Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Superior Township, Michigan
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Charter township
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| Charter Township of Superior | |
Township Hall along N. Prospect Road
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Location within Washtenaw County
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 Superior Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Superior Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Washtenaw |
| Established | 1831 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.56 sq mi (92.10 km2) |
| • Land | 35.21 sq mi (91.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2) |
| Elevation | 820 ft (250 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,832 |
| • Density | 417.10/sq mi (161.042/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 734 |
| FIPS code | 26-77560 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1627141 |
Superior Charter Township is a special kind of local government area called a charter township. It's located in Washtenaw County in the state of Michigan, USA. In 2020, about 14,832 people lived here.
Contents
Exploring Local Communities
Superior Township is home to several interesting communities, each with its own history.
Discovering Dixboro's Past
- Dixboro is a small community within the township. It was first settled around 1825 by John Dix. The area was officially mapped in 1826.
- Dixboro even had its own post office, named after John Dix, which opened in 1825.
- For a while, Dixboro was growing faster than nearby Ann Arbor. However, when railroads were built, they went through Ann Arbor instead of Dixboro. This caused Dixboro to become a smaller community over time.
- The oldest building still standing in Dixboro is the Dixboro General Store, built in 1840.
Frain Lake: A Lakeside Community
- Frain Lake is another community in Superior Township, located near a small lake with the same name.
- The community started in 1835 when Michael Frain bought land here after moving from New York.
- You might see the lake and community spelled in a few ways, like Frains Lake or Frain's Lake.
Geer: A Historic Schoolhouse Site
- Geer was a historic settlement named after William Geer, an early settler. He became the first postmaster when a post office opened here in 1890.
- The Geer School, a one-room schoolhouse, is still standing today. It was built in 1880 and was used as a school until 1982.
- This old school is now a county-recognized historic site. It's owned by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and is used for history exhibits.
Superior: The Township's Namesake
- Superior is a community located just north of the Huron River.
- Robert Fleming bought the first piece of land here in 1823.
- A sawmill was built in 1826, and a bank called the Bank of Superior opened in 1838.
- This community also had a post office named Superior from 1838 to 1862.
Geography and Natural Features
Superior Township covers about 35.56 square miles (92.10 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.21 square miles (91.19 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.35 square miles (0.91 square kilometers), is water.
Rivers and Dams
- The Superior Dam is located in the southwest part of the township. It's built along the Huron River.
Important Roads
- Michigan Highway 14 (M-14) briefly passes through the northwest corner of the township.
- Michigan Highway 153 (M-153), also known as Ford Road, runs east to west through the township. It starts where it meets M-14.
Population and People
In 2000, Superior Township had 10,740 people living there. The population density was about 303.7 people per square mile.
- About 63% of the people were White.
- About 30.8% were African American.
- About 2.3% were Asian.
- About 1.8% were Hispanic or Latino.
- About 0.5% were Native American.
- The rest were from other backgrounds or more than one race.
Many households (38%) had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.67 people.
- The median age in the township was 34 years old.
- About 28.9% of the population was under 18.
- About 7.8% of the population was 65 or older.
The median income for a household in 2000 was $56,622. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less.
Education in Superior Township
Students in Superior Charter Township attend schools in different public school districts.
- Most of the township is served by Ypsilanti Community Schools.
- The northwestern part of the township is served by Ann Arbor Public Schools.
- A small part in the northeast is served by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.
Notable People from Superior Township
- Harris Fletcher (1892–1979) was an important academic and author. He was a leading expert on the famous poet John Milton.
The Dixboro Ghost Story
In 1846, a man named Isaac Van Woert claimed he was visited by a ghost. He said the ghost was Martha Mullholland. She supposedly told him she had been harmed by a doctor, who was asked to do so by her brother-in-law, James Mullholland. The ghost also claimed James had caused another person's death and hidden the body in Frains Lake. These claims were looked into by officials but could not be proven. This story became known as the "Dixboro Ghost."
Images for kids
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Original Superior Township Hall
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Dixboro General Store
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Unincorporated community of Frains Lake
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Esek Pray House
