Golden Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Golden Township, Michigan
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Township
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 Golden Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Golden Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County | Oceana |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.0 sq mi (90.6 km2) |
| • Land | 33.5 sq mi (86.9 km2) |
| • Water | 1.5 sq mi (3.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 784 ft (239 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,660 |
| • Density | 49.8/sq mi (19.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | |
| FIPS code | 26-32780 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626361 |
Golden Township is a community in Oceana County, Michigan, in the United States. It was started in 1864.
In 2020, about 1,660 people lived here. Golden Township is famous for the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. It is also right next to the big Lake Michigan.
Contents
Communities in Golden Township
Golden Township includes a few smaller communities. Each has its own history and connection to the area.
Collinsville
Collinsville was once a small community. It grew around a sawmill. It even had its own post office for a short time, from 1872 to 1874.
Mears
Mears is a community in the eastern part of the township. Charles Mears, a mill owner, founded it in 1873. A post office opened there in May 1873. The Mears ZIP code, 49436, covers most of Golden Township. It also includes small parts of nearby townships like Pentwater, Hart, and Benona.
Nearby Towns and ZIP Codes
- Hart is located to the east. A small part of Golden Township uses the Hart ZIP code, 49420.
- Pentwater is to the north. A small area in the northeast of the township uses the Pentwater ZIP code, 49449.
- Shelby is to the southeast. Some areas in the southeast and southwest of the township use the Shelby ZIP code, 49455.
Geography of Golden Township
Golden Township covers about 35 square miles (90.6 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 33.5 square miles (86.9 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.5 square miles (3.8 square kilometers), is water.
The western edge of the township is along Lake Michigan. A large part of the Lake Michigan shoreline here is home to Silver Lake State Park.
People of Golden Township
In 2000, there were 1,810 people living in Golden Township. The population density was about 54 people per square mile (19.2 people per square kilometer). Most people living here were White (about 89.83%). About 11.05% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 712 households in the township. About 26.3% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (65.4%) were married couples.
The average age of people in the township was 42 years old. About 23.7% of the population was under 18. About 15.7% of the people were 65 years or older.
Fun and Tourism
Golden Township is a great place for outdoor activities. It has many lakes, streams, and rivers.
Silver Lake
One of the biggest lakes is Silver Lake. It's shaped like a half-circle. One side of the lake borders the famous Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Silver Lake is an "all-sports" lake. This means you can do many water activities there. People enjoy kayaking, canoeing, boating, sailing, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
Many people visit Silver Lake for vacations. It has lots of campgrounds, cottages, and summer homes. Because of this, the number of people living there changes a lot between seasons.
Silver Lake Sand Dunes
The Sand Dunes are part of a state park. There's a special area for hikers and visitors to explore on foot. There's also a vehicle recreation area. Here, people can drive dune buggies up and down the sandy hills. The western edge of the Sand Dunes meets Lake Michigan.
