West Bloomfield Township, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
West Bloomfield Township is a charter township and suburb of Detroit in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a population of 64,860.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
West Bloomfield is noted as the "lake township of Oakland County," 1 being heavily dotted with small and medium-sized lakes. The small amount of land left to build on has become prime real estate in the Metro Detroit area. Cass Lake, the largest lake in the county, is in part of West Bloomfield, and Pine Lake, which has a private country club on its shores, is only a few miles away from Cass and is completely within West Bloomfield. Orchard Lake, which is surrounded by the city of Orchard Lake Village, is immediately west of Pine Lake. Several smaller lakes are scattered around these larger ones.
Orchard Lake Road runs north-south through the middle of the township and is the main artery of West Bloomfield's economy, flanked on each side by long strip malls and shopping complexes. The township has had most of its population growth from the 1960s through the early 2000s, many residents moving northwest from the inner ring Detroit suburbs of Southfield and Oak Park. While it's known to have a large Jewish population, it is quickly becoming more diverse with other ethnic groups (specifically African Americans and Chaldeans) settling in the township. Many synagogues have sprung up in the area bringing an influx of Jews to the city. West Bloomfield is home to a branch of the Jewish Community Center (which in turn, had opened a Holocaust Memorial Center that attracts many visitors to its programs and exhibits - The Holocaust Museum has since expanded and moved to nearby Farmington Hills and is now one of the premier Holocaust Centers in the country). Recently Shenandoah Golf Course has been turned into the Chaldean Community Center.
West Bloomfield is located in southcentral Oakland County about 10 miles to the northwest from the Detroit city limits and has borders with: Bloomfield Township to its east, Farmington Hills to its south, Commerce Township to its west, and four communities to its north: Waterford Township, Orchard Lake Village, Keego Harbor, and Sylvan Lake.
[edit] History
On April 22, 1833, Bloomfield Township was divided in two and the western portion was called West Bloomfield. The area was spotted with apple orchards throughout much of the 1800s. In fact, the plentiful apple trees located on an island in one lake, led to the naming of the body of waters as "Orchard Lake", and the aforementioned island as "Apple Island."
Today, the city is inhabited by many people of the Jewish faith. It is also home to a new Jewish high school, The Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit, formerly The Jewish Academy of Metrpolitan Detroit or JAMD, and is now referred to as FJAMD or FJA.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 80.9 km² (31.2 mi²). 70.8 km² (27.3 mi²) of it is land and 10.1 km² (3.9 mi²) of it (12.49%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
The U.S. Census Bureau has also defined West Bloomfield Township as a census-designated place (CDP) in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places (like cities and villages) as well on the list of county subdivisions (like other townships). The final statistics for the township and the CDP are identical.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 64,860 people, 23,414 households, and 18,192 families residing in the township. The population density was 916.6/km² (2,374.3/mi²). There were 24,410 housing units at an average density of 345.0/km² (893.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.25% White, 5.18% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 7.81% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.
There were 23,414 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $91,661, and the median income for a family was $103,671. Males had a median income of $74,557 versus $45,339 for females. The per capita income for the township was $44,885. The township is often regarded as one of the most affluent in the country. About 1.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable People From West Bloomfield
- Justin Bartha, actor known for his roles in National Treasure (2004) and Failure to Launch (2006)
- John Okemos, Native American leader born on Apple Island
- Insane Clown Posse
- Melrose Bickerstaff from America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7
- Eric Schiffer, Founder/President Royal Pontiac Club of America, Inc.
[edit] External links
