Pipestone Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Pipestone Township is a civil township
of Berrien County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 2,474 at the 2000 census
. The township was organized on February 16, 1842.
in 1833 and then established a residence in Pipestone in April, 1837. In the fall of 1837, Dr. Morgan Enos moved from Bainbridge Township
and settled at a point that became known as "Shanghai Corners", because, according to local history, Dr. Enos was the first to bring Shanghai chickens
into the township. Joab Enos, a brother of Dr. Enos, moved into the township in 1838. He and William Boughton laid out a village known first as "Pipestone", and later as "Shanghai". Although only a few lots were sold, a post office was established in the village in 1846, and later there was a store operated by John Garrow.
The word "pipestone" refers to a red stone, known today as catlinite
, which was used to make the bowls of Indian peace pipes. Pipestone Creek was named because Native Americans
found material for making pipes along its course. The name was later extended to Pipestone Township.
drain the township: Pipestone Creek in the north and Farmers Creek in the south. M-140
runs north-south through the township.
Sodus Township
lies to the west, Benton Charter Township
to the northwest, Bainbridge Township
to the north, Van Buren County
to the northeast, Cass County
to the east, and Berrien Charter Township
to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 35.9 square miles (93 km²), of which, 35.7 square miles (92.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.67%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,474 people, 842 households, and 661 families residing in the township. The population density
was 69.4 per square mile (26.8/km²). There were 899 housing units at an average density of 25.2 per square mile (9.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 4.93% African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 2.87% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.44% of the population.
There were 842 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,440, and the median income for a family was $45,859. Males had a median income of $32,214 versus $24,432 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $16,423. About 8.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% 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 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"....
. The population was 2,474 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...
. The township was organized on February 16, 1842.
History
The first settler in the township was James Kirk, who moved with his family to Niles, MichiganNiles, Michigan
Niles is a city in Berrien and Cass counties in the U.S. state of Michigan, near South Bend, Indiana. The population was 11,600 at the 2010 census. It is the greater populated of two principal cities of and included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
in 1833 and then established a residence in Pipestone in April, 1837. In the fall of 1837, Dr. Morgan Enos moved from 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....
and settled at a point that became known as "Shanghai Corners", because, according to local history, Dr. Enos was the first to bring Shanghai chickens
Cochin (chicken)
The Cochin or Cochin China, originally known as the Chinese Shanghai, is a breed of chicken.The name Cochin came from the original Chinese name 九斤黄, meaning nine jin yellow, erroneously conflated with the then-current names for what are now parts of southern India and Vietnam, where jin is a...
into the township. Joab Enos, a brother of Dr. Enos, moved into the township in 1838. He and William Boughton laid out a village known first as "Pipestone", and later as "Shanghai". Although only a few lots were sold, a post office was established in the village in 1846, and later there was a store operated by John Garrow.
The word "pipestone" refers to a red stone, known today as catlinite
Catlinite
Catlinite is a type of argillite , usually brownish-red in color, which occurs in a matrix of Sioux quartzite. Because it is fine-grained and easily worked, it is prized by Native Americans for use in making sacred pipes such as calumets and chanunpas...
, which was used to make the bowls of Indian peace pipes. Pipestone Creek was named because Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
found material for making pipes along its course. The name was later extended to Pipestone Township.
Communities
- The village of Eau ClaireEau Claire, MichiganEau Claire is a village located in east central Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 656 at the 2000 census.The village lies partially within Pipestone Township and partially within Berrien Charter Township.-Geography:...
lies partially within the township and partially within Berrien Charter TownshipBerrien Charter Township, MichiganBerrien Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,075.- Communities :...
to the south. There are no other incorporated municipalities within the township. The township is primarily agricultural. - Pleasant Valley was a rural post office in the township at approximately 42°02′20"N 86°14′30"W from May 11, 1870 until September 18, 1874.
Geography
Two tributaries of the St. Joseph RiverSt. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)
The St. Joseph River is a river, approximately long, in southern Michigan and northern Indiana in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming area in the watershed of Lake Michigan...
drain the township: Pipestone Creek in the north and Farmers Creek in the south. M-140
M-140 (Michigan highway)
M-140 is a short state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. the route is entirely within Berrien and Van Buren counties. Although it runs near M-40, it was not designated as a spur from M-40. M-140 originally only existed north of Watervliet, as a designation to replace a rerouted U.S...
runs north-south through the township.
Sodus Township
Sodus Township, Michigan
Sodus Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,139 at the 2000 census. There are no incorporated municipalities in the township. The unincorporated community of Sodus in the northwest of the township is its main settlement; the portion of...
lies to the west, 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 northwest, 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 north, 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 northeast, Cass County
Cass County, Michigan
Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 51,104. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a total population of 316,663 and is sometimes considered part of Greater Michiana...
to the east, and Berrien Charter Township
Berrien Charter Township, Michigan
Berrien Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,075.- Communities :...
to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 35.9 square miles (93 km²), of which, 35.7 square miles (92.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.67%) 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 2,474 people, 842 households, and 661 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 69.4 per square mile (26.8/km²). There were 899 housing units at an average density of 25.2 per square mile (9.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 4.93% African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 2.87% 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 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.44% of the population.
There were 842 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,440, and the median income for a family was $45,859. Males had a median income of $32,214 versus $24,432 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 $16,423. About 8.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.