Alpine Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Alpine Township is a civil township
of Kent County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The township became a charter township
in 1979, but in 1996, the township de-chartered and returned to general law status. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 13,976. The township is located northwest of Grand Rapids
and is bordered by Wright township
in Ottawa County
to the west, Sparta Township
to the north, Plainfield Charter Township
to the east, and the City of Walker
to the south. The unincorporated community of Alpine is located within the township at 43°04′22"N 85°41′06"W and is centered around a large commercial district along route M-37
, which runs north-south along the eastern portion of the township.
, the township has a total area of 36 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.39%) is water. At 36 square miles (93.2 km²) in area, none of the original township land has been annexed by other municipalities.
of 2000, there were 13,976 people, 5,550 households, and 3,468 families residing in the township. The population density
was 389.9 per square mile (150.5/km²). There were 5,830 housing units at an average density of 162.6 per square mile (62.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.55% White, 3.11% African American, 0.77% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.85% from other races
, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.55% of the population.
There were 5,550 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples
living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,484, and the median income for a family was $50,068. Males had a median income of $37,143 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,412. About 6.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% 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 Kent County
Kent County, Michigan
-Air Service:*Commercial air service to Grand Rapids is provided by Gerald R. Ford International Airport . Previously named Kent County International Airport, it holds Grand Rapids' mark in modern history with the United States' first regularly scheduled airline service, beginning July 31, 1926,...
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 township became a charter township
Charter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
in 1979, but in 1996, the township de-chartered and returned to general law status. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 13,976. The township is located northwest of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and is bordered by Wright township
Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan
Wright Township is a civil township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,147 at the 2010 census.-Communities:*Big Spring was a small settlement at on the northern boundary of the township between sections 3 and 4...
in Ottawa County
Ottawa County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families residing in the county. The population density was 421 people per square mile . There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
to the west, Sparta Township
Sparta Township, Michigan
Sparta Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,938 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.Most of the township is served by...
to the north, Plainfield Charter Township
Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan
Plainfield Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2000 census, the population was 30,195 . The township forms part of the metro Grand Rapids area. It derives its name from the extinct lumbertown of Plainfield founded in 1838 by Andrew...
to the east, and the City of Walker
Walker, Michigan
Walker is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Grand Rapids. The population was 23,537 at the 2010 census. Before incorporating as a city, it was known as Walker Township...
to the south. The unincorporated community of Alpine is located within the township at 43°04′22"N 85°41′06"W and is centered around a large commercial district along route M-37
M-37 (Michigan highway)
M-37 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The southern terminus is near the border between Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties at exit 92 of Interstate 94 southwest of Battle Creek. The northern terminus is at the Mission Point Light on Old Mission Point in Grand...
, which runs north-south along the eastern portion of the township.
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 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.39%) is water. At 36 square miles (93.2 km²) in area, none of the original township land has been annexed by other municipalities.
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 13,976 people, 5,550 households, and 3,468 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 389.9 per square mile (150.5/km²). There were 5,830 housing units at an average density of 162.6 per square mile (62.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.55% White, 3.11% African American, 0.77% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.85% 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 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.55% of the population.
There were 5,550 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% 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, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,484, and the median income for a family was $50,068. Males had a median income of $37,143 versus $26,417 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 $20,412. About 6.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.