Clarence Township, Michigan

Clarence Township is a township located in northeast Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 2,032. The township was originally named Pinkney Township.

Contents

1 Communities 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 External links

Communities

There are no incorporated municipalities within the rural township. There are settlements at a few unincorporated communities:

• Albion Landing, on the southeast shore of Duck Lake at Template:Coor dms.
• Charlotte Landing, on the east shore of Duck Lake at Template:Coor dms.
• Clarence Center, about one mile east of Duck Lake at Template:Coor dms. The FIPS place code is 15970 and the elevation is 966 feet above sea level.
• Duck Lake, on the north side of Duck Lake at Template:Coor dms. The FIPS place code is 23220. Albion Landing, Charlotte Landing and Clarence Center are currently all most commonly referred to as Duck Lake.
• Rice Creek, about six miles southwest of Duck Lake at Template:Coor dms. The FIPS place code is 68150. The elevation is 980 feet above sea level. This place is actually a few miles away from either branch of Rice Creek. It is situated at a crossroads separating Clarence Township on the northeast, Sheridan Township on the southeast, Marengo Township on the southwest, and Lee Township on the northwest.

Geography

Duck Lake is the most prominent feature in the township, and is the headwaters for the Battle Creek River, 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 88.6 km² (34.2 mi²). 84.8 km² (32.7 mi²) of it is land and 3.8 km² (1.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.27% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 2,032 people, 796 households, and 599 families residing in the township. The population density is 24.0/km² (62.1/mi²). There are 996 housing units at an average density of 11.7/km² (30.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the township is 97.29% White, 0.54% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 0.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 796 households out of which 29.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% are married couples living together, 5.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% are non-families. 20.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the township the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 108.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township is $40,700, and the median income for a family is $45,122. Males have a median income of $35,821 versus $21,544 for females. The per capita income for the township is $18,713. 14.9% of the population and 11.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.3% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Clarence Township History (http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/950409.shtml)
• Clarence Township History Book (http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/001119.shtml)
• Rice Creek (http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/941204.shtml)