Volinia Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Volinia Township, Michigan
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Location within Cass County
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 Volinia Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Volinia Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Cass |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.1 sq mi (91.0 km2) |
| • Land | 34.4 sq mi (89.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 869 ft (265 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,096 |
| • Density | 31.194/sq mi (12.044/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49031, 49045, 49047, 49067
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| Area code(s) | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-82580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1627203 |
Volinia Township is a small area of land in Cass County, in the state of Michigan, United States. In 2020, about 1,096 people lived here.
The township got its start in 1833. It was first called "Volhynia," which was a region in Poland. People believe it was named to honor General Tadeusz Kościuszko. He was a Polish hero who helped the United States during the American Revolutionary War. Over time, the name changed a bit, first to "Volenia" and then to "Volinia" by the early 1900s.
Volinia Township is also home to Newton Woods. This special forest is recognized as a U.S. National Natural Landmark.
Contents
Exploring Volinia Township's Past
Volinia Township does not have any big cities or towns inside it. But it does have a history of smaller settlements. These places were once busy but have mostly faded away over time.
What Were the Early Settlements Like?
- Charleston was a settlement in the northern part of the township. It was planned out in 1836. An important inn was built there in 1837. This inn was a popular stop for stage coaches traveling between Kalamazoo and Niles. But when the Michigan Central Railroad was built, people started using trains instead of stagecoaches. This made Charleston less important, and it slowly disappeared. Today, you can still find a cemetery there.
- Gard's Prairie was a place where the Potawatomie people lived in the 1820s. Their leader was named Weesaw.
- Huyckstown was another old settlement in the northeast. It was first called "Volinia," just like the township. It had a store and a post office. The post office was called "Little Prairie Ronde" and later "Prairie Ronde." It closed in 1903.
- Nicholsville was a settlement in the northeast, between Finch Lake and Bunker Lake. The very first sawmill in Cass County was built here in 1835. Later, a grist mill was added. The area was first called "Georgetown" but was renamed "Nicholsville" in 1855 after the Nichols brothers bought the mills.
- Volina was a historical settlement in the western part of the township. It had a post office that opened in 1834. This post office moved and changed names a few times before closing for good in 1902.
- Wakelee is a small community in the southeast corner of the township. It was started in 1871. It was named after C. Wakelee, who worked for a railroad company. A train station was built there, and a post office opened in 1872. It stayed open until 1939.
How Does Mail Get to Volinia Township?
Even though Volinia Township doesn't have its own big towns, people living there get their mail from nearby communities.
- If you live in the southern part of the township, your mail might come from Cassopolis (ZIP code 49031).
- In the northern part, mail often comes from Decatur (ZIP code 49045).
- Western areas get mail from Dowagiac (ZIP code 49047).
- And eastern and central parts of the township get mail from Marcellus (ZIP code 49067).
Geography of Volinia Township
Volinia Township covers a total area of about 91.0 square kilometers (about 35.1 square miles). Most of this area, about 89.1 square kilometers (34.4 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.9 square kilometers (0.7 square miles), is water, which makes up about 2.07% of the total area.
Population and People
In 2000, there were 1,174 people living in Volinia Township. By 2010, the population was 1,112, and in 2020, it was 1,096.
Who Lives in Volinia Township?
In 2000, there were 426 households in the township. About 39.9% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (65.0%) were married couples. The average household had 2.75 people, and the average family had 3.20 people.
The people in the township were spread out by age:
- 29.7% were under 18 years old.
- 6.9% were between 18 and 24.
- 29.6% were between 25 and 44.
- 23.1% were between 45 and 64.
- 10.6% were 65 years or older.
The average age of people in the township was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were about 107.4 males.
How Do People Make a Living?
In 2000, the average income for a household in the township was $38,900. For a family, the average income was $40,000. Men generally earned more, with an average income of $30,729, compared to $23,077 for women. The average income per person in the township was $17,375. A small number of families (3.0%) and people (3.5%) lived below the poverty line. This included 3.2% of those under 18 and 9.4% of those 65 or older.
Images for kids
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Location within Cass County
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Volinia para niños
