Green Charter Township, Michigan

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Green Charter Township is a charter township of Mecosta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,209. The township was organized in 1858, before Mecosta County was detached from Newaygo County.

Paris is an unincorporated community and the largest settlement within the township at 43°46′24″N, 85°30′09″W on the Muskegon River about 5 miles north of Big Rapids. John Parish is considered the "father" of the village, having arrived in the 1850s and then platted the village in 1865. It was at first named Parish after him, but the name later became Paris. A fire on May 26, 1879 destroyed a large portion of the village, including records of Green Township. ^{[1] [2]}

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 97.3 km² (37.6 mi²). 95.6 km² (36.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.7 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (1.76%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 3,209 people, 1,247 households, and 864 families residing in the township. The population density was 33.5/km² (86.9/mi²). There were 1,414 housing units at an average density of 14.8/km² (38.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.20% White, 0.87% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.

There were 1,247 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $39,036, and the median income for a family was $43,884. Males had a median income of $36,970 versus $25,036 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,212. About 11.1% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

1. ^ Romig, Walter. Michigan Place Names. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1986.
2. ^ Portrait and bigraphical album, Mecosta Count, Mich. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1883. pp. 126-127.