Bethel Township, Michigan
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Bethel Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,421.
There are no incorporated municipalities within the township, although the city of Bronson is located just to the west on U.S. Highway 12 which cuts through the northwest corner of the township. The unincorporated community of Bethel is in the southeast corner of the township at . The FIPS place code is 08050. The elevation is 997 feet above sea level.
[edit] Geography
The township is drained by tributaries of the St. Joseph River: the Prairie River in the south and Swan Creek in the north.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 93.4 km² (36.1 mi²). 93.0 km² (35.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.50%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 1,421 people, 475 households, and 362 families residing in the township. The population density was 15.3/km² (39.6/mi²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 5.5/km² (14.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.74% White, 1.06% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 8.09% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.26% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 119.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,400, and the median income for a family was $44,038. Males had a median income of $29,034 versus $23,281 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,252. About 5.0% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.