Laird Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Laird Township is a civil township
of Houghton County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 634 at the 2000 census
.
, the township has a total area of 189.4 square miles (490.5 km²), of which, 188.1 square miles (487.2 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it (0.69%) is water.
of 2000, there were 634 people, 253 households, and 170 families residing in the township. The population density
was 3.4 per square mile (1.3/km²). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 2.3 per square mile (0.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.48% White, 2.52% Native American, 0.79% Asian, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population. 60.1% were of Finnish, 13.7% German
and 5.3% French
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 253 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples
living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 121.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $29,659 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $14,728. About 3.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% 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 Houghton County
Houghton County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,016 people, 13,793 households, and 8,137 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 17,748 housing...
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 634 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
- Alston is an unincorporated community in the township at 46°46′06"N 88°45′11"W. It began with a rural post office named Laird in August 1887. The office was closed in October 1888 but was restored in November 1888. When J.V. Alston became postmaster in April 1902, the community and post office were renamed for him. The office continued to operate until June 1957.
- Nisula is an unincorporated community in the township.
- Pori, also sometimes called "Plato," is an unincorporated community in 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 189.4 square miles (490.5 km²), of which, 188.1 square miles (487.2 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) of it (0.69%) is water.
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 634 people, 253 households, and 170 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 3.4 per square mile (1.3/km²). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 2.3 per square mile (0.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.48% White, 2.52% Native American, 0.79% Asian, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population. 60.1% were of Finnish, 13.7% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and 5.3% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 253 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% 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, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 121.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $33,333, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $29,659 versus $20,000 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 $14,728. About 3.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.