Gun Plain Township, Michigan

Charter Township of Gun Plain
Charter township
Gun Plain Township Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°28′N85°37′W / 42.467°N 85.617°W / 42.467; -85.617
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Allegan
Area
• Total	34.4 sq mi (89.0 km2)
• Land	34.1 sq mi (88.2 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation	725 ft (221 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,148
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	26-35720 [1]
GNIS feature ID	1626415 [2]
Website	www.gunplain.org

Gun Plain Charter Township (T1N R11W) is a charter township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 6,148. ^[3]

The city of Plainwell lies within the township's survey area, but is administratively autonomous. Kalamazoo is about 12 miles (19 km) south, and Grand Rapids is about 35 miles (56 km) north.

Communities

There are no villages within the township, but there are a few unincorporated communities:

• Argenta is located at Riverview Drive and 4th Street. ^[4]
• Neeley is located in the northeastern corner at Marsh and Pine roads ( 42°30′00″N85°33′16″W / 42.50000°N 85.55444°W / 42.50000; -85.55444 Elevation: 794 ft/242 m). ^[5]

History

The first Euro-American settler here was Cyrenius Thompson, who settled here in 1832. ^[6] On the boundary with Barry County at 106th Avenue, Brouard Post Office opened on March 7, 1884. The Brouard Post Office was renamed Doster on March 3, 1900. The Doster Post Office was downgraded to a branch of the Plainwell Post Office on July 21, 1961. On October 28, 1978, the Doster postal branch was closed. ^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 34.4 square miles (89.0 km²), of which 34.1 square miles (88.2 km²) is land and 0.31 square miles (0.8 km²), or 0.92%, is water. ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	2,796		—
1970	3,231		15.6%
1980	4,298		33.0%
1990	4,754		10.6%
2000	5,637		18.6%
2010	5,895		4.6%
2020	6,148		4.3%
Source: Census Bureau. Census 1960- 2000, 2010.

As of the census ^[1] of 2000, there were 5,637 people, 2,038 households, and 1,620 families residing in the township. The population density was 165.1 inhabitants per square mile (63.7/km²). There were 2,112 housing units at an average density of 61.8 per square mile (23.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.25% White, 0.35% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.

There were 2,038 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $53,495, and the median income for a family was $58,921. Males had a median income of $45,176 versus $28,969 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,941. About 5.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gun Plain Township, Michigan
3. "Gun Plain township, Allegan County, Michigan - Census Bureau Profile". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
4. Allegan County (PDF) (Map). Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. August 5, 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-05-10. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Neeley, Michigan & GNIS in Google Map.
6. Walter Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 245
7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Doster Post Office (historical) & GNIS in Google Map.
8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Gun Plain township, Allegan County, Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2013.

External links

• Gun Plain Charter Township official website