Clarence Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Clarence Township is a civil township
located in northeast Calhoun County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,032 at the 2000 census
. The township was originally named Pinkney Township.
The township was organized in 1838. The first school in the township was established the following year.
, which flows north from the lake towards Charlotte
. Two other branches of the Battle Creek also flow north out of the township. South and east of Duck Lake are a series of smaller lakes that flow into the North Branch of Rice Creek (a tributary of the Kalamazoo River
). A small area west of Duck Lake drains into the Indian Creek, which flows into the Battle Creek near Olivet
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 34.2 square miles (88.6 km²), of which, 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (4.27%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,032 people, 796 households, and 599 families residing in the township. The population density
was 62.1 per square mile (24.0/km²). There were 996 housing units at an average density of 30.4 per square mile (11.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.29% White, 0.54% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.20% from other races
, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 796 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,700, and the median income for a family was $45,122. Males had a median income of $35,821 versus $21,544 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,713. About 11.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and none 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,...
located in northeast Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
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"....
. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,032 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...
. The township was originally named Pinkney Township.
History
Like the rest of Calhoun County, Clarence Township was populated by Potawatamis before the coming of Euro-Americans. The first Euro-American settler came to the township in 1836. It was not until 1845 that a Euro-American settled at Duck Lake. This was Jacob Nichols, who still had Potawatami neighbors as his only close neighbors for several years after this.The township was organized in 1838. The first school in the township was established the following year.
Communities
There are no incorporated municipalities within the rural township. There are settlements at a few unincorporated communities:- Albion LandingAlbion Landing, MichiganAlbion Landing is an unincorporated community in northeastern Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Albion Landing is in Clarence Township on the southeast shore of Duck Lake at about ten miles north of Albion and about twelve miles south of Charlotte, Michigan .Albion Landing, along...
, on the southeast shore of Duck Lake at 42°22′55"N 84°47′03"W. - Charlotte Landing, on the east shore of Duck Lake at 42°23′32"N 84°46′33"W.
- Clarence Center, about one mile (1.6 km) east of Duck Lake at 42°22′52"N 84°46′05"W.
- Duck Lake, on the north side of Duck Lake at 42°24′00"N 84°46′56"W. All the historical settlements around Duck Lake are often commonly referred to as Duck Lake.
- Rice Creek, about six miles (10 km) southwest of Duck Lake at 42°20′04"N 84°49′43"W. This place is actually a few miles away from either branch of the Rice Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo RiverKalamazoo RiverThe Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
. It is situated at a crossroads separating Clarence Township on the northeast, Sheridan TownshipSheridan Township, Calhoun County, MichiganSheridan Township is a civil township of Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on the southeast, Marengo TownshipMarengo Township, MichiganMarengo Township is a civil township of Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on the southwest, and Lee TownshipLee Township, Calhoun County, MichiganLee Township is a civil township of Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on the northwest. - The city of AlbionAlbion, MichiganAlbion is a city in Calhoun County in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The population was 9,144 at the 2000 census and is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area...
is to the south and the 49224 ZIP code for the Albion post office also serves much of the southern area of Clarence Township. - The village of OlivetOlivet, MichiganOlivet is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,758 at the 2000 census. Olivet College is located there.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
is to the northwest in Walton TownshipWalton Township, MichiganWalton Township is a civil township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,011 at the 2000 census.-History:Speculators began making land entries in the area that became Walton Township as early as 1832. Captain James W. Hickok became the first settler in 1836, and was...
, Eaton CountyEaton County, MichiganEaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties...
. The 49076 ZIP code for the Olivet post office also serves the northwest corner of Clarence Township. - The village of SpringportSpringport, MichiganSpringport is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 704. The village is located within Springport Township on M-99.-Geography:...
is to the east in Springport TownshipSpringport Township, MichiganSpringport Township is a civil township of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,182...
, Jackson CountyJackson County, MichiganAs of the census of 2000, there were 158,422 people, 58,168 households, and 40,833 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile . There were 62,906 housing units at an average density of 89/sq mi...
. The 49284 ZIP code for the Springport post office also serves much of the eastern area of Clarence Township.
Geography
Duck Lake is the most prominent feature in the township, and is the headwaters for the Battle Creek RiverBattle Creek River
The Battle Creek River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a tributary of the Kalamazoo River, joining it at Battle Creek, Michigan....
, which flows north from the lake towards Charlotte
Charlotte, Michigan
Charlotte is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074. It is the county seat of Eaton County....
. Two other branches of the Battle Creek also flow north out of the township. South and east of Duck Lake are a series of smaller lakes that flow into the North Branch of Rice Creek (a tributary of the Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo River
The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
). A small area west of Duck Lake drains into the Indian Creek, which flows into the Battle Creek near Olivet
Olivet, Michigan
Olivet is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,758 at the 2000 census. Olivet College is located there.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
.
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 34.2 square miles (88.6 km²), of which, 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (4.27%) 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 2,032 people, 796 households, and 599 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 62.1 per square mile (24.0/km²). There were 996 housing units at an average density of 30.4 per square mile (11.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.29% White, 0.54% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.20% 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 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 796 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% 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, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,700, and the median income for a family was $45,122. Males had a median income of $35,821 versus $21,544 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 $18,713. About 11.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.