Harrison Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Harrison Charter Township is a charter township
of Macomb County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the population was 24,461. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 26,004.
, the township has a total area of 23.8 square miles (61.6 km²), of which, 14.3 square miles (37 km²) of it is land and 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²) of it (39.79%) is water.
Harrison Township sits along Lake St.Clair in the southeast region of Michigan. It is bordered to the west by Clinton Township
and Mount Clemens
, to the north by Chesterfield Township
, and just barely touches St. Clair Shores
to the south.
. The park contains nature trails, a nature center, playgrounds, beaches, pools, and picnic areas. The park has docks available to boaters. Locally, Harrison Township is known as "BoatTown U.S.A."
(CDP) in the 2000 Census. This allows the community to appear both on the list of places (like cities and villages) as well on the list of county subdivisions (like other townships). The final statistics for the township and the CDP are identical.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 24,461 people, 10,720 households, and 6,421 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,710.2 per square mile (660.5/km²). There were 11,486 housing units at an average density of 803.0 per square mile (310.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.53% White, 2.47% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races
, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
There were 10,720 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $51,892, and the median income for a family was $67,129. Males had a median income of $47,444 versus $31,561 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $29,491. About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Supervisor: Kenneth Verkest
Deputy Supervisor: Adam M. Wit
Clerk: Jan P. Jorgensen
Deputy Clerk: Margaret Lucido
Treasurer: Darrin S. York
Deputy Treasurer: Jared L. Maynard
Trustees: Frank Kapral, John Swiatkowski, Lawrence Tomenello, David Bratto
These offices run until November 20, 2012.
The township is policed by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department with officers assigned to the area. Although the township does not have its own police force, it does have a fire department. There are two fire stations, one on Crocker Blvd. and a new fire station on Jefferson between sixteen mile road and South River Road.
Charter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
of Macomb County
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
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
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...
, the population was 24,461. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate places the population at 26,004.
Places
- Lakeside is a populated locale a few miles southeast of Mount ClemensMount Clemens, MichiganMount Clemens is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,312. It is the county seat of Macomb County.-Early history:...
on the L'anse Creuse Bay of Lake St. ClairLake Saint Clair (North America)Lake St. Clair is a fresh-water lake named after Clare of Assisi that lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, and its midline also forms the boundary between Canada and the United States of America. Lake St. Clair includes the Anchor Bay along the Metro Detroit coastline...
just east of Interstate 94Interstate 94Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
and just north of the Clinton RiverClinton RiverThe Clinton River is a river in southeastern Michigan in the United States.The main branch of the river rises from wetlands in Springfield Township, Oakland County, northwest of Pontiac. A series of dams create a number of small lakes west of Pontiac, the last of which is Dawson's Millpond. The...
canal at 42°33′54"N 82°50′21"W. The area was projected in approximately 1900, mostly backed by financing from Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
capitalists who hoped to make it into a lake port for Mount Clemens. However, it did not develop much more than having an interurban rail connection with the city.
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 23.8 square miles (61.6 km²), of which, 14.3 square miles (37 km²) of it is land and 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²) of it (39.79%) is water.
Harrison Township sits along Lake St.Clair in the southeast region of Michigan. It is bordered to the west by Clinton Township
Clinton Charter Township, Michigan
The Charter Township of Clinton, usually referred to as Clinton Township, is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a part of Metro Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 96,796, and is Michigan's most populous township...
and Mount Clemens
Mount Clemens, Michigan
Mount Clemens is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,312. It is the county seat of Macomb County.-Early history:...
, to the north by Chesterfield Township
Chesterfield Township, Michigan
Chesterfield Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 37,405. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 44,612. The township was organized in 1842, formed out of a portion of Macomb Township...
, and just barely touches St. Clair Shores
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
St. Clair Shores is a suburban city bordering Lake St. Clair in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms a part of the Metro Detroit area, and is located approximately northeast of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,715. The current mayor is...
to the south.
Attractions
The location of the township makes this area a very popular attraction for many people in surrounding areas. Metro Beach Metropark is located on the shoreline of Harrison Township and Lake St. ClairLake Saint Clair (North America)
Lake St. Clair is a fresh-water lake named after Clare of Assisi that lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of Michigan, and its midline also forms the boundary between Canada and the United States of America. Lake St. Clair includes the Anchor Bay along the Metro Detroit coastline...
. The park contains nature trails, a nature center, playgrounds, beaches, pools, and picnic areas. The park has docks available to boaters. Locally, Harrison Township is known as "BoatTown U.S.A."
Demographics
The U.S. Census Bureau has defined Harrison Township as a census-designated placeCensus-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in the 2000 Census. This allows the community to appear both on the list of places (like cities and villages) as well on the list of county subdivisions (like other townships). The final statistics for the township and the CDP are identical.
As of the census
Census
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 24,461 people, 10,720 households, and 6,421 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 1,710.2 per square mile (660.5/km²). There were 11,486 housing units at an average density of 803.0 per square mile (310.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.53% White, 2.47% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.45% 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 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
There were 10,720 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% 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, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $51,892, and the median income for a family was $67,129. Males had a median income of $47,444 versus $31,561 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 $29,491. About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The Charter Township of Harrison is run by a board of elected officials. , township officials are as follows:Supervisor: Kenneth Verkest
Deputy Supervisor: Adam M. Wit
Clerk: Jan P. Jorgensen
Deputy Clerk: Margaret Lucido
Treasurer: Darrin S. York
Deputy Treasurer: Jared L. Maynard
Trustees: Frank Kapral, John Swiatkowski, Lawrence Tomenello, David Bratto
These offices run until November 20, 2012.
The township is policed by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department with officers assigned to the area. Although the township does not have its own police force, it does have a fire department. There are two fire stations, one on Crocker Blvd. and a new fire station on Jefferson between sixteen mile road and South River Road.
Education
Harrison Township is home to the L'Anse Creuse Public School District. This district is now "School of Choice" which allows students to move freely within the district. The district houses ten elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools. In addition to schools, the district also has a Vocational and Technical Center, Adult Education Center, Performing Arts Center, Professional Development Center, Special Services Building, and a Transportation and Maintenance Center. There are Five Blue Ribbon schools in the district and eight State Exemplary Schools.Notable residents
- Dino CiccarelliDino Ciccarelli.Dino Ciccarelli is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, primarily with the Minnesota North Stars. He scored 1,200 points in his NHL career. His 608 career NHL goals are also the most goals scored by a draft-eligible player who was not...
, retired professional ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player - Uncle KrackerUncle KrackerMatthew Shafer is an American rock musician known as Uncle Kracker. His singles include "Follow Me", "Smile", and "Drift Away". His music was more rap rock-based at the start of his career before turning in a more rock and Top 40 style music direction on later releases.-Biography:Shafer was born...
, rockRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, countryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, and rap-rock musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession.... - David LegwandDavid LegwandDavid Legwand is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League . He attended Grosse Pointe North High School....
, professional ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player - Candice MillerCandice MillerCandice S. Miller is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. She is a member of the Republican Party.The district includes Michigan's Huron, Macomb, and Sanilac counties, plus portions of Lapeer and Oakland counties....
, politician US Congress representative
Further reading
- "About Our District." L'Anse Creuse Public Schools. 23 Feb. 2006