Bethel Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Bethel Township is a civil township
of Branch County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 1,421.
. It was organized as a township under that name by the Michigan Legislature of 1836-37 and the first township meeting for the township of Elizabeth was held at the house of Moses Olmstead on April 3, 1837. The Michigan Legislature of 1838-39 changed the name of the township to Bethel, although no reasons for the change were recorded.
: the Prairie River
in the south and Swan Creek in the north.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 36.1 square miles (93.5 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (93 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,421 people, 475 households, and 362 families residing in the township. The population density
was 39.6 per square mile (15.3/km²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 14.2 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.74% White, 1.06% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 8.09% from other races
, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.26% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 119.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,400, and the median income for a family was $44,038. Males had a median income of $29,034 versus $23,281 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $16,252. About 5.0% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and none 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 Branch County
Branch County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 45,787 people, 16,349 households, and 11,575 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 19,822 housing units at an average density of 39 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 1,421.
Communities
There are no incorporated municipalities within the township.- Bethel is an unincorporated community in the southeast corner of the township at 41°49′58"N 85°04′25"W. A post office opened on April 30, 1857 and operated until November 30, 1905.
- Hatmaker is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at 41°50′51"N 85°07′17"W. The settlement was named for the pioneer Hatmaker family, which included Aaron, the cider-maker, and Peter, the grocer and first postmaster. A post office operated from May 23, 1887 until August 31, 1894 and from January 5, 1899 until June 15, 1900.
- Snow Prairie is a historical locale and former post office near the center of the township. Eleazar Snow from New England settled here in 1830 near the northwest corner of section 16. The place became known as Snow Prairie, although Snow sold his holdings to Moses Olmstead in 1831. Because of its location, a post office named Bethel Centre was established on March 1, 1867. It was renamed Snow Prairie on September 19, 1867 and operated until June 15, 1869.
- The city of BronsonBronson, MichiganBronson is a city located in west central Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,349 at the 2010 census.Bronson is situated on U.S. Route 12 about southwest of Coldwater...
is adjacent to the west on U.S. Route 12U.S. Route 12U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
which cuts through the northwest corner of the township. The Bronson ZIP code 49028 serves areas in western and southern Bethel Township. - The city of ColdwaterColdwater, MichiganColdwater is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945. It is the county seat of Branch County....
is to the northeast, and the Coldwater ZIP code 49036 serves areas in northern and eastern Bethel Township.
History
Eleazar Snow was the first settler in the area in 1830, though he sold out to Moses Olmstead in 1831. The town was first called Elizabeth, probably by Mr. Olmstead after Elizabeth, New JerseyElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. It was organized as a township under that name by the Michigan Legislature of 1836-37 and the first township meeting for the township of Elizabeth was held at the house of Moses Olmstead on April 3, 1837. The Michigan Legislature of 1838-39 changed the name of the township to Bethel, although no reasons for the change were recorded.
Geography
The township is drained by tributaries of the St. Joseph RiverSt. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)
The St. Joseph River is a river, approximately long, in southern Michigan and northern Indiana in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming area in the watershed of Lake Michigan...
: the Prairie River
Prairie River (Michigan)
The Prairie River is a small river that flows through Branch and St. Joseph counties in Michigan. The river rises at in northern Kinderhook Township in Branch County, and flows west-northwest into the St...
in the south and Swan Creek in the north.
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 36.1 square miles (93.5 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (93 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.50%) 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 1,421 people, 475 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 39.6 per square mile (15.3/km²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 14.2 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.74% White, 1.06% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 8.09% 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 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.26% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 119.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,400, and the median income for a family was $44,038. Males had a median income of $29,034 versus $23,281 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 $16,252. About 5.0% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.