Canton Township, Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Charter Township of Canton, usually just called Canton, is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan and is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 76,366. In the 2004 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau the population was 84,654. Canton is one of Michigan's fastest growing communities. Based on statistics reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canton was the nation's 20th safest city during 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006[1]. The designation is based on crime statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.
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[edit] Communities
- Sheldon or Sheldon's Corners is a historic locale in the south of the township on U.S. Highway 12 just west of Interstate 275 at . The elevation is 682 feet above sea level. It is named after Timothy F. Sheldon who purchased lands there in 1842.
- Cherry Hill Village is a historic locale in the west of the township at at the intersection of Cherry Hill Road and Ridge Road. It is the site of a new neighborhood with architecture that is supposed to be reminiscent of what Canton was like a hundred years ago. It is located on a rise over a branch of the Lower River Rouge at 720 feet above sea level. It is now the site of a theatre, the Village Theater. Cherry Hill Village is evolving into the "downtown" area, much like downtown Plymouth.
[edit] History
The township of Canton was created by act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature on March 7, 1834 out of what had been Plymouth Township. It was named after the city of Canton in China. The name was chosen for the purpose of not conflicting with the name of any post office in existence at the time. At the time, there was a territorial law from April 12, 1827, prohibiting the incorporation of any new township having the same name as any existing post office. However, on October 20, 1829, the legislature had passed legislation creating the townships of Lima and Richland out of Bucklin Township. Governor Lewis Cass returned the acts unapproved, citing a conflict under the law. The legislature thus had to substitute the names of Nankin and Pekin after the cities of Nanking and Peking in China. Although the name of Pekin was changed to Redford in 1833, apparently when naming Canton, the legislature decided to continue having at least two townships named for Chinese cities.
The first meeting to organize the township was held in April, 1834.
Canton welcomed an IKEA store on June 7, 2006. This was the first (and presently only) IKEA to be built in Michigan.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.0 mi² (93.2 km²). The total area is all land and none of it is covered by water. The south of the township is drained by the Lower River Rouge and its tributaries, including Pine Creek, which drains from the northwest corner to the southeast. The northeast is drained by Tonquish Creek and Garden Creek, which are tributaries of the Middle River Rouge.
[edit] Education
Canton Township is served by the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. P-CCS includes most of Canton Township, city of Plymouth, Plymouth Township, and portions of Salem, Superior, and Northville Townships.
[edit] Schools
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools operates 26 schools and educational buildings:
- Allen Elementary School
- Bentley Elementary School
- Bird Elementary School
- Canton High School *
- Central Middle School
- Discovery Middle School
- Dodson Elementary School
- East Middle School
- Eriksson Elementary School
- Farrand Elementary School
- Fiegel Elementary School
- Field Elementary School
- Gallimore Elementary School
- Hoben Elementary School
- Hulsing Elementary School
- Isbister Elementary School
- Miller Elementary School
- Pioneer Middle School
- Plymouth High School *
- Salem High School *
- Smith Elementary School
- Starkweather Center (Alternative Education)
- Tanger Center (Alternative Education)
- Tonda Elementary School
- West Middle School
- Workman Elementary School
(* Part of the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park)
[edit] Demographics
The U.S. Census Bureau has also defined Canton Township as a census-designated place (CDP) in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places (like cities and villages) as well on the list of county subdivisions (like other townships). The final statistics for the township and the CDP are identical.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 76,366 people, 27,490 households, and 20,562 families residing in the township. The population density was 819.0/km² (2,121.5/mi²). There were 28,430 housing units at an average density of 304.9/km² (789.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 83.87% White, 4.54% African American, 0.29% Native American, 8.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.34% of the population.
There were 27,490 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 20.5% 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 2.77 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $72,495, and the median income for a family was $83,546. Males had a median income of $61,570 versus $35,615 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,609. About 2.9% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Canton Township
- Canton Historical Society
- Canton Township in History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan, Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902.
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