% White, 0.82% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.76% of the population.
There were 2,799 households out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,881, and the median income for a family was $58,825. Males had a median income of $43,548 versus $31,056 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $24,675. About 3.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% 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 Clinton County
Clinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 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 2010 census, the township population was 11,598, an increase from 7,541 in 2000. It is situated directly north of the city of East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
.
Communities
- The unincorporated community of BathBath, MichiganBath is an unincorporated community in Bath Township, Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated just north of exit 92 off Interstate 69, about north of East Lansing....
is located within the southwestern corner of the township.
History
Bath Township was originally organized in 1839 as Ossowa Township, having been split off from DeWitt Township by an act of the governor. It was renamed Bath Township in 1843 after Bath, New YorkBath (village), New York
Bath is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census. Bath is the county seat of Steuben County. The community was named either for the English city or for Lady Bath, daughter of William Pulteney, one of the original landowners.The Village of...
.
Bath Township was the scene of the May 18, 1927, Bath School Disaster
Bath School disaster
The Bath School disaster is the name given to three bombings in Bath Township, Michigan, on May 18, 1927, which killed 38 elementary school children, two teachers, four other adults and the bomber himself; at least 58 people were injured. Most of the victims were children in the second to sixth...
, a series of bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
ings of a farm, elementary school and car. The bombings killed 45 people and injured an additional 58; most of these were children in the second through sixth grades. The Bath School Disaster is the deadliest act of mass murder
Mass murder
Mass murder is the act of murdering a large number of people , typically at the same time or over a relatively short period of time. According to the FBI, mass murder is defined as four or more murders occurring during a particular event with no cooling-off period between the murders...
in a school in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history, claiming more than three times as many victims as the Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
, and half-again as many victims as the Virginia Tech shootings. It was also the worst act of domestic terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
in the United States until the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
.
Disgruntled Bath Consolidated school board member Andrew Kehoe
Andrew Kehoe
Andrew Philip Kehoe was an American suicide bomber and murderer who perpetrated the Bath School Disaster on May 18, 1927.- Early life :...
, upset by a property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
levy to fund the school building that he blamed for putting his farm into foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
, first killed his wife and set his farm buildings on fire. As fire fighters arrived at the farm, an explosion rocked the school building. A detonator that Kehoe had planted in the school ignited dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
and hundreds of pounds of pyrotol
Pyrotol
Pyrotol was an explosive available for a time after World War I. It was reprocessed from military surplus cordite and smokeless powder. Usually used in combination with dynamite, it created an incendiary blast. Since it was very inexpensive, it was often used by farmers to remove tree stumps and...
hidden inside the school's north wing, killing the majority of the victims. While rescuers gathered at the school, Kehoe drove up, called the school superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
over and detonated a bomb in his shrapnel-filled vehicle, killing himself and the superintendent, as well as killing and injuring several more. An additional 500 pounds (230 kg) of pyrotol that had failed to explode was subsequently found inside the school's south wing.
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 35 square miles (90.6 km²), of which, 31.8 square miles (82.4 km²) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it (10.0%) 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 7,541 people, 2,799 households, and 2,076 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 208.6 per square mile (80.5/km²). There were 2,931 housing units at an average density of 81.1 per square mile (31.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.20% White, 0.82% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.77% 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 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.76% of the population.
There were 2,799 households out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,881, and the median income for a family was $58,825. Males had a median income of $43,548 versus $31,056 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 $24,675. About 3.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.