Hagar Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Hagar Township is a civil township
of Berrien County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,964.
The township is in the north of the county with Lake Michigan
to the west, Van Buren County
to the north, Coloma Charter Township
to the east, Bainbridge Township
to the southeast, and Benton Charter Township
to the south.
Charles Lamb and his wife came to the area from Vermont
in 1839 to become the first white settler. The township was officially organized on March 25, 1846.
There are no incorporated municipalities within the township. The unincorporated communities of Riverside and Lake Michigan Beach
(also known as "Hagar Shores") are within the township.
, the township has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48.4 km²), of which, 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.59%) is water.
I-196
/US 31
serve the township with two interchanges, and M-63
passes through the township along the shore of Lake Michigan.
The Paw Paw River
runs through the township.
of 2000, there were 3,964 people, 1,639 households, and 1,085 families residing in the township. The population density
was 213.4 per square mile (82.4/km²). There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of 114.2 per square mile (44.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.59% White, 1.74% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.83% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 1,639 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $38,614, and the median income for a family was $47,768. Males had a median income of $34,890 versus $23,924 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,710. About 6.5% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.6% 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 Berrien County
Berrien County, Michigan
Berrien County is a county located in the extreme southwest of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 156,813. The county seat is St. Joseph....
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 3,964.
The township is in the north of the county with 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...
to the west, 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...
to the north, Coloma Charter Township
Coloma Charter Township, Michigan
Coloma Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,217 at the 2000 census. The city of Coloma lies within the township.The township is located in the north central portion of the county...
to the east, Bainbridge Township
Bainbridge Township, Michigan
Bainbridge Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,132. It was organized in 1837....
to the southeast, and Benton Charter Township
Benton Charter Township, Michigan
Benton Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census, the township population was 16,404.-Communities:...
to the south.
Charles Lamb and his wife came to the area from Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1839 to become the first white settler. The township was officially organized on March 25, 1846.
There are no incorporated municipalities within the township. The unincorporated communities of Riverside and Lake Michigan Beach
Lake Michigan Beach, Michigan
Lake Michigan Beach is an unincorporated community in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes, without any legal status as a municipality. The population was 1,509 at the 2000 census....
(also known as "Hagar Shores") are within the township.
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 18.7 square miles (48.4 km²), of which, 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.59%) is water.
I-196
Interstate 196
Interstate 196 is a long freeway spur route in the US state of Michigan linking Grand Rapids, Holland, South Haven, and Benton Harbor. I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties, after the 38th President of the United States,...
/US 31
U.S. Route 31
U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
serve the township with two interchanges, and M-63
M-63 (Michigan highway)
M-63 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from M-139 at Scottdale through the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph to Interstate 196/US Highway 31 at exit 7 just outside Hagar Shores. The trunkline runs through residential areas south of St. Joseph and through...
passes through the township along the shore of Lake Michigan.
The Paw Paw River
Paw Paw River
The Paw Paw River is located in the U.S. state of Michigan in the southwest portion of the lower peninsula. It is formed by the confluence of the north and south branches at in Waverly Township in the northeast of Van Buren County. It flows approximately through Van Buren County and Berrien...
runs through the township.
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 3,964 people, 1,639 households, and 1,085 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 213.4 per square mile (82.4/km²). There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of 114.2 per square mile (44.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.59% White, 1.74% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.83% 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 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 1,639 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% 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, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $38,614, and the median income for a family was $47,768. Males had a median income of $34,890 versus $23,924 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 $19,710. About 6.5% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.