Waterford Township, Michigan

Waterford Township
Charter township
Charter Township of Waterford

Gateway sign heading into Waterford Township MI from eastbound M-59
Waterford Township

Location within the state of Michigan

Coordinates: 42°42′8.33″N 83°24′9.06″W / 42.7023139°N 83.4025167°W / 42.7023139; -83.4025167
Country United States
State Michigan
County Oakland
Organized 1834
Government
  Type Charter Township
  Township Supervisor Gary Wall
Area
  Total 35.3 sq mi (91.4 km2)
  Land 31.3 sq mi (81.2 km2)
  Water 4.0 sq mi (10.3 km2)  11.22%
Elevation 948 ft (289 m)
Population (2012)
  Total 72,166 [1]
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 48327-48330
Area code(s) 248
FIPS code 26-84240[2]
GNIS feature ID 1627218[3]
Website Charter Township of Waterford Michigan

Waterford Township is a charter township in the center of Oakland County, Michigan. By 2012 Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) population estimates, the township had a population of 72,166, up from the 2010 census.[4]

Communities

The Township has no incorporated villages and five unincorporated communities:

History

Lewis Cass, the third governor of Michigan Territory, established the boundaries of Oakland County in 1819.[12] Waterford Township was organized in 1834.[13]

Before being displaced by European settlers in the 18th and early 19th century, the area was populated with Iroquoian and Algonquian tribes of the Hurons, Ottawas, Ojibwas, Potawatomies, Miamis, Sauk, Sashabaws, and others. During the French and Iroquois Wars, the Iroquois expanded westward and maintained a temporary presence in the area, having displaced other tribes. However, by the time white settlers ventured into the area that would become Waterford Village, there were few Native Americans living in the area.

In the latter part of 1818 Oliver Williams selected land in Oakland County[14] which he purchased for $2.00 an acre ($494/km²). Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased 161.40 acres (653,200 m2) in what became the village of Waterford. In 1819 he and his family established the first farm settlement in the county on the banks of Silver Lake. The same year, Oliver's brother-in-law, Alpheus Williams, and Archibald Phillips settled at the site of the present Waterford village. They also continued on to where the Clinton River crossed the Saginaw Trail (now known as US 24, Dixie Highway). Here the first house of the village of Waterford was built by Alpheus Williams on the north bank of the river. Archibald Phillips built his home across from the south corner where Andersonville Road meets Dixie Highway. Williams and Phillips also built the first dam where the Clinton River crossed the Saginaw Trail and erected the first sawmill.[14]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.3 square miles (91 km2), of which 31.3 square miles (81 km2) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km2), or 11.22%, is water.

Climate

Like the rest of Southeast Michigan, Waterford Township has a continental climate. It has a somewhat higher elevation than Detroit (982 feet (299 m) compared to 585 feet (178 m)), and therefore the township is cooler than Detroit and other nearby cities. It is moderately cold in the winter with varied snowfall throughout. Spring varies from warm by day to cool at night. The township's warmest weather occurs in the summer with temperatures in the eighty to ninety degree range and typically high humidity. Summer is also the wettest season in the area. In recent years, Waterford Township has seen a few 100-plus degree days. Fall starts warm, but November ends with high temperatures barely above freezing.[15]

Demographics

As of the 2012 population report from SEMCOG, Waterford Township had a population of 72,166. The ethnic and racial composition of the population was 96.3% White, 4.7% Black, 0.4% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanics from some other race, 1.9% from two or more races.[1][16][17]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 73,150 people, 29,387 households, and 19,130 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,334.3 people per square mile (901.2/km²). There were 30,404 housing units at an average density of 970.2 per square mile (374.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.65% White, 2.89% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.91% of the population.

There were 29,387 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,008, and the median income for a family was $64,500. Males had a median income of $47,409 versus $32,016 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,432. About 3.8% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 and over.

Transportation

Oakland County International Airport is located in Waterford Township.[18] The airport is a hub for the airline Lakeshore Express, a local commuter airline to Pellston, and Chicago-Midway[19]

Government and infrastructure

The West Campus of the Oakland County Service Center is located in Waterford Township.[20][21] This includes the Oakland County Executive Building and Conference Center,[22] and the Oakland County Children's Village,[20] the county's juvenile detention center for children.[23] The Children's Village acts as one of the support sites for the Waterford School District.[24]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Waterford School District operates public schools in much of the township.

The Waterford School District has nine elementary schools (Beaumont, Cooley, Donelson Hills, Grayson, Haviland, Houghton, Knudsen, Riverside, and Schoolcraft), two middle schools (Mason and Pierce), and two high schools (Kettering and Mott).[25] There is also a third high school called Durant High School, with about 225-250 students.[26] The third middle school Crary was shut down.

The Pontiac School District serves a portion of the township.[27]

The Oakland County intermediate school district, Oakland Schools, has its headquarters in the township.[28]

Public libraries

Waterford Township Public Library serves the residents.[29]

Public safety

Waterford Township maintains its own police and fire departments. The Waterford Police Department currently employs 65 Police Officers.[30] The Waterford Regional Fire Department employs 144.[31] It is currently the 4th largest Fire Department in the State of Michigan.[32] Waterford Township also provides Fire, EMS, and Dispatch services to the neighboring City of Pontiac and City of Lake Angelus.[33]

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 http://www.semcog.org/uploadedFiles/Population_and_Household_Estimates_for_July_2013.pdf
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Waterford Township, Michigan
  4. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-17y, Michigan, located in the center of Oakland County, Michigan1) Summary File (QT-PL), Waterford charter township, Oakland County, Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clintonville, Michigan & [ GNIS in Google]
  6. Romig 1986, p. 122.
  7. Romig 1986, p. 179.
  8. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Four Towns, Michigan & GNIS in Google
  9. Romig 1986, p. 207.
  10. "Oakland County" (PDF). County Map series. Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. August 5, 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  11. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Waterford, Michigan & GNIS in Google
  12. Seeley, Thaddeus D. (1912). History of Oakland County Michigan, Vol.I, p. 215. The Lewis Publishing Company.
  13. Seeley (1912), p. 484.
  14. 1 2 Seeley (1912), p. 484-85.
  15. Waterford, Michigan Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)
  16. American FactFinder - Results
  17. Waterford, Michigan - City Information, Fast Facts, Schools, Colleges, and More
  18. "Waterford township, Oakland county, Michigan." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 28, 2009. Archived August 4, 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  19. Lakeshore Express Starts Flights from Chicago Midway to Detroit Suburbs
  20. 1 2 "Complex Map" (Archive). Oakland County Government. Retrieved on July 9, 2015.
  21. "Generic Base Map 2014" (Archive). Waterford Township. Retrieved on July 10, 2015.
  22. "Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center Locator Map & Directions" (Archive). Oakland County Government. Retrieved on July 10, 2015.
  23. "Oakland County Children's Village" (Archive). Government of Oakland County. Retrieved on July 9, 2015. "Oakland County Children’s Village 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, MI 48341"
  24. "District Map" (Archive). Waterford School District. Retrieved on July 9, 2015.
  25. "Waterford School District". Waterford School District. Waterford School District. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  26. "Durant High School". Waterford School District. Waterford School District. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  27. Murray, Diana Dillaber. "Law being proposed could dissolve Pontiac schools, other struggling districts." Oakland Press. June 12, 2013. Retrieved on May 7, 2014. "Pontiac school district spreads from Pontiac into portions of seven surrounding communities including Auburn Hills, Sylvan Lake, Lake Angeles and townships of Bloomfield, Orion, Waterford and West Bloomfield."
  28. "Contact Us." Oakland Schools. Retrieved on December 3, 2013. "Oakland Schools 2111 Pontiac Lake Road Waterford, MI 48328"
  29. "Library." Waterford Township, Michigan. Retrieved on July 9, 2015.
  30. Waterford Township, Michigan - Police
  31. Waterford adds nearly 40 new hires, now among largest fire departments in Michigan WITH VIDEO
  32. Waterford Township, Michigan - Fire
  33. Waterford Fire Dept. takes over Pontiac WITH VIDEO - theoaklandpress.com

Sources

External links

Coordinates: 42°42′8.83″N 83°24′9.06″W / 42.7024528°N 83.4025167°W / 42.7024528; -83.4025167

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