Pine Grove Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pine Grove Township, Michigan
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Township
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 Pine Grove Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Pine Grove Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Van Buren |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.0 sq mi (90.7 km2) |
| • Land | 34.4 sq mi (89.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 932 ft (284 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,994 |
| • Density | 85.54/sq mi (33.010/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 26-64280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626904 |
Pine Grove Township is a community located in Van Buren County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a type of local government area called a civil township. In 2020, about 2,994 people lived here.
Contents
Communities in Pine Grove Township
Pine Grove Township is home to several interesting communities. Each has its own unique story.
Gobles
The city of Gobles is partly in Pine Grove Township. However, as a city, it runs its own government. This means it is separate from the township's administration.
Kendall: A Historic Hub
Kendall is an important community in the township. It serves as the township's main administrative center. In 1864, Lucius B. Kendall settled here. He started a successful business making barrel parts. These parts were made from oak trees found in the nearby forests.
A railroad line was built through Kendall in 1870. This connected the town to Kalamazoo and South Haven. Kendall also got its own post office that same year. The town grew quickly, reaching about 400 people. However, a financial crisis in 1873 caused many businesses to close. The population then dropped to about 250 by 1880.
Mentha: The Peppermint Town
Mentha is now a ghost town. It was once famous for growing peppermint. This peppermint was used to make mint oil by a company owned by Albert M. Todd.
North Lake
North Lake is a small, unincorporated community. It is located right on the border with Almena Township.
Pine Grove Mills: Early Settlement
Pine Grove Mills is a small settlement located near Gobles. It was officially planned out in 1870. However, it had a post office even earlier, starting in 1857. The first buildings here were simple log cabins. The main business was lumber, but farming soon became more important. Early settlers included Daniel B. Brown and David Wise.
Exploring the Kal-Haven Trail
The Kal-Haven Trail is a popular path that runs through Pine Grove Township. It generally goes from east to west. You can find it passing through Mentha, Kendall, Pine Grove Mills, and Gobles. It's a great place for walking, biking, and enjoying nature.
Geography of the Township
Pine Grove Township covers a total area of about 35 square miles (90.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 34.4 square miles (89.2 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.6 square miles (1.5 square kilometers) is water.
Population and People
In 2000, there were 2,773 people living in Pine Grove Township. The population density was about 80.5 people per square mile. This means there were about 80 people living in each square mile of land.
The average household in the township had about 2.72 people. The average family had about 3.08 people. About 33.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. The median age of people in the township was 38 years old. This means half the people were younger than 38, and half were older.
Images for kids
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A 1906 map of Pine Grove Township, showing property lines and names of rural landowners
