Caledonia Township, Kent County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
The Charter Township of Caledonia is a charter township
of Kent County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 8,964 at the 2000 census
.
The township is situated about 15 miles south-southeast of downtown Grand Rapids
. The city of Kentwood
is directly northwest, Cascade Charter Township
is to the north, Bowne Township
to the east, Gaines Charter Township
to the west, and Thornapple Township
in Barry County
to the south.
, the township has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.2 square miles (91.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.73%) is water.
The Thornapple River
flows north through the township, dividing it nearly in half. The Coldwater River
enters at the southeast corner flowing east and merges with the Thornapple in the south.
of 2000, there were 8,964 people, 3,075 households, and 2,493 families residing in the township. The population density
was 255.0 per square mile (98.5/km²). There were 3,225 housing units at an average density of 91.8 per square mile (35.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.55% White, 0.25% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races
, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 3,075 households out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.7% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $63,032, and the median income for a family was $69,836. Males had a median income of $51,843 versus $30,032 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $25,710. About 1.9% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% 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 Kent County
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
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"....
. The population was 8,964 at 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...
.
Communities
- The Village of CaledoniaCaledonia, MichiganCaledonia is a village in Kent County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,102. The village lies entirely within Caledonia Township.-Geography:...
is within the township on M-37M-37 (Michigan highway)M-37 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The southern terminus is near the border between Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties at exit 92 of Interstate 94 southwest of Battle Creek. The northern terminus is at the Mission Point Light on Old Mission Point in Grand...
in the southeast part of the township. - Alaska is a former unincorporated community within the township on the Thornapple RiverThornapple RiverThe Thornapple River is an tributary of Michigan's longest river, the Grand River. The Thornapple is located in western Michigan. It joins the Grand in Ada, Michigan.- Description :...
at 42°50′24"N 85°28′41"W. The community had its origin with a sawmill established by William H. Brown and Rev. Eber Moffit in 1848. A post office with the name "Brownsville" was first established on December 13, 1855, but the name was changed to "North Brownsville" just a few days later on December 18 to avoid confusion with an already existing post office with that name in Cass CountyCass County, MichiganCass County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 51,104. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a total population of 316,663 and is sometimes considered part of Greater Michiana...
. It was renamed "Alaska" on December 4, 1868, undoubtedly influenced by the 1867 purchase of AlaskaAlaska purchaseThe Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the United States from Russia in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the Senate. The purchase, made at the initiative of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained of new United States territory...
from Russia by the U.S. government. The post office closed on February 9, 1906.
The township is situated about 15 miles south-southeast of downtown Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. The city of Kentwood
Kentwood, Michigan
Kentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
is directly northwest, Cascade Charter Township
Cascade Township, Michigan
Cascade Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,107 at the 2000 census.The township is situated in the southeastern section of Kent County, approximately 10 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. A defining feature of the township is the...
is to the north, Bowne Township
Bowne Township, Michigan
Bowne Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,743.-Communities:* Alto is an unincorporated village that is located primarily in this township....
to the east, Gaines Charter Township
Gaines Township, Kent County, Michigan
Gaines Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,112 at the 2000 census.The township is about 13 miles south of downtown Grand Rapids. It is directly south of the city of Kentwood. The Charter Township of Caledonia and Village of...
to the west, and Thornapple Township
Thornapple Township, Michigan
Thornapple Township is a civil township of Barry County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,685 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in Barry County
Barry County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-37* M-43* M-50* M-66* M-78* M-79* M-89* M-179-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of...
to the south.
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 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.2 square miles (91.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.73%) is water.
The Thornapple River
Thornapple River
The Thornapple River is an tributary of Michigan's longest river, the Grand River. The Thornapple is located in western Michigan. It joins the Grand in Ada, Michigan.- Description :...
flows north through the township, dividing it nearly in half. The Coldwater River
Coldwater River (Western Michigan)
Coldwater River is a stream in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located in western Michigan, the river is a part of the Grand River drainage basin....
enters at the southeast corner flowing east and merges with the Thornapple in the south.
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 8,964 people, 3,075 households, and 2,493 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 255.0 per square mile (98.5/km²). There were 3,225 housing units at an average density of 91.8 per square mile (35.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.55% White, 0.25% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% 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 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 3,075 households out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.7% 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 18.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $63,032, and the median income for a family was $69,836. Males had a median income of $51,843 versus $30,032 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 $25,710. About 1.9% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.