Columbus Township, St. Clair County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Columbus Township is a civil township
of St. Clair County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 4,615 at the 2000 census
.
, the township has a total area of 37.2 square miles (96.3 km²), of which, 37.1 square miles (96.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.38%) is water. The Belle River
passes through the township and has two tributaries: Gillett Drain and Dawson Drain.
, in 1832 led to the settlement of Columbus Township. Columbus Township was organized as a township on March 11, 1837. The Township was named for the famous explorer Christopher Columbus, and Theodore Bethey served as the Township's first supervisor. In 1839 the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
opened a small train station. In 1859, a 12 year-old Thomas A. Edison was given his first job as a newsboy on the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
line between Port Huron and Detroit. In 1992, the Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society moved the 1900-era Grand Trunk Railroad Depot located in Hickey to the nearby community of Richmond, MI.
In 1845 the population was 315. In 1880, the township's population increased to 1,327, and by 2000 the population had grown to 4,615.
of 2000, there were 4,615 people, 1,533 households, and 1,266 families residing in the township. The population density
was 124.4 per square mile (48.0/km²). There were 1,595 housing units at an average density of 43.0 per square mile (16.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.01% White, 0.09% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races
, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.30% of the population.
There were 1,533 households out of which 42.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the township the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $61,063, and the median income for a family was $65,000. Males had a median income of $46,824 versus $29,931 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $21,767. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 2.8% 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 St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
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 4,615 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
- Belle River is an unincorporated community on Gratiot Road, just southwest of where it crosses the Belle RiverBelle River (Michigan)The Belle River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan, flowing into the St. Clair River in Marine City at .The North Branch Belle River rises out of Long Lake at in section 22 of Attica Township in southeast Lapeer County. Long Lake is fed by the Long Lake Drain which drains marshy areas to...
in section 32 in the southeast of the township. It is about 17 miles southwest of Port HuronPort Huron, MichiganPort Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
at 42°49′25"N 82°42′01"W. - Columbus is an unincorporated community between sections 10 and 11 in the northeast of the township, on Rattle Run Road between Rattle Run and MemphisMemphis, MichiganMemphis is a city on the line between Macomb and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,129 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. It is about 13 miles southwest of Port HuronPort Huron, MichiganPort Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
at 42°52′56"N 82°39′45"W. The ZIP codeZIP CodeZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 48063. - Snyderville is an unincorporated community on Gratiot Road, less than two miles northeast of Belle River in section 27 of the township. It is about 15 miles southwest of Port HuronPort Huron, MichiganPort Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
at 42°50′12"N 82°40′17"W.
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 37.2 square miles (96.3 km²), of which, 37.1 square miles (96.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.38%) is water. The Belle River
Belle River (Michigan)
The Belle River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan, flowing into the St. Clair River in Marine City at .The North Branch Belle River rises out of Long Lake at in section 22 of Attica Township in southeast Lapeer County. Long Lake is fed by the Long Lake Drain which drains marshy areas to...
passes through the township and has two tributaries: Gillett Drain and Dawson Drain.
History
The creation of the Fort Gratiot Turnpike, now known as Gratiot RoadM-3 (Michigan highway)
M-3 is a north–south state highway in the US state of Michigan in the Detroit metropolitan area. For most of its length, M-3 is known as Gratiot Avenue...
, in 1832 led to the settlement of Columbus Township. Columbus Township was organized as a township on March 11, 1837. The Township was named for the famous explorer Christopher Columbus, and Theodore Bethey served as the Township's first supervisor. In 1839 the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
Grand Trunk Western Railroad
The Grand Trunk Western Railroad is an important subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway , constituting the majority of CN's Chicago Division ....
opened a small train station. In 1859, a 12 year-old Thomas A. Edison was given his first job as a newsboy on the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
Grand Trunk Western Railroad
The Grand Trunk Western Railroad is an important subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway , constituting the majority of CN's Chicago Division ....
line between Port Huron and Detroit. In 1992, the Richmond Area Historical and Genealogical Society moved the 1900-era Grand Trunk Railroad Depot located in Hickey to the nearby community of Richmond, MI.
In 1845 the population was 315. In 1880, the township's population increased to 1,327, and by 2000 the population had grown to 4,615.
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 4,615 people, 1,533 households, and 1,266 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 124.4 per square mile (48.0/km²). There were 1,595 housing units at an average density of 43.0 per square mile (16.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.01% White, 0.09% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.69% 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 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.30% of the population.
There were 1,533 households out of which 42.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the township the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $61,063, and the median income for a family was $65,000. Males had a median income of $46,824 versus $29,931 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 $21,767. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.