Independence Township, Michigan
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Independence Township is a charter township in Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The population was 32,581 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
John W. Beardslee, a Sussex County, New Jersey native, was the first person to settle Independence Township in 1826. Subsequently, settlers from New Jersey and New York began to settle the township until by 1834 all sections of land in the southern half of the township was settled. (The northern half was largely unsettled). The southern half of the township was marked by flat plains that made it suitable for farming, most notably the Sashabaw Plains in the southeast corner of the township. The rest of the township comprised of flat plains, rolling hills and lakes, connected by branches of the Clinton River. By 1840 Independence Township's population was 830, but a decade later new construction boosted the township's population to 1,200. By 1877 Independence Township's swampland was converted to agricultural use.
But while the 19th century saw a primarily agricultural economy, the 20th century saw the completion of a railroad depot and the arrival of the automobile as the number of visitors from Detroit, Michigan began to visit the township. Independence Township continued to grow at the same time as cottages were built, farms were subdivided and new houses built, all the way up to the 1930s when the Great Depression temporarily ended future land developments. After World War II, the township's population not only rebounded, it has boomed as new shopping centers, new subdivisions, new schools, new churches, several parks and, of course, the DTE Energy Music Theatre have been built over the years, helped by access via I-75, M-15 and US-23. Independence Township's economy is today service-based.
The DTE Energy Music Theatre shares a complex with Pine Knob Golf and Ski Courses. The Township is also home to various parks, the largest of which is Independence Oaks County Park.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 94.0 km² (36.3 mi²). 91.2 km² (35.2 mi²) of it is land and 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (3.03%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 32,581 people, 11,765 households, and 9,094 families residing in the township. The population density was 357.4/km² (925.6/mi²). There were 12,375 housing units at an average density of 135.7/km² (351.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.84% White, 0.84% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.51% of the population.
There were 11,765 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $74,993, and the median income for a family was $84,227. Males had a median income of $62,620 versus $36,520 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,067. About 1.6% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
