Athens Township, Michigan

Athens Township, Michigan
—  Township  —
Athens Township, Michigan Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°6′27″N 85°14′1″W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Calhoun
Area
• Total	36.1 sq mi (93.6 km2)
• Land	36.1 sq mi (93.6 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	873 ft (266 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	2,571
• Density	71.1/sq mi (27.5/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	49011
Area code(s)	269
FIPS code	26-03900
GNIS feature ID	1625856

Athens Township is a civil township of southwest Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan, about 15 miles south of Battle Creek. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,571.

History

Euro-American settlers first came to what would become Athens Township in 1831. Unlike in many other parts of Michigan the Potawatamie were never fully driven out, although their Reservation was dissolved in 1833. The first Athens Township Meeting was held in 1835. As of 1913 there were about 60 Potawatamie residents of Athens Township, out of about 1500 residents. Based on the 1910 US census for Athens Township and Village there were 1537 residents, of whom 5 were listed as mulattos (four of them children of a mulatto mother and white father) and 69 were listed as Indians. Of the 69 Indians, 40 were living the Indian Village Reservation that at that time existed in Athens Township. At least two of the Indians were Ottawas and not Potawatamies.

Communities

• The Village of Athens is located in the township.
• The Pine Creek Indian Reservation is also located in the township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.2 square miles (94 km²), all land. The Nottawa Creek and the Pine Creek are the largest streams in the township, both flowing generally from northeast to southwest. The Pine Creek joins Nottowa Creek approximately one mile west of the village of Athens.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,571 people, 956 households, and 738 families residing in the township. The population density was 71.1 per square mile (27.5/km²). There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 27.7 per square mile (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.93% White, 0.19% African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.

There were 956 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $43,929, and the median income for a family was $49,607. Males had a median income of $37,039 versus $26,500 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,864. About 3.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.