Clarence Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarence Township, Michigan
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Township
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 Clarence Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Calhoun |
| Area | |
| • Total | 34.1 sq mi (88.2 km2) |
| • Land | 32.5 sq mi (84.3 km2) |
| • Water | 1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 968 ft (295 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,903 |
| • Density | 55.88/sq mi (21.576/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | |
| FIPS code | 26-15960 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626086 |
Clarence Township is a special kind of local government area called a civil township. It is located in the northeastern part of Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It's also part of the larger Battle Creek, Michigan area.
In 2020, about 1,903 people lived here. The township was first called Pinkney Township.
Contents
History of Clarence Township
Before people from Europe came, the land that is now Clarence Township was home to the Potawatomi people. They were Native Americans who lived in this area for a very long time.
The first European-American settler arrived in the township in 1836. This was a time when many new people were moving to Michigan. It wasn't until 1845 that Jacob Nichols settled near Duck Lake. For several years, his closest neighbors were still the Potawatomi people.
Clarence Township was officially set up as a township in 1838. The very first school in the township opened the next year, in 1839. This helped local children get an education.
Communities in Clarence Township
Clarence Township is mostly a rural area. This means it doesn't have big cities or towns inside it. Instead, there are a few smaller, unincorporated communities. These are places where people live close together but don't have their own city government.
Here are some of these communities:
- Albion Landing: This community is on the southeast side of Duck Lake. 42°22′55″N 84°47′03″W / 42.38194°N 84.78417°W
- Charlotte Landing: You can find this community on the east side of Duck Lake. 42°23′32″N 84°46′33″W / 42.39222°N 84.77583°W
- Clarence Center: This spot is about one mile (1.6 km) east of Duck Lake. 42°22′52″N 84°46′05″W / 42.38111°N 84.76806°W
- Duck Lake: This community is on the north side of Duck Lake. 42°24′00″N 84°46′56″W / 42.40000°N 84.78222°W. People often use the name "Duck Lake" to talk about all the small settlements around the lake.
- Rice Creek: This community is about six miles (10 km) southwest of Duck Lake. 42°20′04″N 84°49′43″W / 42.33444°N 84.82861°W. It's located at a crossroads where four townships meet.
Even though these communities are in Clarence Township, people living there might use services from nearby cities and villages.
- The city of Albion is to the south. Its ZIP code, 49224, covers much of southern Clarence Township.
- The village of Olivet is to the northwest. Its ZIP code, 49076, serves the northwest part of Clarence Township.
- The village of Springport is to the east. Its ZIP code, 49284, covers much of eastern Clarence Township.
Geography and Nature
The most important natural feature in Clarence Township is Duck Lake. This lake is where the Battle Creek River begins. The river flows north from the lake towards Charlotte. Two other parts of the Battle Creek River also start in the township and flow north.
South and east of Duck Lake, there are several smaller lakes. These lakes flow into the North Branch of Rice Creek. Rice Creek is a smaller river that eventually joins the Kalamazoo River. A small area west of Duck Lake drains into Indian Creek, which flows into Battle Creek near Olivet.
The United States Census Bureau tells us that Clarence Township covers a total area of about 34.05 square miles (88.2 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 32.55 square miles (84.3 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers), is water. This means about 4.40% of the township is covered by water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 1,211 | — | |
| 1970 | 1,392 | 14.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,916 | 37.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,051 | 7.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,032 | −0.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,985 | −2.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,903 | −4.1% | |
| Source: Census Bureau. Census 1960- 2000, 2010. | |||
The population of Clarence Township has changed over the years. In 1960, there were 1,211 people. The population grew to 2,051 people in 1990. By 2020, the population was 1,903 people.
In the year 2000, the average age of people living in the township was 40 years old. About 24.1% of the population was under 18 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Clarence (Míchigan) para niños
