Independence Township, Michigan Explained

Independence Township, Michigan
Official Name:Charter Township of Independence
Settlement Type:Charter township
Pushpin Map:Michigan#USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Label:Independence 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:Oakland
Leader Title:Supervisor
Leader Name:José Aliaga
Leader Title1:Clerk
Leader Name1:Cari Neubeck
Leader Title2:Treasurer
Leader Name2:Paul A Brown, CPA
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1834
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:94.08
Area Land Km2:90.75
Area Water Km2:3.33
Area Total Sq Mi:36.32
Area Land Sq Mi:35.04
Area Water Sq Mi:1.29
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:36686
Population Density Sq Mi:1047.1
Population Metro:4296250 (Metro Detroit)
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation M:339
Elevation Ft:1112
Coordinates:42.74°N -83.3831°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code(s)
Postal Code:48346, 48348 (Clarkston)
Area Code:248 and 947
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:26-40400[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1626511

Independence Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 36,686 at the 2020 census.[3]

Independence Township was first organized in 1834. The township surrounds the city of Clarkston, but the two are administered autonomously after Clarkston incorporated as a city in 1992. The township is home to the Pine Knob Music Theatre and the Pine Knob Ski Resort.

History

The first settlers arrived in Independence Township in the mid-1820s and early 1830s, primarily from New Jersey and New York. The first settler to purchase and settle land in the township was John W. Beardslee (b. 1799, d. 1883), from Sussex County, New Jersey.[4]

Independence Township was named by one of its earliest settlers, Joseph Van Sycle, who came to the area in 1834 from Independence Township, New Jersey.[5] [6]

While initially the township was primarily agricultural, the many lakes in the area were beginning to draw vacationers out of Detroit and other cities. In 1851, the railroad came through Clarkston, which prompted hotels to be built in the township to accommodate the resort vacationers coming to the area. The invention of the automobile had a tremendous effect on Independence Township. Roads that were once Native American trails were paved and widened for this new mode of transportation. The old Saginaw Trail, now known as Dixie Highway, was paved as early as 1920, and Main Street (M-15) in Clarkston was paved around 1922.

The expanding national highway system brought I-75 through Independence Township in 1962, spurring both business and residential development. Many farms gave way to subdivisions and strip malls as Independence Township continued evolving into part of Metropolitan Detroit.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.3sqmi, of which 34.99sqmi is land and 1.31sqmi (3.61%) is water.

The township is part of the Metro Detroit area and is 45miles northwest of Detroit.

Major highways

Education

Independence Township is primarily serviced by the Clarkston Community Schools.[8]

In 2016, Clarkston High School had an enrollment of 1,930 students in grade nine through twelve.[9] The school is located at 6093 Flemings Lake Road in Independence Township.

Clarkston High School offers twenty-six varsity sports, and competes in the Oakland Activities Association.[10] It is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.[11]

Renaissance High School is located at 6558 Waldon Road in Independence Township. Renaissance High School is for students in grades 9 to 12 who need an alternative to the traditional high school setting in order to be successful. Renaissance students must meet Clarkston High School graduation requirements and receive a Clarkston High School diploma. Renaissance students are encouraged to participate in athletics, clubs and extracurricular activities offered at Clarkston High School. Renaissance students can also take courses at the Oakland Schools Campus, whose Northwest campus is also located in the township at 8211 Big Lake Road.[12] [13]

Clarkston Junior High School is located at 6595 Waldon Road in Clarkston. The school teaches eight and ninth grades.

Sashabaw Middle School is located at 5565 Pine Knob Lane in Independence Township. The school teaches sixth and seventh grades.

There are five public elementary schools in Independence Township:

Everest Academy and High School is a private Roman Catholic high school also located in the township at 5935 Clarkston Road in Independence Township.[14] The school competes athletically in the Catholic High School League[15] and is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.[11]

Golf

Independence Township is home to three public golf courses; Fountains Golf Club, an 18-hole course located at 6060 Maybee Road in Independence Township, Pine Knob Golf Club, a 27-hole course, located at 5580 Waldon Road in Independence Township,[16] and Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club, a 27- hole championship course rated 42nd best golf course in the United States by Golf Magazine.[17] It is located at 9085 Big Lake Road in Independence Township.[18]

Oakhurst Golf and Country Club is a private club, located at 7000 Oakhurst Lanein Independence Township.[19] Oakhurst was the home of the 99th Michigan Amateur[20]

Skiing and music

Pine Knob is a ski resort located in Independence Township. It features 17 trails and 12 lifts. It is known for its slope called "The Wall".

Pine Knob is also home to the Pine Knob Music Theatre, an outdoor amphitheater concert venue that has featured hundreds of celebrities and is always one of the highest grossing outdoor amphitheaters in the United States.[21] It is located in Independence Township minutes away from downtown Clarkston.

Hills and lakes

Independence Township is located along the Hillsdale-Lapeer Moraine Range. The highest hill along that range in Independence Township is Pine Knob, at 1,221 feet. It is also the highest point in Southeastern Michigan. Only three miles away is Waterford Hill, the second highest hill in Independence Township with an elevation of 1,150 feet.[22] Atop Waterford Hill is Olympus Circle, the highest elevation of any residential street in Independence Township.[23]

The Clinton River winds its way through Independence Township creating more than thirty named lakes of all sizes along the way.[24] [25]

Lakes in Independence Township[26]
Lake Size in acres Depth in feet
35
Crooked Lake (previously Lower Bushman Lake) 68 65
Dark Lake (adjacent to Deer Lake) 5 10
Dark Lake (adjacent to Whipple Lake) 7 12
137 63
3 15
27
117 55
16
Heather Lake (part) 64
2
Lake Oakland (part) 255 64
Lester Lake (part) 12 25
17
Lotus Lake (part) 179 65
11
23 35
50
23 50
37
Sans Souci Lake (part) 7
12 15
26 55
30 32
Van Norman Lake (most) 66 90
77 76
75 50
Woodhull Lake (part) 135 56

Demographics

The population of Independence Township was 34,681 at the 2010 census.[27]

In Independence Township in 2010, there were:

Notable people

This list includes people from the area (Clarkston and Independence Township).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. February 20, 2024.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 . mdy-all .
  3. Web site: QuickFacts: Independence charter township, Oakland County, Michigan. United States Census Bureau. February 20, 2024.
  4. Web site: Township History. www.twp.independence.mi.us.
  5. http://interactive.ancestry.com/1246/RHUSA2007B_MI0220-00493/862215? Independence Township, Michigan, Land Patent of Joseph Van Syckle of (Independence Township,) Warren County, New Jersey (Ancestry.com subscription access retrieved 17 July 2015)
  6. http://interactive.ancestry.com/8057/4410710_00300/2240542? 1840 U.S. Federal Census Schedule of the whole number of persons in the division, Michigan, Oakland County, Independence Township (Ancestry.com subscription access retrieved 17 July 2015)
  7. Web site: Home. www.clarkstonhistorical.org.
  8. Web site: Clarkston Community Schools - Schools . March 8, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160309032231/http://216.11.46.29/education/components/sectionlist/default.php?sectiondetailid=5 . March 9, 2016 . dead . mdy-all .
  9. Web site: 2019 Largest Public High Schools in Michigan. Niche.
  10. Web site: Oakland Activities Association. www.oaklandactivitiesassoc.org.
  11. Web site: Michigan High School Athletic Association. www.mhsaa.com.
  12. http://www.ostconline.com/CAMPUSES/NorthwestCampusClarkston/tabid/2828/Default.aspx
  13. http://216.11.46.29/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=773&{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  14. Web site: Home. Everest Collegiate High School and Academy. 2020-05-02. Everest Collegiate High School & Academy 5935 Clarkston Rd. Clarkston, MI 48348. - Compare full address with: Web site: Zoning Map. https://web.archive.org/web/20200502160644/http://cms2.revize.com/revize/independencetwp/Zoning%20Map%202019.pdf . 2020-05-02 . live. Independence Township, Michigan. 2020-05-02.
  15. Web site: Catholic High School League - The Official Website for the Catholic High School League. www.chsl.com.
  16. Web site: Golf Course - Banquet Facility - Golf Club - Clarkston.
  17. Web site: Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club. Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club.
  18. Web site: Find Golf Courses Near Me . Golflink.com . 2018-08-22.
  19. Web site: Oakhurst Golf & Country Club. ClubCorp. Oakhurst Golf & Country Club.
  20. Web site: Michigan Amateur gears for 99th annual golf championship.
  21. Web site: PALACE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT :: History & Info . March 8, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160309024323/https://www.palacenet.com/about-pse/history-info . March 9, 2016 . dead . mdy-all .
  22. Web site: Clarkston Topo Map, Oakland County MI (Clarkston Area).
  23. Web site: Waterford Hill Topo Map, Oakland County MI (Clarkston Area).
  24. Web site: Map and Download 7148 Lakes in Michigan to your GPS - Maps of all 7148 Lakes in Michigan (topo maps, street maps, aerial photos). Dan. Foster. www.expertgps.com.
  25. Web site: Oakland County MI Lakes - LakePlace.com. www.lakeplace.com.
  26. Web site: Archived copy . August 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170305001556/http://www.twp.independence.mi.us/Opportunities_2030__Independence_Township_Master_Plan_Draft__June_3_2015_.pdf . March 5, 2017 . dead . mdy-all .
  27. Web site: Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Independence charter township, Oakland County, Michigan . . August 22, 2011 . mdy-all .
  28. Web site: Valerie Bertinelli. 2012-11-23. International Speakers Bureau. https://web.archive.org/web/20121128133019/http://www.internationalspeakers.com/speaker/13700/valerie_bertinelli. November 28, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
  29. Web site: Olde Mill Inn - About Us. Olde Mill Inn.
  30. Web site: Tigers Broadcasters. MLB.com.
  31. Web site: Voice of Detroit Tigers Dan Dickerson to meet with fans - theoaklandpress.com . www.theoaklandpress.com . 2 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20130812191636/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/01/11/life/suburban_life_clarkston/doc4b4af849340d2958384567.txt . 12 August 2013 . dead.
  32. Web site: Home-grown Dane Fife happy with new job - theoaklandpress.com . www.theoaklandpress.com . 2 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20130812191721/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/07/29/sports/college/doc4e334bf2dfc66826331403.txt . 12 August 2013 . dead.
  33. Web site: Henry Ford in the Village of Clarkston – Michigan History. michiganhistory.leadr.msu.edu.
  34. Web site: Village Of Clarkston Historic District. www.clarkstonhistory.info.
  35. Web site: Clarkston's Kamieniecki a rising star in basketball, not baseball | the Detroit News . 2013-08-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140824235534/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20090129/OPINION03/901290410 . August 24, 2014 . mdy-all .
  36. Web site: ARCA driver eyes NASCAR . 2013-08-12 . dead . https://archive.today/20130812191617/http://www.clarkstonnews.com/Articles-i-2005-08-17-135461.112112_ARCA_driver_eyes_NASCAR.html . August 12, 2013 . mdy-all .