West Bloomfield Township, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Charter Township of West Bloomfield
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settlement_type = Township
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pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Michigan
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pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Michigan
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map_caption = Location of West Bloomfield Township within Oakland County, Michigan


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_name2 = Oakland
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government_footnotes =
government_type = Board of Trustees-Supervisor
leader_title = Supervisor
leader_name = David Flaisher
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established_title = Organized
established_date = 1833
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area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 80.9
area_land_km2 = 70.8
area_water_km2 = 10.1
area_total_sq_mi = 31.2
area_land_sq_mi = 27.3
area_water_sq_mi = 3.9
area_water_percent = 12.49
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 64860
population_density_km2 = 916.7
population_density_sq_mi = 2374.3
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 34 |lats = 16 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 22 |longs = 29 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 300
elevation_ft = 984

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 48322-48325
area_code = 248
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-85480GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1627244 [gnis|1627244]
website = http://www.twp.west-bloomfield.mi.us/
footnotes = West Bloomfield Township is a charter township and suburb of Detroit in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan and is known for its gracious homes on the water and its rolling hills. As of the 2000 census, the township had a population of 64,860.

Overview

West Bloomfield is sometimes referred to as the "lake township of Oakland County" [ [http://www.gwbhs.com/articles/WestBloomfieldDescribed.htm "West Bloomfield Described,"] "Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society", Accessed June 23, 2007.] being heavily dotted with small and medium-sized lakes. Cass Lake, the largest lake in the county, is in part of West Bloomfield, and Pine Lake, which has a private country club on its shore, is only a few miles away from Cass and lies completely within West Bloomfield. In addition, directly west of Pine Lake is Orchard Lake, which also has a private country club on its shore. Orchard Lake is surrounded by the city of Orchard Lake Village. Several smaller lakes are scattered around these larger ones.

Orchard Lake Road runs north-south through the middle of the township and is the main artery of West Bloomfield's economy, flanked on each side by long strip malls and shopping complexes. The township has had most of its population growth from the 1960s through the early 2000s, many residents moving northwest from the inner ring Detroit suburbs of Southfield and Oak Park. While it's known to have a large Jewish population, it is quickly becoming more diverse with other ethnic groups (specifically Chaldeans) settling in the township.

West Bloomfield is located in southcentral Oakland County about convert|10|mi|km|-1 to the northwest from the Detroit city limits and has borders with: Bloomfield Township to its east, Farmington Hills to its south, Commerce Township to its west, and four communities to its north: Waterford Township, Orchard Lake Village, Keego Harbor, and Sylvan Lake.

West Bloomfield High School and Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit are the only two high schools located within the township.

History

On April 22, 1833, Bloomfield Township was divided in two and the western portion was called West Bloomfield. The area was spotted with apple orchards throughout much of the 1800s. In fact, the plentiful apple trees located on an island in one lake, led to the naming of the body of waters as "Orchard Lake", and the aforementioned island as "Apple Island."

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.2 square miles (80.9 km²), of which, 27.3 square miles (70.8 km²) of it is land and 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²) of it (12.49%) is water.

Demographics

The U.S. Census Bureau has also defined West Bloomfield 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 censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 64,860 people, 23,414 households, and 18,192 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,374.3 per square mile (916.6/km²). There were 24,410 housing units at an average density of 893.6/sq mi (345.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.25% White, 5.18% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 7.81% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 23,414 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $94,179, and the median income for a family was $110,438. [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US2676460&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US26%7C16000US2676460&_street=&_county=west+bloomfield&_cityTown=west+bloomfield&_state=04000US26&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2006_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=] Males had a median income of $74,557 versus $45,339 for females. The per capita income for the township was $44,885. The township is often regarded as one of the most affluent in the country. About 1.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 and over.

Notable residents

* Bruce Ableson, inventor of Open Diary, the first online blogging community
* Justin Bartha, actor known for his roles in "National Treasure" (2004) and Failure to Launch (2006)
* Melrose Bickerstaff from America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7
* Barry Bremen, sports imposter
* Pamela Eldred, Miss America 1970
* Terry Foster, journalist for The Detroit News and co-host of Valenti and Foster on 97.1 the Ticket
* Brandon T. Jackson, actor "The Brandon T. Jackson Show" (TV-2006), "Roll Bounce" (Film- 2005)
* John Okemos, Native American leader born on Apple Island
* Jalen Rose, former NBA player
* Bob Seger, a rock and roll singer known for such hits as "Old Time Of Rock And Roll"
* Mike Stone, radio personality, and co-host of Stoney and Wojo on Sports Radio 1130 WDFN
*Natasha Vassallo, Certified Energy Manager, and brought the U.S. and Michigan the 1st Energy School Star School District.

References

Other sources

* [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=22198/ West Bloomfield Township information and census data.]

External links

* [http://www.twp.west-bloomfield.mi.us/ Charter Township of West Bloomfield]
* [http://www.wblib.org/ West Bloomfield Township Public Library]
* [http://www.iaff1721.org/ West Bloomfield Firefighters]