| Gaines Township, Michigan | |
| Official Name: | Gaines Charter Township |
| Settlement Type: | Charter township |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Label: | Gaines Township |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States |
| Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Michigan |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kent |
| Leader Title: | Supervisor |
| Leader Name: | Robert DeWard |
| Leader Title1: | Clerk |
| Leader Name1: | Michael Brew |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1848 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 92.62 |
| Area Land Km2: | 92.46 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.16 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 35.76 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 35.70 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.06 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 28812 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 249 |
| Elevation Ft: | 817 |
| Coordinates: | 42.8344°N -85.6369°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 49315 (Byron Center) 49316 (Caledonia) 49348 (Wayland) 49508, 49512, 49548 (Grand Rapids) |
| Area Code: | 616 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-081-31240[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1626329 |
Gaines Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 28,812 at the 2020 census.[2] The township is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is located about 3miles south of the city of Grand Rapids.
The area was first settled by Alexander Clark and Alexander L. Bouck in 1837. The township was named Gaines in 1846, after Gaines, New York, the birth place of many of the town's first settlers.[4]
Gaines Township was officially established in 1848.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.76sqmi, of which 35.7sqmi is land and 0.06sqmi (0.17%) is water.[5]
The township is about south of downtown Grand Rapids. It is directly south of the city of Kentwood. Caledonia Charter Township and the village of Caledonia are to the east. Leighton Township in Allegan County is to the south and Byron Township to the west.
Gaines Township is served by three separate public school districts. The majority of the township is served by Caledonia Community Schools to the east in Caledonia Township. The western portion of the township is served by Bryon Center Public Schools in Byron Center, while the northwestern corner is served by Kentwood Public Schools in Kentwood.[6]
As of the 2020 United States Census,[7] there was a population of 28,812 people. 66.8% were non-Hispanic White, 11.5% Black or African American, 7.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American, and 10.1% of two or more races. 9.8% were Hispanic or Latino.
As of the 2010 United States Census,[1] there were 25,146 people, 9,220 households, and 6,740 families in the township. The population density was 704.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 9,866 housing units at an average density of 276.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 77.5% White, 9.0% African American, 0.40% Native American, 4.6% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.01% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.1% of the population.
There were 9,220 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.
The township population contained 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,415, and the median income for a family was $56,402. About 3.2% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over. Males had a median income of $41,446 versus $27,333 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,459.