Belvidere Township, Michigan

Belvidere Township, Michigan
Township
Belvidere Township Show map of Michigan Belvidere Township Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 43°25′46″N85°8′54″W / 43.42944°N 85.14833°W / 43.42944; -85.14833
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Montcalm
Organized	March 7, 1867
Area [1]
• Total	36.0 sq mi (93 km2)
• Land	34.6 sq mi (90 km2)
• Water	1.4 sq mi (4 km2)
Elevation	915 ft (279 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	2,135
• Density	61.7/sq mi (23.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	48886 (Six Lakes) 48829 (Edmore) 48850 (Lakeview)
FIPS code	26-117-07200 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1625911 [4]
Website	belvideretownshipmi.gov

Belvidere Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 2,135. ^[2]

Geography

The township is along the northern edge of Montcalm County, bordered to the north by Mecosta County and at the town's northeast corner by Isabella County. The center of the township at Six Lakes is 12 miles (19 km) north of Stanton, the county seat, and 22 miles (35 km) north-northeast of Greenville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93 km²), of which 34.6 square miles (90 km²) are land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), or 3.82%, are water. ^[1] Several natural lakes are in the township, include five of the chain of Six Lakes, which run west to east across the north part of the township. The Flat River flows out of First Lake within the community of Six Lakes in the center of the township; the river is a south-flowing tributary of the Grand River.

Communities

• Six Lakes is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at 43°25′30″N85°09′00″W / 43.42500°N 85.15000°W / 43.42500; -85.15000 (Six Lakes) ^[5] on highway M-46 where M-66 branches to the north. A settlement named "Sumnerville" laid out by L. C. Sumner in 1873 and located approximately one-and-a-half-mile (2.4 km) east of Six Lakes was the first village platted in the township. The settlement saw some growth, but when the Chicago, Saginaw and Canada Railroad (which became part of the Pere Marquette Railway and then the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway) was built and a station was established nearer to the Flat River, Sumner subsequently sold his holdings and moved to Edmore. Hiram Clark and Dr. J. B. Daniels purchased 70 acres (280,000 m²) of land around the rail station, then platted "Six Lakes" on May 13, 1876. A post office was established on December 20, 1878. ^{[6]   [7]   [8]   [9]} The Six Lakes post office with ZIP code 48886 serves most of Belvidere Township as well as smaller portions of Cato Township to the west, Douglass Township to the south and Millbrook Township to the north in Mecosta County. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	54		—
1880	525		872.2%
1890	1,027		95.6%
1900	1,201		16.9%
1910	1,297		8.0%
1920	1,227		−5.4%
1930	969		−21.0%
1940	1,076		11.0%
1950	1,093		1.6%
1960	1,411		29.1%
1970	1,345		−4.7%
1980	1,955		45.4%
1990	2,134		9.2%
2000	2,438		14.2%
2010	2,209		−9.4%
2020	2,135		−3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 2,438 people, 952 households, and 699 families residing in the township. The population density was 70.0 inhabitants per square mile (27.0/km²). There were 1,324 housing units at an average density of 38.0 per square mile (14.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.94% White, 0.37% African American, 1.97% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 952 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% 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 2.93.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $33,477, and the median income for a family was $37,717. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,920. About 7.4% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
2. "P1. Race – Belvidere township, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Belvidere Township, Michigan
5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Six Lakes, Michigan
6. Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN   0-8143-1838-X.
7. Six Lakes Station Archived 2007-11-06 at the Wayback Machine , Michigan's Internet Railroad History Museum
8. Schenck, John S. (2005) [1881]. "Belvidere". History of Ionia and Montcalm counties, Michigan. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. pp. 404–405. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
9. Dasef, John W. (2005) [1916]. "Township History". History of Montcalm County, Michigan its people, industries and institutions...with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. pp. 60–65. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
10. ZCTA Reference Map for 48886 Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today , U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
11. "Decennial Census Official Publications". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

External links

• Official website