Sebewa Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Sebewa Township is a civil township
of Ionia County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 1,202.
Jacob Showerman had been to the area in 1836 looking for land and found only Jones in section 1. Showerman entered a claim for 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of land in section 22 and returned in 1839 with Eleazer Brown and their families. They lodged at in the small one-room cabin of Terrill's along with Terrill's and that of William Hogle and his son-in-law John Brown. The twenty people in the four families passed four weeks together until a path to Showerman's property could be cut. Eleazer Brown settled on land he bought in section 26.
Rufus Goddard, who had moved west from Livingston County, New York
, came to the area in 1837 and located land in Sebewa while his family remained in Lenawee County
. Goddard, along with Benjamin D. Weld who was to give some assistance to Goddard, were to come together to Sebewa. However, Weld was not ready to move and both families remained in Lenawee. Weld moved to Sebewa in 1843 and settled in the southwestern part Sebewa. Goddard followed in 1844 and worked a year and a half to repay Weld before settling on 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in section 32.
until March 19, 1845, when it was created as a separate township. The first names proposed were "Charlestown", in honor of Charles W. Ingalls; and "Liberia", but Rufus Goddard suggested Sebewa, after Sebewa Creek, meaning little river. The first township meeting was held at the home of Jacob Showerman, but no record of the meeting attendees or acts remains.
, the township has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,202 people, 406 households, and 332 families residing in the township. The population density
was 33.6 per square mile (13.0/km²). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.34% White, 0.25% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.25% from other races
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 406 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.2% were married couples
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,065, and the median income for a family was $52,125. Males had a median income of $36,719 versus $24,091 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,774. About 5.1% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% 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 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"....
. As of 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 population was 1,202.
Communities
- Sebewa (or Sebewa Corners) is an unincorporated community at 42°47′58"N 84°57′21"W straddling the boundary between Sebewa Township on the west and Danby TownshipDanby Township, MichiganDanby Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,696 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
on the east. On April 11, 1867, Pierce G. Cook, as an agent for Elizabeth Cornell of New Jersey, 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 the portion of community in Danby with the name Cornell. Other plats were made on the Sebewa side and over time, the name reverted to Sebewa for the entire settlement.
Early settlers
The first permanent white settlers in the township were John F. Terrill, Charles W. Ingalls, and John Brown from Vermont, who arrived in 1838. An earlier settler by the name of Jones had arrived in 1836 with his wife, but did not remain in the area. Terrill located on section 25 and Ingall and Brown in section 36. In 1843, Terrill, along with Anson W. Halbert, built a sawmill on the Sebewa Creek, just west of "The Corners" located where the corners of four sections met along the eastern township line. Halbert had arrived in 1841 and married one of Terrill's daughters and carried out some trade at the Corners.Jacob Showerman had been to the area in 1836 looking for land and found only Jones in section 1. Showerman entered a claim for 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of land in section 22 and returned in 1839 with Eleazer Brown and their families. They lodged at in the small one-room cabin of Terrill's along with Terrill's and that of William Hogle and his son-in-law John Brown. The twenty people in the four families passed four weeks together until a path to Showerman's property could be cut. Eleazer Brown settled on land he bought in section 26.
Rufus Goddard, who had moved west from Livingston County, New York
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, came to the area in 1837 and located land in Sebewa while his family remained in Lenawee County
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
. Goddard, along with Benjamin D. Weld who was to give some assistance to Goddard, were to come together to Sebewa. However, Weld was not ready to move and both families remained in Lenawee. Weld moved to Sebewa in 1843 and settled in the southwestern part Sebewa. Goddard followed in 1844 and worked a year and a half to repay Weld before settling on 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in section 32.
Township organization
Sebewa Township was a part of Berlin TownshipBerlin Township, Ionia County, Michigan
Berlin Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,787.-Communities:* Berlin Center is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at ....
until March 19, 1845, when it was created as a separate township. The first names proposed were "Charlestown", in honor of Charles W. Ingalls; and "Liberia", but Rufus Goddard suggested Sebewa, after Sebewa Creek, meaning little river. The first township meeting was held at the home of Jacob Showerman, but no record of the meeting attendees or acts remains.
Post offices
A post office named "Sebewa" was established on January 24, 1851, with Benjamin Weld as the first postmaster. On April 14, 1854, the post office was moved from Weld's properties in the southwest part of the township to the Showerman settlement when Lucius Showerman was named postmaster. In 1857, the office moved to "The Corners". The name was changed to "Cornell" on July 8, 1861 but was changed back to Sebewa on February 16, 1881. The office was closed on November 15, 1913.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 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²) of it is land and 0.03% 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 1,202 people, 406 households, and 332 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 33.6 per square mile (13.0/km²). There were 415 housing units at an average density of 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.34% White, 0.25% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.25% 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 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 406 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.2% 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, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,065, and the median income for a family was $52,125. Males had a median income of $36,719 versus $24,091 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 $17,774. About 5.1% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.