Courtland Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Courtland Township is a civil township
of Kent County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,817. The community is quite rural in character and farmland still occupies much of the township, but the area also seems to be on the edge of expansion of the Grand Rapids
metro area.
Almost all of the township is served by the Rockford
post office, ZIP code 49341, and the Rockford Public Schools
. As a result, most people residing in Courtland Township identify themselves as Rockford residents.
The first township meeting was held at the home of Barton Johnson in 1839, the year the township was also officially organized.
Evans and Sheffield were two small communities that formed around railroad stops along the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway
, which later became part of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
. Both communities were founded in 1888 and disappeared when the railroad eliminated the stops and later ceased service in 1946. Evans was located on Redmond road about a half mile south of Benham, and Sheffield was located at the intersection of Myers Lake and 15 mile roads. A post office operated in Sheffield from 1891 until 1906.
, the township has a total area of 36 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.5 square miles (91.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.45%) is water.
Most Of The Township Is Served By 49341 (Rockford), Northern Portions are Served By 49319 (Cedar Springs), Most Of The Children Under 18 Are Served By Rockford Public Schools, Northern Portions are Served By Cedar Springs Public Schools.
of 2000, there were 5,817 people, 1,936 households, and 1,635 families residing in the township. The population density
was 164.0 per square mile (63.3/km²). There were 2,022 housing units at an average density of 57.0 per square mile (22.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.07% White, 0.19% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.33% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 1,936 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.4% were married couples
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.5% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% 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 3.26.
In the township the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $64,430, and the median income for a family was $69,306. Males had a median income of $50,392 versus $29,744 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $26,254. About 2.0% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% 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 5,817. The community is quite rural in character and farmland still occupies much of the township, but the area also seems to be on the edge of expansion of the 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...
metro area.
Almost all of the township is served by the Rockford
Rockford, Michigan
Rockford is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,719. It is on the Rogue River and is only a few miles north of Grand Rapids.- History :...
post office, ZIP code 49341, and the Rockford Public Schools
Rockford Public Schools (Michigan)
The Rockford Public School system serves an area of approximately centered on Rockford, Michigan.- History :Rockford Public Schools serves portions of Kent and Montcalm Counties, and serves portions of Plainfield, Algoma, Courtland, Cannon, Grattan and Oakfield Townships.The modern school system...
. As a result, most people residing in Courtland Township identify themselves as Rockford residents.
History
Barton Johnson was the first settler in the township, arriving in 1838. He lived near the modern intersection of 13 Mile Road and Myers Lake Road. About fifteen other families moved into the township the next year, and those people remained the only residents for the next fifteen years.The first township meeting was held at the home of Barton Johnson in 1839, the year the township was also officially organized.
Communities
The pioneers of the township had settled near the center of the township, and that small community became known as Courtland Center. The Courtland post office was housed there and served the area from October 24, 1856 until February 15, 1901. Today there is nothing recognizable as a village in that area.Evans and Sheffield were two small communities that formed around railroad stops along the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway
Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway
The Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway is a defunct railroad incorporated in January, 1886. The railroad offered service between Ashley, Michigan and Muskegon, Michigan starting on August 1, 1888...
, which later became part of 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 ....
. Both communities were founded in 1888 and disappeared when the railroad eliminated the stops and later ceased service in 1946. Evans was located on Redmond road about a half mile south of Benham, and Sheffield was located at the intersection of Myers Lake and 15 mile roads. A post office operated in Sheffield from 1891 until 1906.
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 36 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.5 square miles (91.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.45%) is water.
Most Of The Township Is Served By 49341 (Rockford), Northern Portions are Served By 49319 (Cedar Springs), Most Of The Children Under 18 Are Served By Rockford Public Schools, Northern Portions are Served By Cedar Springs 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 5,817 people, 1,936 households, and 1,635 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 164.0 per square mile (63.3/km²). There were 2,022 housing units at an average density of 57.0 per square mile (22.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.07% White, 0.19% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.33% 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 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 1,936 households out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.4% 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, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.5% were non-families. 12.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% 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 3.26.
In the township the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $64,430, and the median income for a family was $69,306. Males had a median income of $50,392 versus $29,744 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 $26,254. About 2.0% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
