Mount Morris Township, Michigan
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Mount Morris Township is a charter township of Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 23,725 as of the 2000 census.
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[edit] Communities
- The City of Mount Morris is adjacent to the township, but is governed independently of the township.
- Beecher is an urbanized area of the township lying between the cities of Mount Morris and Flint. There is also a census-designated place with the same name defined for statistical purposes that covers the approximate area of the community. A portion of the CDP also lies within Genesee Township.
- Much of the southeast portion of the township is considered to be a part of the Flint urban area.
[edit] History
Formed from Flushing and Genesee townships, Mount Morris Township was established on February 12, 1855 by act of state legislature. They decreed that the first township meeting would be held on the first Monday in April. So, on April 2, an election was held in an abandoned log cabin in the southeast corner of the township. 74 votes were cast and the township was organized with elected officials. [1]
Today, the township has an active main business district along Pierson Road in the south, stretching roughly four miles from Elms Road in the west to Clio Road in the east. A considerable amount of its traffic comes from I-75.
The township garnered national attention when on February 29, 2000, six-year old Kayla Rolland was killed by her first-grade classmate, Dedrick Owens, at Buell Elementary in the Beecher school district.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 81.5 km² (31.5 mi²). 81.4 km² (31.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.13%) is water.
The township is served by the Mass Transportation Authority bus lines. In addition, I-75 and I-475 run through the township.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 23,725 people, 8,815 households, and 6,355 families residing in the township. The population density was 291.4/km² (754.7/mi²). There were 9,521 housing units at an average density of 116.9/km² (302.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 54.54% White, 40.15% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.04% of the population.
There were 8,815 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township, the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,069, and the median income for a family was $38,899. Males had a median income of $35,482 versus $25,886 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,161. About 14.3% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
The township is served by Flushing Community Schools, Clio Area School District, Mount Morris Consolidated Schools, and Beecher Community School District. Westwood Heights Schools is located entirely within the township. [2] [3]
The township is home to Luke M. Powers Catholic High School, located just outside the City of Flint's northern border.
[edit] Media
The studios and offices of television station WSMH are located in the township.
