| Official Name: | Chester Township, Michigan |
| Settlement Type: | Township |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan |
| Coordinates: | 43.1617°N -85.8511°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name1: | Michigan |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ottawa |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 92.9 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 35.9 |
| Area Land Km2: | 92.4 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 35.7 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.4 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.2 |
| Elevation M: | 220 |
| Elevation Ft: | 722 |
| Population Total: | 2096 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP |
| Postal Code: | 49403 |
| Website: | http://www.chester-twp.org |
| Timezone: | Eastern |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-15300[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1626073 |
Chester Township is a civil township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the township population was 2,096.[2]
There are no incorporated municipalities within the township. There are a few unincorporated communities and homeowners associations:
The township protrudes to the north of the rest of Ottawa County, and is bounded on the west and north by Muskegon County and on the east by Kent County. Polkton Township lies to the southwest and Wright Township to the south.
No major roads pass through the township, although Interstate 96 passes just to the south. The city of Coopersville is just a few miles to the southwest. Grand Haven is about 20miles to the west, while Grand Rapids is about 15miles to the southeast.
The northern part of the township is drained by the north branch of Crockery Creek, a tributary of the Grand River that flows mostly westward in the township. The southern portion is drained by branches of Rio Grande Creek, which flow mostly westward before joining Crockery Creek just south of Ravenna. A small area in the southwest corner is drained by Beaver Creek, which flows mostly south into Deer Creek just about a mile before Deer Creek enters the Grand River in Polkton Township. A small area in the southeast of the township is drained by Nash Creek, which flows east to the Rogue River. Crockery Lake, on the Crockery Creek near the center of the township, is the only sizeable body of water in the township. The highest point in Conklin is approximately 1miles from Crockery Lake by Gooding Street and 24th Avenue.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.9sqmi, of which 35.7sqmi is land and 0.2sqmi (0.47%) is water.
Grose Park is a 40acres county park overlooking the north side of Crockery Lake and provides recreational opportunities including swimming, fishing, sand volleyball and picnicking. There is about one mile (1.6 km) of hiking trails along Lange Creek. Major improvements were made in 2000 to Grose Park as part of a $660,000 renovation with about 60% of the funding coming from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
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As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,315 people, 714 households, and 579 families in the township. The population density was 64.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 793 housing units at an average density of 22.2 per square mile (8.6/km). The racial makeup of the township was 94.43% White, 0.78% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 3.63% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.22% of the population.
There were 714 households, out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.32.
The township population contained 30.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $46,328, and the median income for a family was $51,900. Males had a median income of $39,286 versus $27,159 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,197. About 6.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.