Porter Township, Cass County, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Porter Township, Michigan
|
|
|---|---|
Location within Cass County
|
|
 Porter Township, Cass County, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Porter Township, Cass County, Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Cass |
| Area | |
| • Total | 54.6 sq mi (141.5 km2) |
| • Land | 51.5 sq mi (133.4 km2) |
| • Water | 3.1 sq mi (8.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 912 ft (278 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 3,750 |
| • Density | 68.64/sq mi (26.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49031, 49042, 49061, 49095, 49099, 49130
|
| Area code(s) | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-65720 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626929 |
Porter Township is a special kind of local government area called a civil township. It is located in Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 3,750 people lived here.
Contents
Communities in Porter Township
Porter Township is home to a few smaller communities. These places are not officially separate towns but are recognized areas within the township.
Union Community
Union is a community found in the southeast part of the township. It is located along US 12 at Union Road. This community even has its own post office.
Williamsville Community
Williamsville is another community in Porter Township. You can find it in the northwest part of the township. It is located near Sears Street and Williamsville Street.
Zimmysville Community
Zimmysville is a community in the southwest part of the township. It is located close to M-217.
History of Porter Township
Porter Township has an interesting history, especially linked to the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped people escape slavery before the Civil War.
Early Settlers and the Underground Railroad
Starting in 1829, many Quakers (a religious group) from Ohio and Indiana moved to Cass County. Free Black people also settled here. They created a network to help freedom seekers. These brave people provided food, shelter, and safe travel. They helped people escaping slavery travel north to Canada, where slavery was against the law.
Wright Modlin: A Local Hero
One important person was Wright Modlin. He settled in Williamsville in the 1840s. Wright Modlin was a scout and a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. Conductors guided freedom seekers along the secret routes. He even traveled south to the Ohio River and into Kentucky to help people escape directly to Michigan.
The Kentucky Raid
In 1847, angry slaveholders from Kentucky tried to get back people who had escaped. This event is known as the Kentucky raid on Cass County. Wright Modlin was also a key person in The South Bend Fugitive Slave Case in 1849. This case involved legal battles over escaped slaves.
Geography of Porter Township
Porter Township is located in a unique spot in Michigan. It sits in the southeast corner of Cass County.
Borders and Rivers
To the east, Porter Township shares a border with St. Joseph County. To the south, it borders the state of Indiana. The St. Joseph River also forms part of the township's border. This river cuts off what would have been the very southeast corner of the township.
Land and Water Area
The township covers a total area of about 141.5 square kilometers (54.6 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 133.4 square kilometers (51.5 square miles). The rest is water, which is about 8.1 square kilometers (3.1 square miles). This means about 5.73% of the township is covered by water.
Population in Porter Township
As of the 2020 census, the population of Porter Township was 3,750 people. In 2000, there were 3,794 people living here. By 2010, the population was 3,798.
How People Live
In 2000, there were 1,523 households in the township. A household can be a family or a group of individuals living together. Most households were married couples living together. About 28.8% of households had children under 18 living with them.
