Cannon Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Cannon Township is a civil township
of Kent County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 12,075.
. In 1837 Andrew Watson brought his family to Cannon and built the first farm in the township. Over the next decade many other pioneers arrived and settled. In 1845 the township was split from Plainfield and took its present name.
The township took its name from the small settlement of Cannonsburgh, which had been founded in 1842 at the direction of LeGrand Cannon, described as an eastern capitalist. The hamlet
had 2 mills and a store by 1845, and the town was platted to encourage residential growth. Mr. Cannon was proud of his little town, and provided a fitting gift in appreciation: a small cannon inscribed with his name and date. The cannon was used by the townspeople to commemorate holidays, such as the 4th of July
, until someone was hurt firing the ordnance. The cannon was then buried to prevent further injuries, but was later discovered and refitted for firing. Unfortunately, another person was subsequently injured while firing the cannon, and again it was buried, and has not been found again to this day.
, the township has a total area of 37.1 square miles (96.1 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (93 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (3.29%) is water.
Zip Codes
School Districts
of 2000, there were 12,075 people, 3,913 households, and 3,341 families residing in the township. The population density
was 336.5 per square mile (129.9/km²). There were 4,174 housing units at an average density of 116.3 per square mile (44.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.67% White, 0.47% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 3,913 households out of which 51.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% were married couples
living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the township the population was spread out with 34.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $70,925, and the median income for a family was $76,805. Males had a median income of $55,696 versus $31,310 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $27,383. About 1.8% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.4% 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 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"....
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 12,075.
Communities
- CannonsburgCannonsburg, MichiganCannonsburg is an unincorporated community within Cannon Township, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is on Bear Creek in the southwest part of the township at ....
is an unincorporated community in the township. - Chauncey (also known as Buena Vista and Imperial Mills) is an unincorporated, mostly historical settlement on the boundary between Cannon Township and Plainfield TownshipPlainfield Township, Kent County, MichiganPlainfield Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2000 census, the population was 30,195 . The township forms part of the metro Grand Rapids area. It derives its name from the extinct lumbertown of Plainfield founded in 1838 by Andrew...
where Bear Creek enters the Grand RiverGrand River (Michigan)The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
.
History
The area that would become Cannon Township was originally attached to neighboring PlainfieldPlainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan
Plainfield Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2000 census, the population was 30,195 . The township forms part of the metro Grand Rapids area. It derives its name from the extinct lumbertown of Plainfield founded in 1838 by Andrew...
. In 1837 Andrew Watson brought his family to Cannon and built the first farm in the township. Over the next decade many other pioneers arrived and settled. In 1845 the township was split from Plainfield and took its present name.
The township took its name from the small settlement of Cannonsburgh, which had been founded in 1842 at the direction of LeGrand Cannon, described as an eastern capitalist. The hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
had 2 mills and a store by 1845, and the town was platted to encourage residential growth. Mr. Cannon was proud of his little town, and provided a fitting gift in appreciation: a small cannon inscribed with his name and date. The cannon was used by the townspeople to commemorate holidays, such as the 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
, until someone was hurt firing the ordnance. The cannon was then buried to prevent further injuries, but was later discovered and refitted for firing. Unfortunately, another person was subsequently injured while firing the cannon, and again it was buried, and has not been found again to this day.
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 37.1 square miles (96.1 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (93 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (3.29%) is water.
Zip Codes
- Rockford-49341
- Belmont- 49306
- Ada 49301
- Cannonsburg 49317
School Districts
- Rockford Public Schools
- Lowell Area Schools
- Forest Hills Public Schools
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 12,075 people, 3,913 households, and 3,341 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 336.5 per square mile (129.9/km²). There were 4,174 housing units at an average density of 116.3 per square mile (44.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.67% White, 0.47% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.40% 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 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 3,913 households out of which 51.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% 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, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the township the population was spread out with 34.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $70,925, and the median income for a family was $76,805. Males had a median income of $55,696 versus $31,310 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 $27,383. About 1.8% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.