Independence Township, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Independence Township, Michigan
Charter township
Charter Township of Independence
Town hall
Location within Oakland County
Independence Township, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Independence Township, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Oakland
Established	1834
Area
• Charter township	36.32 sq mi (94.08 km2)
• Land	35.04 sq mi (90.75 km2)
• Water	1.29 sq mi (3.33 km2)
Elevation	1,112 ft (339 m)
Population  (2020)
• Charter township	36,686
• Density	1,047.1/sq mi (404.3/km2)
• Metro	4,296,250 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48346, 48348 (Clarkston)
Area code(s)	248 and 947
FIPS code	26-40400
GNIS feature ID	1626511

Independence Township is a special kind of local government area called a charter township in Oakland County, Michigan. In 2020, about 36,686 people lived here. The township was first set up in 1834.

Independence Township completely surrounds the city of Clarkston. Even though they are close, they are managed separately. Clarkston became its own city in 1992. The township is also home to the famous Pine Knob Music Theatre and the Pine Knob Ski Resort, which are popular places for fun!

Discovering Independence Township's Past

The first people to settle in Independence Township arrived in the 1820s and early 1830s. Most of them came from New Jersey and New York. The very first person to buy land and settle here was John W. Beardslee, who came from Sussex County, New Jersey.

The township got its name from an early settler named Joseph Van Sycle. He moved to the area in 1834 from a place also called Independence Township in New Jersey.

How Transportation Shaped the Township

At first, Independence Township was mostly farmland. But soon, people from Detroit and other cities started visiting because of the many beautiful lakes. When the railroad arrived in Clarkston in 1851, hotels were built in the township to welcome these vacationers.

The invention of the automobile changed Independence Township a lot. Old Native American trails became paved, wide roads for cars. For example, the old Saginaw Trail, now known as Dixie Highway, was paved around 1920. Main Street (M-15) in Clarkston was paved around 1922.

In 1962, the major highway I-75 came through Independence Township. This led to many new businesses and homes being built. Over time, many farms turned into neighborhoods and shopping areas as Independence Township became a part of the larger Metro Detroit area.

Exploring Independence Township's Geography

Independence Township covers about 36.30 square miles (94.08 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 34.99 square miles (90.75 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.31 square miles (3.33 square kilometers), is water, mainly lakes.

The township is part of the Metro Detroit region. It is located about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of the city of Detroit.

Main Roads and Highways

• I-75: This major highway crosses the southern part of the township. You can get on or off I-75 at exit 89 (Sashabaw Road) and exit 91 (M-15).
• US 24 (Dixie Highway): This road runs briefly through the southwest corner of the township.
• M-15: This road starts at Dixie Highway and goes north through Clarkston. It's called Main Street near Clarkston and Ortonville Road further north.

Learning in Independence Township

Most students in Independence Township attend schools in the Clarkston Community Schools district.

High Schools in the Area

• Clarkston High School: In 2016, about 1,930 students in grades nine through twelve attended Clarkston High School. It's located at 6093 Flemings Lake Road. The school offers 26 different varsity sports and competes in the Oakland Activities Association. It's also a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
• Renaissance High School: This school is for students in grades 9 to 12 who need a different learning environment to succeed. It's located at 6558 Waldon Road. Students here still meet the same graduation requirements as Clarkston High School and get a Clarkston High School diploma. They can also join sports and clubs at Clarkston High School.
• Oakland Schools Campus: Renaissance students can also take classes at the Oakland Schools Campus. Its Northwest campus is located in the township at 8211 Big Lake Road.
• Everest Academy and High School: This is a private Roman Catholic high school located at 5935 Clarkston Road. Its sports teams compete in the Catholic High School League.

Middle Schools in the Area

• Clarkston Junior High School: This school teaches eighth and ninth graders. It's located at 6595 Waldon Road in Clarkston.
• Sashabaw Middle School: This school teaches sixth and seventh graders. It's located at 5565 Pine Knob Lane.

Elementary Schools in the Area

There are six public elementary schools in Independence Township:

• Bailey Lake Elementary School
• Clarkston Elementary School
• Independence Elementary School
• North Sashabaw Elementary School
• Pine Knob Elementary School
• Anderson Elementary School

Fun and Recreation

Independence Township offers many ways to have fun, especially outdoors!

Golf Courses

The township has several golf courses where you can practice your swing:

• Fountains Golf Club: An 18-hole course at 6060 Maybee Road.
• Pine Knob Golf Club: A 27-hole course at 5580 Waldon Road.
• Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club: A 27-hole championship course, rated as one of the best in the U.S. by Golf Magazine. It's at 9085 Big Lake Road.
• Oakhurst Golf and Country Club: A private club at 7000 Oakhurst Lane.

Skiing and Music Venues

• Pine Knob: This is a popular ski resort in Independence Township. It has 17 trails and 12 lifts, including a famous slope called "The Wall."
• Pine Knob Music Theatre: This is an outdoor concert venue that has hosted many famous performers. It's known for being one of the highest-earning outdoor concert venues in the United States. It's just minutes from downtown Clarkston.

Hills and Lakes of Independence Township

Independence Township is located along the Hillsdale-Lapeer Moraine Range. This means it has many hills and lakes formed by glaciers long ago.

The highest hill in the township is Pine Knob, which is 1,221 feet (372 meters) high. It's also the highest point in Southeastern Michigan. Just three miles away is Waterford Hill, the second highest hill in the township at 1,150 feet (350 meters). The highest residential street in the township, Olympus Circle, is located on top of Waterford Hill.

The Clinton River flows through Independence Township, creating more than 30 named lakes of different sizes.

Who Lives in Independence Township?

In 2010, the population of Independence Township was 34,681 people. Here's a quick look at who lived there:

• There were 11,765 households (groups of people living together).
• 9,094 of these were families.
• The average household had about 2.75 people.
• The average family had about 3.14 people.
• About 27.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
• About 8.1% of the population was 65 years old or older.
• The median income for a household was $74,992.

Diversity in the Township

In 2010, the population was made up of:

• 95.84% White people
• 1.22% Asian people
• 0.84% African American people
• 0.24% Native American people

Famous People from Independence Township

Many interesting people have connections to Independence Township and the nearby city of Clarkston. Here are a few:

• Valerie Bertinelli: A well-known actress.
• Tim Birtsas: A former professional baseball player in the MLB.
• Dan Dickerson: The radio play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Tigers baseball team.
• Dane Fife: A former basketball player for Indiana University and now a coach at Michigan State University.
• Henry Ford: The famous industrialist who founded the Ford Motor Company. He had a summer home and weekend cottage on Main Street. He also owned a mill in Clarkston.
• Geoff Johns: A popular comic book writer.
• Scott Kamieniecki: A former professional baseball player in the MLB.
• Tim McCormick: A former professional basketball player in the NBA and now a sports broadcaster.
• Ryan Riess: A professional poker player who won the 2013 World Series of Poker.
• Tim Robinson: A comedian and former cast member and writer for Saturday Night Live.

See also

In Spanish: Municipio de Independence (Míchigan) para niños