Ironwood Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Ironwood Township is a charter township
of Gogebic County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 2,330 at the 2000 census
. Ironwood Township is the home of Gogebic Community College, as well as the Gogebic/Iron County airport.
The City of Ironwood
is at the south end of the township, but is administratively autonomous. Most of the land in the township is within the Ottawa National Forest
. The Montreal River
is the western boundary, with Wisconsin
on the other side. Wakefield Township
is on the east and Bessemer Township
on the south (along with Ironwood).
The Ironwood ski hill at Brule http://www.micentral.com/travel/travel/20051211/t1.shtml and cross country trails http://www.exploringthenorth.com/trails/ski.html, http://www.ironwoodmi.org/township2.htm are nearby .
, the township has a total area of 188.8 square miles (489 km²), of which, 175.4 square miles (454.3 km²) of it is land and 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it (7.10%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,330 people, 1,024 households, and 699 families residing in the township. The population density
was 13.3 per square mile (5.1/km²). There were 1,609 housing units at an average density of 9.2 per square mile (3.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.38% White, 0.04% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.90% from other races
, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population. 27.5% were of Finnish, 13.5% Italian, 9.8% German
, 8.6% Swedish, 7.0% English
, 5.5% Irish
and 5.1% Polish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 1,024 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the township the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,053, and the median income for a family was $42,311. Males had a median income of $31,538 versus $20,179 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,702. About 7.5% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
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...
of Gogebic County
Gogebic County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,370 people, 7,425 households, and 4,581 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 10,839 housing units at an average density of 10 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"....
. The population was 2,330 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...
. Ironwood Township is the home of Gogebic Community College, as well as the Gogebic/Iron County airport.
The City of Ironwood
Ironwood, Michigan
Ironwood is a city in Gogebic County in the U.S. state of Michigan, about south of Lake Superior. The population was 6,293 at the 2000 census. The city is on US 2 and is situated opposite the Montreal River from Hurley, Wisconsin. It is the westernmost city in Michigan, situated on the same line...
is at the south end of the township, but is administratively autonomous. Most of the land in the township is within the Ottawa National Forest
Ottawa National Forest
The Ottawa National Forest is a 1.0 million acre national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes much of Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, as well as slices of Iron, Houghton, Baraga, and Marquette counties. The forest is under the jurisdiction of the U.S...
. The Montreal River
Montreal River (Wisconsin-Michigan)
The Montreal River is a river flowing to Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States. It is approximately 40 miles long and drains approximately 270 square miles in a forested region. For most of its length, the river's course is used to define a...
is the western boundary, with Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
on the other side. Wakefield Township
Wakefield Township, Michigan
Wakefield Township is a civil township of Gogebic County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 364 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*The City of Wakefield is situated within the township, but is administratively autonomous....
is on the east and Bessemer Township
Bessemer Township, Michigan
Bessemer Township is a civil township of Gogebic County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,270.-Communities:...
on the south (along with Ironwood).
The Ironwood ski hill at Brule http://www.micentral.com/travel/travel/20051211/t1.shtml and cross country trails http://www.exploringthenorth.com/trails/ski.html, http://www.ironwoodmi.org/township2.htm are nearby .
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 188.8 square miles (489 km²), of which, 175.4 square miles (454.3 km²) of it is land and 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it (7.10%) 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 2,330 people, 1,024 households, and 699 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 13.3 per square mile (5.1/km²). There were 1,609 housing units at an average density of 9.2 per square mile (3.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.38% White, 0.04% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.90% 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 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population. 27.5% were of Finnish, 13.5% Italian, 9.8% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 8.6% Swedish, 7.0% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 5.5% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 5.1% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 1,024 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the township the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,053, and the median income for a family was $42,311. Males had a median income of $31,538 versus $20,179 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 $18,702. About 7.5% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.