Benton Charter Township, Michigan Explained

Official Name:Benton Charter Township, Michigan
Settlement Type:Charter township
Seal Type:logo
Seal Size:200px
Pushpin Map:Michigan
Pushpin Label Position:top
Pushpin Label:Benton Township
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Michigan
Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Michigan
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Berrien
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:85.0
Area Land Km2:83.8
Area Water Km2:1.2
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:14374
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation M:193
Elevation Ft:633
Coordinates:42.1103°N -86.4161°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code(s)
Postal Code:49022, 49126
Area Code:269
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:26-07400[1]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1625918

Benton Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,374.[2]

Communities

History

The township was established on March 11, 1837, and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, U.S. senator from Missouri.[3] It remained attached to St. Joseph Township for administrative purposes until 1841.[4]

The commune of the House of David was located in the township.

In 1967, the Benton Harbor Fruit Market, established in 1860 in Benton Harbor, moved to the township.[5] The Benton Harbor city limits have since then extended to include the market.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 85km2, of which 83.8km2 is land and 1.2km2, or 1.36%, is water.[7]

The township is in the northwest portion of the county, with Lake Michigan to the west in the north of the township and Benton Harbor to the west in the south of the township. St. Joseph and St. Joseph Charter Township lie to the southwest. Hagar Township is to the north, Coloma Charter Township to the northeast, Bainbridge Township is to the east, Pipestone Township is to the southeast, and Sodus Township and Royalton Township are to the south.

I-94 traverses the township diagonally from northeast to southwest. The southern terminus of I-196 is at the junction with I-94. US 31 follows parts of I-196, I-94, Napier Avenue, and all of the completed portion of the St. Joseph Valley Parkway within the township. M-139 lies in the southwest of the township and runs from I-94 to a junction with Business Loop I-94 just east of Benton Harbor (the southbound direction begins on the Benton Harbor–Benton Township border).

Demographics

Benton charter township, Berrien County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition
!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)!Pop 2010[8] !Pop 2020[9] !% 2010!% 2020
White alone (NH)5,8585,49039.72%38.19%
Black or African American alone (NH)7,5666,78951.30%47.23%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)71600.48%0.42%
Asian alone (NH)47590.32%0.41%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)060.00%0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH)12640.08%0.45%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)3136722.12%4.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)8821,2345.98%8.58%
Total14,74914,374100.00%100.00%

2000 Census

At the 2000 census, there were 16,404 people, 6,485 households and 4,221 families residing in the township. The population density was 503.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 7,082 housing units at an average density of 217.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 44.11% White, 51.86% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.14% of the population.

There were 6,485 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% were married couples living together, 24.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.

Age distribution was 30.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median household income was $25,942, and the median family income was $30,899. Males had a median income of $31,563 versus $20,484 for females. The per capita income for the township was $14,137. About 22.5% of families and 27.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.3% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Whirlpool Corporation has its headquarters in the township.[10] [11] Whirlpool employs a total of 2,058 employees in the metropolitan area.[4]

Education

Benton Charter Township is served by the Benton Harbor Public Library located within the Benton Harbor city limits.

Sports and recreation

Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club is located in the township, just northwest of Millburg.

Sarett Nature Center, a 300acres wildlife sanctuary which offers trails, an interpretative building, and classes, is located in the northern portion of the township. It is named for Lew R. Sarett, father of Lewis Hastings Sarett.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  2. Web site: Benton charter township, Berrien County, Michigan. United States Census Bureau. February 17, 2023.
  3. Web site: Origins - Old Place Names . https://web.archive.org/web/20180313101635/https://bcgensoc.com/facts.php?sid=3 . dead . 13 March 2018 . Berrien County Genealogical Society . 13 March 2018.
  4. http://www.berriencounty.org/econdev/pdfs/benton_charter_township.pdf Benton Charter Township
  5. News: John . Matuszak . 150 and still growing . . 2010-08-09 . 2010-08-20 .
  6. U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 TIGER maps
  7. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Benton charter township, Berrien County, Michigan. https://archive.today/20200212145841/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2602107400. dead. February 12, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. January 8, 2014.
  8. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Benton charter township, Berrien County, Michigan. United States Census Bureau.
  9. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Benton charter township, Berrien County, Michigan. United States Census Bureau.
  10. "Contact Us ." Whirlpool Corporation. 5 (6/30). Retrieved on April 28, 2010.
  11. "Benton charter township, Michigan ." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on April 28, 2010.
  12. Lew Sarett (1888-1954) Papers, 1902-1978, p.2. Northwestern University archives.