Columbia Township, Van Buren County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Columbia Township is a civil township
of Van Buren County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 2,714 at the 2000 census
.
Columbia Township is a largely rural area with many farms. It is also home to several lakes with a significant percentage of the population living on them, frequently retirees from Chicago
. Many summer lake cottages are owned by families with roots in the Chicago area.
The Kal-Haven Trail State Park goes through Columbia Township in an east-west direction, passing through both Berlamont and Grand Junction.
, the township has a total area of 35.5 square miles (91.9 km²), of which, 34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (3.81%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,714 people, 981 households, and 722 families residing in the township. The population density
was 79.6 per square mile (30.7/km²). There were 1,433 housing units at an average density of 42.0 per square mile (16.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.91% White, 3.06% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 4.64% from other races
, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.55% of the population.
There were 981 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $34,389, and the median income for a family was $39,583. Males had a median income of $30,712 versus $24,598 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $15,015. About 10.2% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% 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"....
. The population was 2,714 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...
.
Columbia Township is a largely rural area with many farms. It is also home to several lakes with a significant percentage of the population living on them, frequently retirees from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Many summer lake cottages are owned by families with roots in the Chicago area.
Communities
There are three settlements in the township, none of them large.- BreedsvilleBreedsville, MichiganBreedsville is a village in Van Buren County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 235. The village is within Columbia Township.-Geography:...
is the only incorporated village, located in the southwest part of the township. - Grand Junction unincorporated, although it has a larger business district than Breedsville, is located in the northwest part of the township. It is so named because it is located at the junction of two railroad lines, though only one now survives. It was first settled by David Young in the fall of 1869 and platPlatA plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted on December 8, 1871 - Berlamont is an unincorporated crossroads community that straddles the eastern township boundary with Bloomingdale TownshipBloomingdale Township, MichiganBloomingdale 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....
. It was formerly known as "Bear Lake Mills" and was a station on the now-defunct railroad between BloomingdaleBloomingdale, MichiganBloomingdale 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....
and Grand Junction.
The Kal-Haven Trail State Park goes through Columbia Township in an east-west direction, passing through both Berlamont and Grand Junction.
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 35.5 square miles (91.9 km²), of which, 34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (3.81%) 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 2,714 people, 981 households, and 722 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 79.6 per square mile (30.7/km²). There were 1,433 housing units at an average density of 42.0 per square mile (16.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.91% White, 3.06% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 4.64% 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 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.55% of the population.
There were 981 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $34,389, and the median income for a family was $39,583. Males had a median income of $30,712 versus $24,598 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 $15,015. About 10.2% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.