Erie Townshipis acivil townshipofMonroe Countyin the U.S. state ofMichigan.The population was 4,299 at the2020 census.[3]Sharing a southern border with the city ofToledo, Ohio,about 45 miles (72 km) southwest of the city ofDetroit,the township is one of the southernmost areas included in the Detroit–Warren–Ann ArborCombined Statistical Area(Metro Detroit).
Erie Township, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Erie Township Hall | |
 Location withinMonroe Countyand the state of Michigan | |
  Erie Township  Erie Township | |
| Coordinates:41°46′18″N83°29′22″W/ 41.77167°N 83.48944°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Monroe |
| Established | 1827 |
| Government | |
| • Supervisor | Michael Grodi |
| •Clerk | Kim Cousino |
| Area | |
• Total | 29.59 sq mi (76.6 km2) |
| • Land | 23.88 sq mi (61.8 km2) |
| • Water | 5.72 sq mi (14.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 584 ft (178 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 4,299 |
| • Density | 180.0/sq mi (69.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5(Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4(EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 48133 (Erie) 48182 (Temperance) |
| Area code | 734 |
| FIPS code | 26-26320[4] |
| GNISfeature ID | 1626245[5] |
| Website | erietownship |
The township was organized in 1827 and is the southeasternmost municipality in the state of Michigan. The city ofLuna Pieris mostly surrounded by the township, but the two are administered autonomously since Luna Pier incorporated as a city in 1963.
History
editErie was started in 1790 byMétis peoplemoving south fromMonroe.Early on, a log church named St. Joseph sur la Baie Miami was built here. FatherGabriel Richardoften conducted mass here.[6]
The township was officially organized as one of the first five townships in Monroe County,Michigan Territory,in 1827. The township was originally much larger and included the present-day townships ofBedford,La Salle,and about a 0.5-mile-long (0.8 km) stretch of theToledo Strip.[7]When a post office was established in 1827, it was given the name of "Bay Settlement".[6]The township's name was changed to Erie in 1835. Bedford Township and La Salle Township were broken off from Erie Township and established in 1836. In the same year, the Toledo Strip portion of Erie Township was given to the state of Ohio.Luna Pier,which occupied the northeast portion of the township, incorporated as a city in 1963, separating it from the township.[8]
The last boundary change within Erie Township came in 1973 when theSupreme Court of the United Statesintervened on a border dispute involving the small and uninhabitedTurtle Island,2 miles (3 km) offshore inLake Erie.The 1.5-acre (0.6 ha) island was divided in half, with one side given to Erie Township. The other side of the island, which contains the abandonedTurtle Island Light,was given to Ohio.[9]
Communities
edit- Alexisis a former settlement beginning in 1878 that was at a junction of two railway lines heading south fromDetroit.The site was also known as Detroit Junction.[10]
- Erieis anunincorporated communitylocated in the northwest portion of the township at41°47′39″N83°29′47″W/ 41.79417°N 83.49639°W.[11]As one of the county's oldest communities, Erie was first settled as early as 1790 by settlers from the north inFrenchtown.It was given a post office named "Bay Settlement" on April 18, 1827. The name was changed to "Erie" after the township on March 5, 1835, and remains in operation.[6]
- Havreis a former settlement located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the state border on the north shores ofMaumee Bay.A post office operated very briefly here for about five months from June 19 until December 15, 1837.[12]
- Ottawais a historic locale on the railway line at41°46′02″N83°31′17″W/ 41.76722°N 83.52139°W.[13]
- Viennais a historic locale located at41°47′13″N83°28′41″W/ 41.78694°N 83.47806°W.[14]Founded in 1882, it served as a branch on theMichigan Central Railroadin 1882.[15]
- Vienna Junctionis another historic community that was centered along the railway at41°45′00″N83°30′18″W/ 41.75000°N 83.50500°W.[16]
- Vistulawas a settlement located within the former boundaries of the township. A land company bought and platted the community in 1832, and the territory built a roadway here. A post office in Vistula was established on January 8, 1834, and operated very briefly until it was closed on January 9, 1835, during the onset of theToledo War.When the border dispute was resolved by 1836, the area of Vistula was transferred to the state of Ohio.[17]The only remnants of the former settlement are included in theVistula Historic DistrictinToledo.
Geography
editAccording to theUnited States Census Bureau,the township has a total area of 29.59 square miles (76.64 km2), of which 23.88 square miles (61.85 km2) are land and 5.72 square miles (14.81 km2), or 19.32%, are water.[3]
Erie Township includesGard Island,Indian Island,and a portion ofTurtle IslandinLake Erie.TheOttawa Riverruns through the southeasternmost portion of the township and empties intoNorth Maumee Baywithin the township. The township also includes theNorth Maumee Bay Archeological Districtand portions of theDetroit River International Wildlife Refuge.TheLost Peninsulais located in the southeasternmost portion of the township. It is located on Point Place Peninsula, which is bordered by the Ottawa River on the west andMaumee Bayon the east. Lost Peninsula is anexclaveof the township (and of the state of Michigan), as its only land border is with the state ofOhio.TheToledoneighborhood ofPoint Placeborders Lost Peninsula to the south.
The township is bordered by Lake Erie to the east,Bedford Townshipto the west,La Salle Townshipto the north, and the city ofLuna Pierto the northeast. The state ofOhioborders to the south, including portions of the city ofToledoandWashington Township.
Major highways
edit
I-75runs south–north through the eastern section of township and has one access point along Otter Creek Road (exit 9).
US 24(Telegraph Road) runs south–north through the center of the township.
M-125(S. Dixie Highway) runs parallel with US 24.
US 25is a former U.S. highway from 1926–1973 that is now replaced with M-125.
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,144 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,362 | 19.1% | |
| 1870 | 1,527 | 12.1% | |
| 1880 | 1,721 | 12.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,463 | −15.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,426 | −2.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,477 | 3.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,226 | −17.0% | |
| 1930 | 2,433 | 98.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,871 | 18.0% | |
| 1950 | 4,442 | 54.7% | |
| 1960 | 5,456 | 22.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,451 | −18.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,576 | 2.8% | |
| 1990 | 4,492 | −1.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,850 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,517 | −6.9% | |
| 2020 | 4,299 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] | |||
As of thecensus[4]of 2000, there were 4,850 people, 1,789 households, and 1,343 families residing in the township. The population density was 201.1 inhabitants per square mile (77.6/km2). There were 1,917 housing units at an average density of 79.5 per square mile (30.7/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.32%White,1.01%African American,0.60%Native American,0.21%Asian,1.42% fromother races,and 1.44% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinopeople of any race were 4.29% of the population.
There were 1,789 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% weremarried couplesliving together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $52,442, and the median income for a family was $59,089. Males had a median income of $46,810 versus $27,900 for females. Theper capita incomefor the township was $21,494. About 4.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
editThe majority of Erie Township is served byMason Consolidated Schools,while very small portions of the western border are served byBedford Public Schoolsto the west inBedford Township.[19]
Notable people
edit- Elroy M. Avery,historian, author, and politician; born in Erie Township[20]
References
edit- ^Michigan Townships Association(2023)."Erie Township, Monroe County, Michigan".RetrievedJanuary 15,2023.
- ^"2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedNovember 3,2023.
- ^abcUnited States Census Bureau."Erie Township, Monroe County, Michigan".RetrievedFebruary 10,2023.
- ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Erie Township, Michigan
- ^abcRomig 1986,p. 185.
- ^Erie Township (2020)."Erie Township History".RetrievedMay 22,2020.
- ^Kisiel, Ralph (January 4, 1983)."Luna Pier planning for 20th anniversary".Toledo Blade.pp. S3.RetrievedNovember 3,2015.
- ^"Claiming Turtle Island".Toledo Blade.Block Communications.February 5, 2018.RetrievedMay 23,2020.
- ^Romig 1986,p. 16.
- ^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Erie, Michigan
- ^Romig 1986,p. 257.
- ^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ottawa, Michigan
- ^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Vienna, Michigan
- ^Romig 1986,p. 574.
- ^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Vienna Junction, Michigan
- ^Romig 1986,p. 575.
- ^"Decennial Census Official Publications".U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedNovember 3,2023.
- ^Michigan Geographic Framework (November 15, 2013)."Monroe County School Districts"(PDF).RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
- ^Ohio History - The Scholarly Journal of the Ohio Historical SocietyArchived2007-09-29 at theWayback MachineVolume 4, page 453 (Sketches of Life Members), 1895
Sources
edit- Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973].Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities(Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit, Michigan:Wayne State University Press.pp. 16, 185, 257, 574, 575.ISBN978-0-8143-1838-6.
External links
edit