Bessemer Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Bessemer Township is a civil township
of Gogebic County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 1,270.
, the township has a total area of 115.4 square miles (298.9 km²), of which, 113.8 square miles (294.7 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it (1.35%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,270 people, 578 households, and 362 families residing in the township. The population density
was 11.2 per square mile (4.3/km²). There were 946 housing units at an average density of 8.3 per square mile (3.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.24% White, 0.39% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.31% Asian, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population. 23.5% were of Finnish, 15.2% Italian, 13.4% German
, 8.7% Swedish, 7.8% Polish
and 7.0% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 578 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the township the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 107.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $27,000, and the median income for a family was $32,941. Males had a median income of $27,381 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,917. About 7.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% 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 Gogebic County
Gogebic County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,370 people, 7,425 households, and 4,581 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 10,839 housing units at an average density of 10 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
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 township population was 1,270.
Communities
- Anvil Location was a village in the township with an iron mine operated by Newport Mining Company. It was established in 1886 and got a post office in 1918.
- The City of BessemerBessemer, MichiganBessemer is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,914. It is the county seat of Gogebic County....
is situated within the township, but is administratively autonomous. - Ramsay is an unincorporated community within the township at 46°28′13"N 89°59′48"W. It is on the Black RiverBlack River (Gogebic County)The Black River is a river in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan, flowing mostly in Gogebic County into Lake Superior at . Its source at is a boreal wetland on the border with Iron County, Wisconsin...
just south of U.S. Highway 2U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
a few miles west of WakefieldWakefield, MichiganWakefield is a city in Gogebic County in the US state of Michigan. It is located in the western Upper Peninsula. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census....
and a few miles east of Bessemer.
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 115.4 square miles (298.9 km²), of which, 113.8 square miles (294.7 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it (1.35%) 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 1,270 people, 578 households, and 362 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 11.2 per square mile (4.3/km²). There were 946 housing units at an average density of 8.3 per square mile (3.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.24% White, 0.39% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.31% Asian, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population. 23.5% were of Finnish, 15.2% Italian, 13.4% 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....
, 8.7% Swedish, 7.8% 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...
and 7.0% 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...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 578 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the township the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 107.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $27,000, and the median income for a family was $32,941. Males had a median income of $27,381 versus $21,607 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 $18,917. About 7.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.