Brownstown Township, Michigan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brownstown Township, Michigan
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Location in Wayne County and the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°7′34″N 83°15′26″W / 42.12611, -83.25722
Country United States
State Michigan
County Wayne
Government
 - Supervisor Arthur F. Wright
Area
 - Total 30.5 sq mi (79 km²)
 - Land 22.5 sq mi (58.3 km²)
 - Water 8 sq mi (20.7 km²)
Elevation 584 ft (178 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 22,989
 - Density 1,024/sq mi (395.4/km²)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 48100-48199
Area code(s) 734
FIPS code 26-11220[1]
GNIS feature ID 1625993[2]

Brownstown Township is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 22,989. The Census Bureau placed the population at 29,235 as of the official 2006 estimate, making it the fastest growing community in Wayne County. It is part of the collection of communities known as Downriver. Brownstown's three separate segments are due to the incorporation of the cities of Flat Rock, Rockwood, and Woodhaven in the early 1960s [3].

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 30.5 square miles (79.1 km²), of which, 22.5 square miles (58.1 km²) of it is land and 8.1 square miles (20.9 km²) of it (26.47%) is water. It is divided into three pieces, two of which meet at a corner.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 22,989 people, 8,322 households, and 6,249 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,024.0 per square mile (395.4/km²). There were 9,008 housing units at an average density of 401.3/sq mi (154.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.02% White, 3.82% African American, 0.53% Native American, 3.83% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.58% of the population.

There were 8,322 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,239, and the median income for a family was $65,544. Males had a median income of $50,246 versus $29,614 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,523. About 5.7% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

The region now known as Brownstown was, like surrounding areas in Michigan, once a part of the French Province Quebec. The area eventually fell into hands of the British and finally came under American rule in the 18th century. The original 43-square-mile (110 km²) area of land south of Detroit was designated a township by the Michigan Territorial Commission on April 5, 1827, when Moses Roberts was elected its first supervisor. This made Brownstown one of Wayne County's nine original townships.

Legend holds that the township was named for Adam Brown, who was kidnapped by the Wyandot Indians. Brown was raised by the Wyandots, married a native woman and grew to become a tribal leader. As time passed, settlements spread out from the lakeshore to begin changing the swampy, sand-hill countryside into productive farm land. Established in 1893 Kurtzhals Farm is one of the largest remaining farms in the township. [1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links