Benton Charter Township, Michigan
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Benton Charter Township is a charter township located in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 16,404.
The earliest settlement within the township was Millburg. The township was first established on March 11, 1837 and is named after Thomas Hart Benton, U.S. Senator from Missouri. It remained attached to St. Joseph Township for administrative purposes until 1841.
The township is in the northwest portion of the county, with Lake Michigan to the east in the north of the township and Benton Harbor to the east in the south of the township. St. Joseph and St. Joseph Charter Township lie to the southwest. Hagar Township is to the north, Coloma Charter Township to the northeast, Bainbridge Township is to the east, Pipestone Township is to the southeast, and Sodus Township to the south.
Interstate 94 traverses the township diagonally from northeast to southwest. The southern terminus of Interstate 196 is at the junction with I-94. U.S. Highway 31 follows the route of I-94 in the south and then follows I-196 in the north. Michigan State Highway 139 lies in the southwest of the township and runs from I-94 at the junction with US 31 north to a juntion with Business Route I-94 on the east side of Benton Harbor.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 84.6 km² (32.7 mi²). 84.4 km² (32.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.31% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 16,404 people, 6,485 households, and 4,221 families residing in the township. The population density is 194.5/km² (503.6/mi²). There are 7,082 housing units at an average density of 84.0/km² (217.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the township is 44.11% White, 51.86% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 3.14% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,485 households out of which 32.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% are married couples living together, 24.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% are non-families. 29.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.49 and the average family size is 3.05.
In the township the population is spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township is $25,942, and the median income for a family is $30,899. Males have a median income of $31,563 versus $20,484 for females. The per capita income for the township is $14,137. 27.7% of the population and 22.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 42.3% of those under the age of 18 and 16.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.