Gaines Township, Kent County, Michigan Explained

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.

Communities

History

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.

Geography

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.

Major highways

Education

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]

Demographics

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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. Census website. US Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  2. Web site: Explore Census Data . 2024-04-21 . data.census.gov.
  3. Book: Walter . Romig . Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities . Great Lakes Books Series . Paperback . 1973 . October 1, 1986 . . 0-8143-1838-X . Detroit, Michigan . 134, 166, 215–216.
  4. Web site: A Brief History of Gaines Charter Township . 2024-06-17 . Gaines Charter Township.
  5. Web site: September 2012 . Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing . October 19, 2021 . . . 28 Michigan.
  6. Web site: Michigan Geographic Framework. Kent County School Districts. 15 November 2013. September 28, 2021.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website . . May 9, 2024 .