Ronald Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Ronald Township is a civil township
of Ionia County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 1,903 at the 2000 census
.
Ronald Township was formed in 1845 from parts of Lyons
and Ionia
townships, and given its name by state representative A. L. Roof, who said he was inspired by the lead character in a novel he was reading at the time. (This may have been Sir Walter Scott
's narrative poem Lord of the Isles, in which the protagonist is named Ronald.)
, the township has a total area of 36.5 square miles (94.5 km²), of which, 36.3 square miles (94 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.44%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,903 people, 651 households, and 514 families residing in the township. The population density
was 52.4 per square mile (20.2/km²). There were 708 housing units at an average density of 19.5 per square mile (7.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.79% White, 0.68% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.74% from other races
, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.
There were 651 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,952, and the median income for a family was $49,620. Males had a median income of $36,989 versus $24,792 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,826. About 6.4% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 20.5% 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 Ionia County
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 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 1,903 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...
.
Ronald Township was formed in 1845 from parts of Lyons
Lyons Township, Michigan
Lyons Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,446 at the 2000 census. The village of Lyons is mostly within the township...
and Ionia
Ionia Township, Michigan
Ionia Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,669 at the 2000 census. The city of Ionia is mostly within the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
townships, and given its name by state representative A. L. Roof, who said he was inspired by the lead character in a novel he was reading at the time. (This may have been Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's narrative poem Lord of the Isles, in which the protagonist is named Ronald.)
Communities
- Palo is an unincorporated community in the northern part of the township at 43°06′45"N 84°59′08"W. It began on land owned by Matthew and John Van Vleck. The name "Palo" [pronounced Pay-Low, locally] was suggested by John in honor of the victory by General Zachary TaylorZachary TaylorZachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
at the Battle of Palo AltoBattle of Palo AltoThe Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas...
, the first major battle of the Mexican–American WarMexican–American WarThe Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
fought on May 8, 1846. A post office was established on July 14, 1857, with Dr. Orla H. Taylor as the first postmaster. The community was first platPlatA plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted and recorded on March 12, 1867, but William H. Freeman. The Palo post office was discontinued on February 4, 1995, although the Palo ZIP code 48870 continues to provide P.O. Box only service through use of the local store Joe's Market and a postal contract.
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 36.5 square miles (94.5 km²), of which, 36.3 square miles (94 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.44%) 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 1,903 people, 651 households, and 514 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 52.4 per square mile (20.2/km²). There were 708 housing units at an average density of 19.5 per square mile (7.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.79% White, 0.68% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.74% 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 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.
There were 651 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% 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, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,952, and the median income for a family was $49,620. Males had a median income of $36,989 versus $24,792 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 $17,826. About 6.4% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 20.5% of those age 65 or over.