| Van Buren Township, Michigan | |
| Official Name: | Van Buren Charter Township |
| Settlement Type: | Charter township |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Label: | Van Buren Township |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States |
| Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Wayne |
| Leader Title: | Supervisor |
| Leader Name: | Kevin McNamara |
| Leader Title1: | Clerk |
| Leader Name1: | Leon Wright |
| Established Date: | 1835 |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 36.06 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 33.97 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 2.09 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 30375 |
| Population Metro: | 4285832 (Metro Detroit) |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Coordinates: | 42.2206°N -83.4875°W |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 48111 (Belleville) 48174 (Romulus) 48184 (Wayne) |
| Area Code: | 734 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-81660[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1627189 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Van Buren Township is a charter township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A western suburb of Detroit, Van Buren Township is located roughly 28miles southwest of downtown Detroit, and 17miles southeast of Ann Arbor. As of the 2020 census, the township had a population of 30,375.[2] It surrounds, but is independent of, the city of Belleville.
Belleville Lake is a principal geographic feature, and the township is also home to Willow Run Airport, which extends into neighboring Ypsilanti Township.
In 1800, settler Henry Snow came and settled on what is now the border with Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County which was originally called Snow's Landing.
A settlement of the Huron River received a post office on May 7, 1834, with the name of West Huron and postmaster Scott Vining. The township was formed by the State in 1835 and was soon renamed for Martin Van Buren, then vice president of the US. The post office name was also changed. On November 14, 1838, the Van Buren post office was moved to Rawsonville and assumed that name. On October 25, 1895, the Rawsonville post office was closed, only to reopen on November 20, 1895, and to close again on February 28, 1902.
In 1925, the French Landing Dam and Powerhouse was put in place on the Huron River, placing most of the Rawsonville village under water of the new Belleville Lake.
The only visual sign of the historic community is a historical marker at the intersection Rawsonville and Grove Road.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.06sqmi, of which 33.97sqmi is land and (5.80%) is water.[4]
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,559 people, 9,867 households, and 6,117 families residing in the township. The population density was 694.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 10,417 housing units at an average density of 307.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 82.64% White, 12.03% African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.25% of the population.
There were 9,867 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,984, and the median income for a family was $60,561. Males had a median income of $44,867 versus $30,299 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,820. About 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Auto parts maker Visteon is based in Van Buren Township. A factory for electric vehicle lithium iron phosphate batteries is under construction.[5]
USA Jet Airlines has its headquarters on the grounds of Willow Run Airport and in the township.[6] [7]