Byron Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Byron Township is a civil township
of Kent County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 17,553.
, the township has a total area of 36.6 square miles (94.8 km²), of which, 36.6 square miles (94.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.05%) is water.
of 2000, there were 17,553 people, 6,454 households, and 4,711 families residing in the township. The population density
was 480.1 per square mile (185.4/km²). There were 6,712 housing units at an average density of 183.6 per square mile (70.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.79% White, 1.21% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races
, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 6,454 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,672, and the median income for a family was $56,701. Males had a median income of $42,664 versus $26,449 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $24,206. About 2.5% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
is headquartered in the township.
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"....
. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 17,553.
Communities
- Byron CenterByron Center, MichiganByron Center is an unincorporated community in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan It is a census-designated place used for statistical purposes. The population was 3,777 at the 2000 census....
is an unincorporated community and census-designated placeCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
at the center of the township. The Byron Center ZIP codeZIP CodeZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
49315 serves most of the Byron township. - Carlisle or West Carlisle is an unincorporated, mostly historical locale in the township at 42°49′35"N 85°41′00"W. Carlisle was a station on the Grand Rapids and Indiana RailroadGrand Rapids and Indiana RailroadThe Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA...
. A post office named "West Carlisle" operated here from March 1884 until September 1910. - Corinth is an unincorporated community in the southeast part of the township on the boundary with Gaines TownshipGaines Township, Kent County, MichiganGaines Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,112 at the 2000 census.The township is about 13 miles south of downtown Grand Rapids. It is directly south of the city of Kentwood. The Charter Township of Caledonia and Village of...
. - CutlervilleCutlerville, MichiganCutlerville is an unincorporated community in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes...
is an unincorporated community and census-designated placeCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
in the northeast of the township, straddling the boundary with Gaines TownshipGaines Township, Kent County, MichiganGaines Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,112 at the 2000 census.The township is about 13 miles south of downtown Grand Rapids. It is directly south of the city of Kentwood. The Charter Township of Caledonia and Village of...
. - North Byron is an unincorporated community near the northern boundary of the township at 42°50′42"N 85°43′58"W. It began as a settlement named "Scudderville" on Rush Creek with a station on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern RailwayLake Shore and Michigan Southern RailwayThe Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...
. It was named for Henry W. Scudder, a local landowner. A post office named "North Byron" operated from October 1862 to December 1879 and from March 1894 to September 1903. - North Dorr is a tiny hamlet straddling the boundary between Byron Township and Dorr Township in Allegan County.
- Ross is an unincorporated, mostly historical community in the southeast part of the township at 42°46′57"N 85°41′40"W. Ross began as a depot on the Grand Rapids and Indiana RailroadGrand Rapids and Indiana RailroadThe Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA...
and was first named "Ross Station". It was 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 by William Thornton for William Ross in 1871. A post office was established in June 1871 with Daniel Ross as the first postmaster. - The city of WyomingWyoming, MichiganWyoming is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 72,125. That makes it the 2nd largest community or city in West Michigan, the 14th largest city in the state of Michigan, and the 18th largest community in the state as well...
is to the north, and the Wyoming ZIP code 49509 serves areas in the northern part of Byron Township. - The cities of Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand 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 KentwoodKentwood, MichiganKentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
are to the northeast, and the Grand Rapids/Kentwood ZIP code 49548 also serves an area in the northeast part of Byron Township. - The city of GrandvilleGrandville, MichiganGrandville is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 16,263 at the 2000 census. Grandville is one of the oldest suburbs of Grand Rapids, and was incorporated as a city in 1933....
is to the northwest, and the Grandville ZIP code 49418 serves areas in the northwest part of Byron 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 36.6 square miles (94.8 km²), of which, 36.6 square miles (94.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.05%) 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 17,553 people, 6,454 households, and 4,711 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 480.1 per square mile (185.4/km²). There were 6,712 housing units at an average density of 183.6 per square mile (70.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.79% White, 1.21% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.17% 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 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 6,454 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,672, and the median income for a family was $56,701. Males had a median income of $42,664 versus $26,449 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 $24,206. About 2.5% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Michigan grocery distributor and retail operator Spartan StoresSpartan Stores
Spartan Stores Inc. is an American food distributor and grocery store chain headquartered in Byron Township, Michigan. The company distributes national and Spartan brand products to over 400 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.-History:...
is headquartered in the township.
Township Officials
- Supervisor Audrey Nevins Weiss
- Clerk Joel Hondorp
- Treasurer Carol Houseman
- Trustee Paul Houseman
- Trustee Randall Jonker
- Trustee Tim Slot
- Trustee John VanSingel