kids encyclopedia robot

Hinton Township, Michigan facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Hinton Township, Michigan
Township
Hinton Township, Michigan is located in Michigan
Hinton Township, Michigan
Hinton Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Hinton Township, Michigan is located in the United States
Hinton Township, Michigan
Hinton Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Michigan
County Mecosta
Area
 • Total 35.8 sq mi (93 km2)
 • Land 35.7 sq mi (92 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation
991 ft (302 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,054
 • Density 29.5/sq mi (11.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
48850 (Lakeview)
49310 (Blanchard)
49332 (Mecosta)
49336 (Morley)
FIPS code 26-107-38540
GNIS feature ID 1626476

Hinton Township is a special kind of local government area called a civil township. It is located in Mecosta County, which is part of the state of Michigan in the United States. In 2020, about 1,054 people lived here.

About Hinton Township

Hinton Township is a quiet area in Michigan. It is known for its history and small communities. The township is named after an early settler. It offers a glimpse into rural American life.

A Look at History

The first white settler in this area was John Hinton. He arrived in 1855. The township was officially created in 1860. It was named in his honor. For a short time, from 1862 to 1863, there was a post office called Hinton.

Places in the Township

Hinton Township does not have any big cities. Instead, it has several small, unincorporated communities. These are places with names but no separate local government. Many of these are found along 5 Mile Road in the northern part of the township.

Altona

Altona is in the northwest part of the township. It is where 5 Mile Road crosses the Little Muskegon River. In 1868, William Seaton and Bartley Davis built a sawmill here. Harrison J. Brown also built a flour mill. Altona was planned to be a village, but it never officially became one. It had a post office from 1872 until 1937.

Halls Corner

Halls Corner is in the northeast part of the township. You can find it where 70th Avenue and 5 Mile Road meet. It is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of Altona. It is also about 5 miles (8 km) south of Mecosta.

Sylvester

Sylvester is in the north central part of the township. It is located at the meeting point of 85th Avenue and 5 Mile Road. This spot is about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Altona. It is also about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Halls Corner.

David Fowler opened the first store in Hinton Township here in 1868. A post office operated from 1872 to 1904. It was named after Sylvester Dresser, an early lumberman. Over the years, several grocery stores opened in Sylvester. The last one burned down on New Year's Eve in 1957.

However, Sylvester still has a few businesses today. One popular spot is King's Trading Post. This general store was even featured in a newspaper in 1996. It was known for its busy ice cream cone sales!

The Canadian Lakes area is just north of the northwest part of the township.

Where is Hinton Township?

Hinton Township is located in the southern part of Mecosta County. Its southern border touches Montcalm County. The township covers a total area of about 35.8 square miles (92.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.7 square miles (92.5 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers), is water.

Who Lives Here?

According to the 2020 census, 1,054 people live in Hinton Township. In 2000, there were 1,035 people living here. The population density was about 29 people per square mile (11 people per square kilometer). This means it is not a very crowded place.

Most households in 2000 were families. About 34.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.78 people. The average family had about 3.15 people. The median age of people living in the township was 37 years old.

kids search engine
Hinton Township, Michigan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.