Liberty Township, Jackson County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Liberty Township is a civil township
of Jackson County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. As of the 2000 census
, the township population was 2,903.
, the township has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), of which, 34.8 square miles (90.1 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (2.82%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,903 people, 1,073 households, and 857 families residing in the township. The population density
was 83.5 per square mile (32.2/km²). There were 1,186 housing units at an average density of 34.1 per square mile (13.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.97% White, 0.14% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.41% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 1,073 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.5% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $55,046, and the median income for a family was $59,135. Males had a median income of $46,842 versus $29,323 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $27,433. About 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 1.8% 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 Jackson County
Jackson County, Michigan
As 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...
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 2,903.
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, 34.8 square miles (90.1 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (2.82%) is water.
Parks, campgrounds, or preserves
- 4-H Camp McGregor is a small campground on Adams Road. It is mainly a camp for kids, it has a forestForestA forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
, wetlandsWetlandA wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
, and is on the shore of Crispell Lake.
- Crisplell Lake Campground is a campground on Crispell Road. It is more of a crowded campground and is more suitable for campers than tents. It is on the shore of Crispell Lake and has lots of foliage.
- Grand River Nature Preserve is a nature preserve on Liberty Rd. its fairly large. It's one of the places where the Grand RiverGrand River (Michigan)The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
starts, the other is in Hillsdale County. The area has some woods but is mainly wetland.
- MacCready Reserve is a fairly large nature preserve on the west side of the township,it has six and a half miles of hiking trails and 408 acres. The property used to be own by Thomas C. MacCready in the late 1800s and then after 3 generations of family, Douglas, Lynn, and Willis MacCready donated the land to Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 2001. The area has 5 hiking trails some easy and some more diffucult ones, the area is managed by the Departments of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, MSU Extension, and MSU Land Management Office. The area contains many forests, rolling hills, and wetlands and even a natural spring, the area is meant to be forest studies and hiking.
Lakes and ponds
- Crispell Lake - Crispell Lake and Round Lake are the largest lakes in Liberty Township. It has some wetlands on parts of it, but is usable for boating; it is fairly deep but nothing over 75 ft. It has two campgrounds on it, 4-H Camp McGregor, and Crispell Lake Campgrounds. The lake has boat ramps. The lake is on the far east side of the township. Crispell lake has a sister lake right across from her it is called Mud Lake. They are only about a quarter of a mile apart from each other, sometimes when it rains a lot the two lakes connect. The only thing between them is Springbrook Rd. and woods and wetland. The differences between the lakes are Crispell is larger and Crispell can have boats on it and campgrounds, and has more of a population on it.
- Grand Lake, one of the smaller lakes in Liberty Township, is at the headwaters of the Grand RiverGrand River (Michigan)The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
. A small stream connects it to Mirror Lake which is a lake of about the same size, Mirror Lake use to be called Little Grand Lake and Grand Lake was called Big Grand Lake. - Mirror Lake is one of the smaller lakes of Liberty Township; it connects with Grand Lake, Mirror Lake used to be called Little Grand Lake, and Grand Lake was called Big Grand Lake. The lake has much of its population on the West shore and South shore; the North and East shore are more wilderness.
- Mud Lake is one of the larger lakes of Liberty Township. It is not very deep—maybe 20 feet in some areas. It is sometimes considered a swamp because so many lily pads are on it in the summer, and no boats are ever on it. There are only a few houses on it, so it is pretty much all wildlife, with many waterfowl birds on it in the summer. It is one of the most scenic lakes in the township. Mud Lake has a sister lake called Crispell Lake, only a quarter of a mile away. They sometimes connect in the summer by a small creek when it rains a lot. Springbrook Rd., and woods, and wetlands are the only thing between them.
- Round Lake – Round Lake or Crispell Lake are the largest lakes in Liberty Township. Round Lake has more population on it than any other lake in Liberty Township, as the whole lake has houses around it, and it is fairly deep. Boats are allowed on the lake and there are boat ramps and docks on the lake. There is also a public beach and playground, and tables. Round Lake's west shore is right on the border between Liberty Township and Hanover TownshipHanover Township-Illinois:* Hanover Township, Cook County, Illinois* Hanover Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois-Indiana:* Hanover Township, Jefferson County, Indiana* Hanover Township, Lake County, Indiana* Hanover Township, Shelby County, Indiana-Iowa:...
. - Skiff Lake is one of the larger lakes of the township and one of the least populated. Skiff Lake is similar to Mud Lake in that they both have little population on them. It may be the most scenic lake in the township with many pine trees along the shores, and a few islands. A small stream leaves the lake and connects to the Grand RiverGrand River (Michigan)The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
.
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 2,903 people, 1,073 households, and 857 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 83.5 per square mile (32.2/km²). There were 1,186 housing units at an average density of 34.1 per square mile (13.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.97% White, 0.14% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.41% 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 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 1,073 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.5% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $55,046, and the median income for a family was $59,135. Males had a median income of $46,842 versus $29,323 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 $27,433. About 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.