Bethel Township, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Bethel Township, Michigan
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Michigan
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Branch

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
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established_title = Organized
established_date = April 3, 1837

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 93.5
area_land_km2 = 93.0
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 36.1
area_land_sq_mi = 35.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1421
population_density_km2 = 15.3
population_density_sq_mi = 39.6

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 293
elevation_ft = 961
latd = 41 |latm = 51 |lats = 11 |latNS = N
longd = 85 |longm = 6 |longs = 43 |longEW = W
coordinates_type = region:US-MI_type:adm2nd_source:GNIS

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 49028 (Bronson),
49036 (Coldwater)
area_code =
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-08060GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1625931 [gnis|1625931]
website =
footnotes =

Bethel Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,421.

Communities

There are no incorporated municipalities within the township.
* Bethel is an unincorporated community in the southeast corner of the township at coord|41|49|58|N|85|04|25|W|region:US-MI_type:city_scale:30000_source:GNIS|name=Bethel, Michigan. [gnis|1625051|Bethel, Michigan] A post office opened on April 30, 1857 and operated until November 30, 1905. [gnis|1625558|Bethel Post Office (historical)] cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | authorlink=Walter Romig | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | origyear= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | id = ISBN 0-8143-1838-X]
* Hatmaker is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at coord|41|50|51|N|85|07|17|W|region:US-MI_type:city_scale:30000_source:GNIS|name=Hatmaker, Michigan. [gnis|1617611|Hatmaker, Michigan] The settlement was named for the pioneer Hatmaker family, which included Aaron, the cider-maker, and Peter, the grocer and first postmaster. A post office operated from May 23, 1887 until August 31, 1894 and from January 5, 1899 until June 15, 1900.cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | authorlink=Walter Romig | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | origyear= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | id = ISBN 0-8143-1838-X] [gnis|2435397|Hatmaker Post Office (historical)]
* Snow Prairie is a historical locale and former post office near the center of the township. Eleazar Snow from New England settled here in 1830 near the northwest corner of section 16. [cite book |last=Johnson |first=Crisfield |title=History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers |origyear=1879 |url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/BAD0864.0001.001 |accessdate=2008-09-12 |year=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan Library |location=Ann Arbor, Mich. |pages=pp. 278-79 |chapter=Bethel Township |chapterurl=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAD0864.0001.001;didno=BAD0864.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000364 ] The place became known as Snow Prairie, although Snow sold his holdings to Moses Olmstead in 1831. Because of its location, a post office named Bethel Centre was established on March 1, 1867. It was renamed Snow Prairie on September 19, 1867 and operated until June 15, 1869.cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | authorlink=Walter Romig | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | origyear= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | id = ISBN 0-8143-1838-X] [gnis|2435362|Snow Prairie Post Office (historical)]

* The city of Bronson is adjacent to the west on U.S. Route 12 which cuts through the northwest corner of the township. The Bronson ZIP code 49028 serves areas in western and southern Bethel Township. [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=86000US49028&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=AdvSearch&_lang=en 49028 5-Digit ZCTA, 490 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder] , U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census]
* The city of Coldwater is to the northeast, and the Coldwater ZIP code 49036 serves areas in northern and eastern Bethel Township. [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=86000US49036&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=AdvSearch&_lang=en 49036 5-Digit ZCTA, 490 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder] , U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census]

History

Eleazar Snow was the first settler in the area in 1830, though he sold out to Moses Olmstead in 1831. The town was first called Elizabeth, probably by Mr. Olmstead after Elizabeth, New Jersey.cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | authorlink=Walter Romig | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | origyear= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | id = ISBN 0-8143-1838-X] It was organized as a township under that name by the Michigan Legislature of 1836-37 and the first township meeting for the township of Elizabeth was held at the house of Moses Olmstead on April 3, 1837. The Michigan Legislature of 1838-39 changed the name of the township to Bethel, although no reasons for the change were recorded. [cite book |last=Johnson |first=Crisfield |title=History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers |origyear=1879 |url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/BAD0864.0001.001 |accessdate=2008-09-12 |year=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan Library |location=Ann Arbor, Mich. |pages=pp. 285-86 |chapter=Bethel Township |chapterurl=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAD0864.0001.001;didno=BAD0864.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000371 ]

Geography

The township is drained by tributaries of the St. Joseph River: the Prairie River in the south and Swan Creek in the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.1 square miles (93.4 km²), of which, 35.9 square miles (93.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,421 people, 475 households, and 362 families residing in the township. The population density was 39.6 per square mile (15.3/km²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 14.2/sq mi (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.74% White, 1.06% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 8.09% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.26% of the population.

There were 475 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 119.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $40,400, and the median income for a family was $44,038. Males had a median income of $29,034 versus $23,281 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,252. About 5.0% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

References