Highland Township, Oakland County, Michigan
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| Highland Township, Michigan | |
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  Highland Township, Michigan
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oakland |
| Area | |
| - Total | 35.8 sq mi (92.8 km²) |
| - Land | 33.6 sq mi (87.1 km²) |
| - Water | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,027 ft (313 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 19,169 |
| - Density | 570.2/sq mi (220.1/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 48356-48357 |
| Area code(s) | 248 |
| FIPS code | 26-38080[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626469[2] |
Highland Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 19,169 at the 2000 census.
Highland Township was founded by pioneer families in 1835. A major factor in the development of Highland was the railroad, which allowed lumber to be transported cheaply, and allowed pickels from the township's early factories to be exported easily.[3] In 2003, in an effort to retain its rural character & charm, as well as preserve its extensive equestrian heritage, Highland declared itself an 'equestrian community' and began active support and encouragement of the equestrian presence and related development in the township. In 2006, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Highland Equestrian Conservancy[4], Highland Township received official recognition by the State as Michigan's first designated equestrian community[5].
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.8 km²), of which, 33.6 square miles (87.1 km²) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it (6.14%) is water. Nearly 1/4 of the land in Highland Township is owned by the State of Michigan as part of Highland Recreation Area.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 19,169 people, 6,786 households, and 5,374 families residing in the township. The population density was 570.2 per square mile (220.1/km²). There were 7,179 housing units at an average density of 213.5/sq mi (82.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.42% White, 0.30% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 6,786 households out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $62,805, and the median income for a family was $70,286. Males had a median income of $50,944 versus $29,867 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,484. About 3.8% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Equestrian heritage and related development
Located in the extreme northwestern corner of Oakland County, bordering Livingston County to the west and Rose Township to the north, Highland Township lies at the far edge of the greater metropolitan Detroit area. Long a rural community of lakes, extensive farmland, & state woodlands, Highland is remarkable for its high concentration of horse farms. Highland is also home to Milford High School[6], where nearly 34 years ago the first high school varsity equestrian team in the United States was started[7]. In 2002 the first Junior Division equestrian team was formed at Highland Middle School. Grassroots community conservancy groups have worked with the township government & planning commission in an effort to retain the township's rural character & equestrian heritage by encouraging developers to maintain green space in plans for new development. Nearly 1/4 of the Highland Township is made up of state land, the 6,000 acre Highland Recreation Area[8]. Downtown Highland sits immediately adjoining the recreation area, with its nearly 12 miles of horse trails and overnight camping facility for horses. The downtown is within a 12 mile radius of easy riding or trailering ditance to an extensive nearby horse trail network (including Highland[9] and Pontiac Lake Michigan State Recreation Areas, as well as Kensington[10] and Indian Springs[11] Metroparks, and the pending Highland Oaks County Park[12]). The community's efforts at revitalization have been rewarded by the development of a horse-friendly downtown[13], which is to include hitching posts, a stabling facility that will allow riders to literally ride into the horse-friendly town, as well as restaurants & shops in the new Highland Station downtown development[14].
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Highland Township, Oakland County, Michigan
- ^ Charter Township of Highland - Community: History
- ^ Highland Equestrian Conservancy
- ^ Spinal Column Online
- ^ Your Page Title
- ^ http://www.highlandequestrians.org/index_files/about_us.htm
- ^ DNR Page Redirect
- ^ Highland Recreation Area Detail
- ^ Metro Parks - Kensington
- ^ Metro Parks - Indian Springs
- ^ Board expected to accept grant to buy Highland land: Spinal Column Online
- ^ http://www.highlandequestrians.org/index_files/about_us.htm
- ^ Detroit Free Press - www.freep.com - HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP: Horses may help add rural flavor
[edit] External links
- Charter Township of Highland
- Highland Business Association
- Highland Downtown Development Authority
- Highland Conservancy
- Highland Equestrian Conservancy
- Highland Trail Riders Association
- Highland Township Historical Society
- Highland Township Public Library
- Huron Valley Council For The Arts
- Milford Times
- Main Street Oakland County
- Milford High School
- Milford High School Equestrian Team
- Oakland Equestrian Coalition
- Oakland Land Conservancy
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