Benton Charter Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benton Charter Township, Michigan
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Charter township
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Location within Berrien County (red) and the administered communities of Benton Heights and Fair Plain (pink)
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 Benton Charter Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Michigan | |
| County | Berrien | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 32.8 sq mi (85.0 km2) | |
| • Land | 32.4 sq mi (83.8 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2) | |
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,374 | |
| • Density | 437.98/sq mi (169.11/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code(s) |
49022, 49126
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| Area code(s) | 269 | |
| FIPS code | 26-07400 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1625918 | |
Benton Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,374.
Communities
- Benton Heights is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the west-center of the township, adjacent to Benton Harbor.
- Fair Plain is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the southwest part of the township, extending west into St. Joseph Charter Township.
- Millburg is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in the eastern part of the township near the boundary with Bainbridge Township.
History
The township was established on March 11, 1837, and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, U.S. senator from Missouri. It remained attached to St. Joseph Township for administrative purposes until 1841.
The commune of the House of David was located in the township.
In 1967, the Benton Harbor Fruit Market, established in 1860 in Benton Harbor, moved to the township. The Benton Harbor city limits have since then extended to include the market.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 32.8 square miles (85.0 km2), of which 32.4 square miles (83.8 km2) is land and 0.46 square miles (1.2 km2), or 1.36%, is water.
The township is in the northwest portion of the county, with Lake Michigan to the west in the north of the township and Benton Harbor to the west in the south of the township. St. Joseph and St. Joseph Charter Township lie to the southwest. Hagar Township is to the north, Coloma Charter Township to the northeast, Bainbridge Township is to the east, Pipestone Township is to the southeast, and Sodus Township and Royalton Township are to the south.
I-94 traverses the township diagonally from northeast to southwest. The southern terminus of I-196 is at the junction with I-94. US 31 follows parts of I-196, I-94, Napier Avenue, and all of the completed portion of the St. Joseph Valley Parkway within the township. M-139 lies in the southwest of the township and runs from I-94 to a junction with Business Loop I-94 just east of Benton Harbor (the southbound direction begins on the Benton Harbor–Benton Township border).
Demographics
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 5,858 | 5,490 | 39.72% | 38.19% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 7,566 | 6,789 | 51.30% | 47.23% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 71 | 60 | 0.48% | 0.42% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 47 | 59 | 0.32% | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 6 | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 12 | 64 | 0.08% | 0.45% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 313 | 672 | 2.12% | 4.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 882 | 1,234 | 5.98% | 8.58% |
| Total | 14,749 | 14,374 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Economy
Whirlpool Corporation has its headquarters in the township. Whirlpool employs a total of 2,058 employees in the metropolitan area.
Education
Benton Charter Township is served by the Benton Harbor Public Library located within the Benton Harbor city limits.
Sports and recreation
Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club is located in the township, just northwest of Millburg.
Sarett Nature Center, a 300-acre (1.2 km2) wildlife sanctuary which offers trails, an interpretative building, and classes, is located in the northern portion of the township. It is named for Lew R. Sarett, father of Lewis Hastings Sarett.
