Orleans Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orleans Township, Michigan
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Township
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 Orleans Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Orleans Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ionia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.2 sq mi (93.8 km2) |
| • Land | 35.5 sq mi (92.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 856 ft (261 m) |
| Population
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| • Total | 2,664 |
| • Density | 73.59/sq mi (28.401/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
48865
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| Area code(s) | 616 |
| FIPS code | 26-61160 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626860 |
Orleans Township is a community located in Ionia County, in the state of Michigan, United States. It is a type of local government area called a civil township. In 2020, about 2,664 people lived here.
Contents
Exploring Orleans Township's Location
Orleans Township covers an area of about 36.2 square miles (93.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.5 square miles (92.0 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.7 square miles (1.9 square kilometers), is water. This means there are some small lakes or rivers within the township.
Communities Within Orleans Township
Orleans Township is home to a few smaller communities, each with its own interesting history.
Chadwick: A Railroad Stop
Chadwick was a community that started in 1856. It was founded by Charles Chadwick. When the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad was built in 1872, Chadwick became an important stop. It even had its own post office for many years, from 1872 until 1907.
Orleans: A Community with Many Names
Orleans is an unincorporated community within the township. This means it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own separate local government. A post office was first set up here in 1844. It was originally called Wheatland. Later, in 1868, its name changed to Orleans. This new name honored Orleans County, New York, where many of the first settlers came from. In 1870, a train station for the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad also opened in Orleans. The community was officially mapped out in 1871 and was briefly called Palmer before its name was quickly changed back to Orleans.
Shiloh: Named After a Famous Battle
Shiloh is another unincorporated community in Orleans Township. It got its start in 1877. At first, its post office was called Smith's Crossing. It was also a station on a train line that connected to Stanton. In 1877, the community decided to change its name to Shiloh. This was done to honor the Battle of Shiloh, a very important battle from the American Civil War that happened in 1862.
People Living in Orleans Township
In 2000, there were about 2,736 people living in Orleans Township. The community had 985 households, with many of them being families. About 28.7% of the people living in the township were under 18 years old. The average age of people in Orleans Township was 34 years.
