Montcalm Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montcalm Township, Michigan
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Township
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 Montcalm Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Montcalm Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Montcalm |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.4 sq mi (94 km2) |
| • Land | 35.4 sq mi (92 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (3 km2) |
| Elevation | 889 ft (271 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,394 |
| • Density | 95.8/sq mi (37.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | |
| FIPS code | 26-117-55140 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626759 |
Montcalm Township is a special kind of local government area called a civil township. It is located in Montcalm County in the state of Michigan, United States. In 2020, about 3,394 people lived here. This was a small increase from 3,350 people in 2010.
Contents
Geography of Montcalm Township
Montcalm Township is found in the southwestern part of Montcalm County. Part of its southern border is next to Greenville, which is the biggest city in the county. To the west, the township shares a border with Kent County.
Roads and Rivers
A main road, M-91, goes right through the middle of the township. This road leads south into Greenville and north to Lakeview.
The township covers a total area of about 36.4 square miles (94.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.4 square miles (91.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.0 square mile (2.6 square kilometers), is water.
The Flat River flows south through the western part of the township. This river is a branch of the larger Grand River. Also, Dickerson Creek, which is a smaller stream, flows into the Flat River and drains the eastern part of the township.
Communities in Montcalm Township
Gowen: A Historic Community
- Gowen is a small, unincorporated community within Montcalm Township. This means it's not a separate city or town with its own government, but it's a recognized place where people live. Gowen is located on the Flat River.
Gowen started around 1847 as a place where people cut and processed wood, which is called lumbering. It was first known by other names like "Gregor's Mills" and "Kaywood." Colonel James Gowen, who came from Pennsylvania, officially planned the community in 1871.
A post office was opened in Gowen on March 4, 1872. It was also a stop on the old Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad. Today, the Gowen post office has a ZIP code of 49326. It serves the western part of Montcalm Township and some areas nearby.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 135 | — | |
| 1860 | 364 | 169.6% | |
| 1870 | 1,006 | 176.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,724 | 71.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,510 | −12.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,310 | −13.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,131 | −13.7% | |
| 1920 | 926 | −18.1% | |
| 1930 | 873 | −5.7% | |
| 1940 | 949 | 8.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,180 | 24.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,620 | 37.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,984 | 22.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,521 | 27.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,879 | 14.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,178 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,350 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,394 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Looking at the numbers from the census in 2000, there were 3,178 people living in Montcalm Township. These people lived in 1,154 households, and 887 of those were families. The population density was about 89 people per square mile.
Who Lives Here?
About 98% of the people living in the township were White. A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds, including African American, Native American, and Asian. About 1.26% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, about 28% of the population was under 18 years old. About 10.5% of the people were 65 years old or older. The average age in the township was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were about 102.7 males.
