Bloomingdale Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Bloomingdale Township is a civil township
of Van Buren County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 3,364.
The village of Bloomingdale
is located within the township, and is the only incorporated town. The unincorporated and tiny crossroads community of Berlamont is on the line with Columbia Township
. On the eastern boundary is the city of Gobles
which straddles the line with Pine Grove Township
. Though half of Gobles lies within Bloomingdale Township, by law cities are considered separate from townships, though villages are not.
The township is largely agricultural with some small resorts along with the Van Buren Youth Camp. Much of the population lives in the village of Bloomingdale and along the lakes.
Oil was discovered in the 1930s and production has ended, though there have been efforts to start pumping again.
The popular Kal-Haven Trail
trail, used heavily by bicyclists in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter, goes through the township on a former railbed in a largely southeast/northwest direction, beginning with Gobles on the east, through Bloomingdale and exiting at Berlamont.
, the township has a total area of 35.1 square miles (90.9 km²), of which, 34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (2.94%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,364 people, 1,179 households, and 878 families residing in the township. The population density
was 98.7 per square mile (38.1/km²). There were 1,461 housing units at an average density of 42.9 per square mile (16.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.49% White, 1.75% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 2.02% from other races
, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.
There were 1,179 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,488, and the median income for a family was $43,841. Males had a median income of $31,985 versus $25,853 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $16,337. About 7.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 5.2% 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 Van Buren County
Van Buren County, Michigan
-Parks, preserves, natural areas:* Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre preserve of dunes in Covert Township* Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre preserve in Columbia Township...
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 3,364.
The village of Bloomingdale
Bloomingdale, Michigan
Bloomingdale is a village in Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 528 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Bloomingdale Township and is the township seat....
is located within the township, and is the only incorporated town. The unincorporated and tiny crossroads community of Berlamont is on the line with Columbia Township
Columbia Township, Michigan
Columbia Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Michigan:*Columbia Township, Jackson County, Michigan*Columbia Township, Tuscola County, Michigan*Columbia Township, Van Buren County, Michigan...
. On the eastern boundary is the city of Gobles
Gobles, Michigan
Gobles is a city in Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 829. It was originally called Gobleville, after its founders, the Goble family.-History:...
which straddles the line with Pine Grove Township
Pine Grove Township, Michigan
Pine Grove Township is a civil township of Van Buren County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,773 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
. Though half of Gobles lies within Bloomingdale Township, by law cities are considered separate from townships, though villages are not.
The township is largely agricultural with some small resorts along with the Van Buren Youth Camp. Much of the population lives in the village of Bloomingdale and along the lakes.
Oil was discovered in the 1930s and production has ended, though there have been efforts to start pumping again.
The popular Kal-Haven Trail
Kal-Haven Trail
The Kal-Haven Trail, formally known as the Kal-Haven Trail Sesquicentennial State Park, is a rail trail that originally ran 33.5 miles between South Haven, Michigan, to a point just west of the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, where there is a trailhead...
trail, used heavily by bicyclists in the summer and snowmobilers in the winter, goes through the township on a former railbed in a largely southeast/northwest direction, beginning with Gobles on the east, through Bloomingdale and exiting at Berlamont.
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 35.1 square miles (90.9 km²), of which, 34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (2.94%) 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 3,364 people, 1,179 households, and 878 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 98.7 per square mile (38.1/km²). There were 1,461 housing units at an average density of 42.9 per square mile (16.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.49% White, 1.75% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 2.02% 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 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.
There were 1,179 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,488, and the median income for a family was $43,841. Males had a median income of $31,985 versus $25,853 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 $16,337. About 7.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.