Royalton Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Royalton Township is a civil township
of Berrien County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
, a few miles southeast of the city of St. Joseph
. The population was 3,888 at the 2000 census
. There are no incorporated municipalities in the township, but portions are considered to be part of the Benton Harbor
/St. Joseph urban area. The unincorporated communities of Hollywood, Scottdale, and Buckhorn are within the township.
Royalton township was organized in 1835 and originally included portions of Lincoln Charter Township
, Sodus Township
, and St. Joseph Charter Township
.
lies directly to the west. St. Joseph Charter Township
is to the northwest. The St. Joseph River
forms the eastern boundary of the township. Sodus Township
lies across the river. Oronoko Charter Township
lies to the south and Baroda Township
to the southwest.
M-139
, which had been designated as US 31
until August 2003 runs northwest-southeast through the township. US 31 is still accessible from the southern terminus of M-139, now a junction with US 31. I-94
and M-63
are accessible in the northwest of the township.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²), of which, 18.1 square miles (46.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (2.38%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,888 people, 1,299 households, and 1,084 families residing in the township. The population density
was 215.2 per square mile (83.1/km²). There were 1,366 housing units at an average density of 75.6 per square mile (29.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.29% White, 2.03% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 1.34% from other races
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.42% of the population.
There were 1,299 households out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.8% were married couples
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $69,375, and the median income for a family was $76,295. Males had a median income of $50,833 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $26,926. About 7.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 27.5% 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 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"....
, a few miles southeast of the city of St. Joseph
St. Joseph, Michigan
St. Joseph is a city in the US state of Michigan. It was incorporated as a village in 1834 and as a city in 1891. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,789. It lies on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, about east-northeast of Chicago. It is the county...
. The population was 3,888 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...
. There are no incorporated municipalities in the township, but portions are considered to be part of the Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
/St. Joseph urban area. The unincorporated communities of Hollywood, Scottdale, and Buckhorn are within the township.
Royalton township was organized in 1835 and originally included portions of Lincoln Charter Township
Lincoln Charter Township, Michigan
Lincoln Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 13,952 at the 2000 census....
, 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...
, and St. Joseph Charter Township
St. Joseph Charter Township, Michigan
St. Joseph Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,042 at the 2000 census. The township is on the shores of Lake Michigan in the west central portion of the county, south of and adjacent to the City of St. Joseph. The Village of...
.
Geography
Lincoln Charter TownshipLincoln Charter Township, Michigan
Lincoln Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 13,952 at the 2000 census....
lies directly to the west. St. Joseph Charter Township
St. Joseph Charter Township, Michigan
St. Joseph Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,042 at the 2000 census. The township is on the shores of Lake Michigan in the west central portion of the county, south of and adjacent to the City of St. Joseph. The Village of...
is to the northwest. The St. Joseph River
St. 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...
forms the eastern boundary of 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 across the river. Oronoko Charter Township
Oronoko Charter Township, Michigan
Oronoko Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,843 at the 2000 census.The Village of Berrien Springs is the only incorporated municipality within the township. Much of the eastern portion of the township is considered to be part...
lies to the south and Baroda Township
Baroda Township, Michigan
Baroda Township is a civil township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,880....
to the southwest.
M-139
M-139 (Michigan highway)
M-139 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan, entirely within Berrien County. It was formed originally as a bypass of the Benton Harbor and St...
, which had been designated as US 31
U.S. Route 31
U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
until August 2003 runs northwest-southeast through the township. US 31 is still accessible from the southern terminus of M-139, now a junction with US 31. I-94
Interstate 94
Interstate 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 M-63
M-63 (Michigan highway)
M-63 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from M-139 at Scottdale through the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph to Interstate 196/US Highway 31 at exit 7 just outside Hagar Shores. The trunkline runs through residential areas south of St. Joseph and through...
are accessible in the northwest of the township.
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 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²), of which, 18.1 square miles (46.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (2.38%) 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 3,888 people, 1,299 households, and 1,084 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 215.2 per square mile (83.1/km²). There were 1,366 housing units at an average density of 75.6 per square mile (29.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.29% White, 2.03% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 1.34% 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 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.42% of the population.
There were 1,299 households out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.8% 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, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $69,375, and the median income for a family was $76,295. Males had a median income of $50,833 versus $28,750 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 $26,926. About 7.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 27.5% of those age 65 or over.