Long Lake Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Long Lake Township is a civil township
of Grand Traverse County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 7,648 at the 2000 census
.
, the township has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²), of which, 30.1 square miles (78 km²) of it is land and 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²) of it (15.52%) is water.
The population of the township was 333 in 1870, rising to 434 in 1880. The most notable historical incident in the early 1870s was the probable murder of John Eley, his wife Philopena, and their two daughters in July 1871. The family disappeared and neighbors later discovered blood on the walls of the family's house. A hired hand, William Benton, was the prime suspect, since he claimed to have been sold the Eley's farm. The case was never solved.
In the late 1870s, members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) began to move to the township from Indiana. A smaller number of people from Bohemia
also settled in the area. The township's population was 663 persons in 152 households in 1900.
Farming continued to be the primary source of income. The rise of the auto industry in the late 1910s to 1920s led many younger people to leave the area to settle in the Detroit and Flint
areas of Michigan. Today many residents of Long Lake township are retirees or commute to work in Traverse City.
of 2000, there were 7,648 people, 2,742 households, and 2,111 families residing in the township. The population density
was 254.0 per square mile (98.1/km²). There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of 106.6 per square mile (41.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.19% White, 0.26% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.26% from other races
, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 2,742 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,826, and the median income for a family was $55,386. Males had a median income of $37,303 versus $26,920 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $21,943. About 2.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% 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 Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County, Michigan
-Air service:*Grand Traverse County is served by Cherry Capital Airport, which is located near Traverse City.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 77,654 people, 30,396 households, and 20,730 families residing in the county. The population density was 167 people 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"....
. The population was 7,648 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...
.
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 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²), of which, 30.1 square miles (78 km²) of it is land and 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²) of it (15.52%) is water.
History
The Long Lake township area was initially settled in 1862 when Ira Chase and his brother-in-law Eliphalet Fillmore traveled from Whitewater township to Grand Traverse County to select land. The next few years saw the gradual influx of families who cleared forested areas to establish farms. An annual cycle of farming in the summer, logging in the winter, and maple sugaring in the spring began. The end of the Civil War brought additional settlers and in November 1866 a group of men petitioned the Board of Supervisors of Grand Traverse County to form "Viola" township. In January 1867, Long Lake township was formally organized.The population of the township was 333 in 1870, rising to 434 in 1880. The most notable historical incident in the early 1870s was the probable murder of John Eley, his wife Philopena, and their two daughters in July 1871. The family disappeared and neighbors later discovered blood on the walls of the family's house. A hired hand, William Benton, was the prime suspect, since he claimed to have been sold the Eley's farm. The case was never solved.
In the late 1870s, members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) began to move to the township from Indiana. A smaller number of people from Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
also settled in the area. The township's population was 663 persons in 152 households in 1900.
Farming continued to be the primary source of income. The rise of the auto industry in the late 1910s to 1920s led many younger people to leave the area to settle in the Detroit and Flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
areas of Michigan. Today many residents of Long Lake township are retirees or commute to work in Traverse City.
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 7,648 people, 2,742 households, and 2,111 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 254.0 per square mile (98.1/km²). There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of 106.6 per square mile (41.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.19% White, 0.26% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.26% 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 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 2,742 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% 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, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,826, and the median income for a family was $55,386. Males had a median income of $37,303 versus $26,920 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 $21,943. About 2.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.