Thompson Township, Michigan

Thompson Township, Michigan
Township
Thompson Township, Michigan

Location within the state of Michigan

Coordinates: 45°58′30″N 86°21′49″W / 45.97500°N 86.36361°WCoordinates: 45°58′30″N 86°21′49″W / 45.97500°N 86.36361°W
Country United States
State Michigan
County Schoolcraft
Area
  Total 118.4 sq mi (306.6 km2)
  Land 112.9 sq mi (292.5 km2)
  Water 5.4 sq mi (14.1 km2)
Elevation 682 ft (208 m)
Population (2000)
  Total 671
  Density 5.9/sq mi (2.3/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 49854
Area code(s) 906
FIPS code 26-79580[1]
GNIS feature ID 1627161[2]

Thompson Township is a civil township of Schoolcraft County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 671.

History

After the timber boom of the late 19th century, Thompson Township's chief assets included second-growth trees such as balsam and aspen. The schooner Rouse Simmons, loaded with balsam Christmas trees, left Thompson Harbor for Chicago in November, 1912. The schooner sank with all hands off Two Rivers, Wisconsin, becoming one of the most famous shipwrecks in Lake Michigan history.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 118.4 square miles (307 km2), of which 112.9 square miles (292 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) water. The total area is 4.59% water.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 671 people, 278 households, and 219 families living in the township. The population density was 5.9 per square mile (2.3/km²). There were 608 housing units at an average density of 5.4 per square mile (2.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 87.93% White, 0.30% African-American, 9.54% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 278 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 3.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the township the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $41,731. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $26,500 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,045. About 7.5% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 and older.

Transportation

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service via Thompson between St. Ignace and Ironwood, Michigan.[3]

References