Golden Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Golden Township is a civil township
of Oceana County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 1,810 at the 2000 census
.
, the township has a total area of 35 square miles (90.6 km²), of which, 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (4.14%) is water.
The township is bounded on the west by Lake Michigan
. A portion of the Lake Michigan shoreline and adjacent land is taken up by Silver Lake State Park
.
of 2000, there were 1,810 people, 712 households, and 533 families residing in the township. The population density
was 54.0 per square mile (20.8/km²). There were 2,203 housing units at an average density of 65.7 per square mile (25.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.83% White, 0.39% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 6.69% from other races
, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.05% of the population.
There were 712 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $35,878, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $32,321 versus $20,721 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,934. About 9.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 1.7% 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 Oceana County
Oceana County, Michigan
-US highways:* US-31* US 31 Business Route is a spur serving downtown Hart.* US 31 Business Route loops through downtown Pentwater, returning to mainline US-31 at both ends.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-20* M-120-Intercounty Highways:*B-15...
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 1,810 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
- Mears is an unincorporated community in the eastern part of the township at 43°40′55"N 86°25′11"W. The community was founded by mill owner Charles Mears in 1873. A post office opened in May 1873. The Mears 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...
, 49436, includes most of Golden Township as well as small areas of Pentwater TownshipPentwater Township, MichiganPentwater Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,513 at the 2000 census. The Village of Pentwater is located within the township.-Geography:...
to the north, Hart TownshipHart Township, MichiganHart Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,026 at the 2000 census. The City of Hart is located within the township but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
to the east, and Benona TownshipBenona Township, MichiganBenona Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,520.-Geography:...
to the south. - The City of HartHart, MichiganHart is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,950. It is the county seat of Oceana County. The city is located within Hart Township, but is politically independent....
is located to the east, and a small area in the northeast part of the township is served by the Hart ZIP code, 49420. - The Village of PentwaterPentwater, MichiganPentwater is a village in Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 958 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Pentwater Township. Pentwater is home to Mears State Park. The name Pentwater comes from Pent or Penned up waters...
is located to the north, and a small area in the northeast part of the township is served by the Pentwater ZIP code, 49449. - The Village of ShelbyShelby, Oceana County, MichiganShelby is a village in Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,914 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Shelby Township.-Schools: operate within the Village boundaries...
is to the southeast, and small areas in the southeast and southwest corners of the township are served by the Shelby ZIP code, 49455.
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 square miles (90.6 km²), of which, 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (4.14%) is water.
The township is bounded on the west by Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. A portion of the Lake Michigan shoreline and adjacent land is taken up by Silver Lake State Park
Silver Lake State Park (Michigan)
Silver Lake State Park is a state park in Michigan, located on Lake Michigan near Mears.It is composed of mature forest land and over of sand dunes. The park is wide and long and is divided into three segments: The northern area is an all-terrain vehicle park, and is the only dunes area east of...
.
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 1,810 people, 712 households, and 533 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 54.0 per square mile (20.8/km²). There were 2,203 housing units at an average density of 65.7 per square mile (25.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.83% White, 0.39% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 6.69% 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 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.05% of the population.
There were 712 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $35,878, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $32,321 versus $20,721 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 $17,934. About 9.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.