Cato Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cato Township, Michigan
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Township
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 Cato Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Cato Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Montcalm |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.01 sq mi (93.3 km2) |
| • Land | 35.16 sq mi (91.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.85 sq mi (2.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 955 ft (291 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,898 |
| • Density | 82.4/sq mi (31.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| FIPS code | 26-117-14000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626045 |
Cato Township is a community located in Montcalm County, which is in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a type of local government area called a civil township. In 2020, about 2,898 people lived in Cato Township.
Contents
History of Cato Township
Cato Township was officially started in the year 1857. This means it has been a recognized community for over 160 years.
Communities in Cato Township
Cato Township is home to a few smaller communities.
- Bass Beach was once a popular resort village. It was planned out by George Whitcomb and his wife way back in 1889.
- Lakeview is a village located in the northern part of Cato Township. Most of the township uses the Lakeview ZIP Code, which is 48850. Another ZIP Code, 48886, serves a small part of the township.
Geography of Cato Township
Cato Township is located in the northern part of Montcalm County. To its north, it shares a border with Mecosta County.
Roads and Highways
Two main state highways pass through Cato Township:
- M-46 goes through the middle of the township. It connects to Edmore to the east and US 131 to the west.
- M-91 starts its northern journey in Cato Township. It goes south towards Greenville.
Land and Water
The township covers a total area of about 36 square miles (93 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.2 square miles (91 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.85 square miles (2.2 square kilometers) is water, which is about 2.37% of the total area.
Water flows through the township in different directions:
- To the west, water drains into Tamarack Creek. This creek then flows into the Little Muskegon River.
- To the east, water drains into streams that feed the Flat River. The Flat River then flows south into the Grand River.
Lakes in the Township
Cato Township has a couple of notable lakes:
- Tamarack Lake is in the northern part of the township. Part of this lake is also within the village of Lakeview.
- Townline Lake is in the northeast part of the township. It sits right on the border with Belvidere Township.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 191 | — | |
| 1870 | 523 | 173.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,397 | 167.1% | |
| 1890 | 2,016 | 44.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,087 | 3.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,976 | −5.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,831 | −7.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,621 | −11.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,486 | −8.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,758 | 18.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,989 | 13.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,205 | 10.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,441 | 10.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,500 | 2.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,920 | 16.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,735 | −6.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,898 | 6.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Cato Township has changed a lot since it was founded. In 1860, only 191 people lived there. The population grew steadily for many years, reaching over 2,000 people by 1890.
By the year 2000, there were 2,920 people living in Cato Township. There were 1,073 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. The average household had about 2.67 people.
The population includes people of all ages. In 2000, about 28.8% of the people were under 18 years old. About 15.6% were 65 years old or older. The average age of people in the township was 36 years.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Cato (Míchigan) para niños
