Suttons Bay Township, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Suttons Bay Township
settlement_type = Township


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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Michigan
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_name2 = Leelanau
government_type = Board
leader_title = Supervisor
leader_name = Richard Bahle
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
area_magnitude = 1 E7
area_total_km2 = 108.6
area_land_km2 = 63.7
area_water_km2 = 44.9
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 2982
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 46.8
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latitude = ?
longitude = -?
latd = 44 |latm = 59 |lats = 35 |latNS = N
longd = 85 |longm = 38 |longs = 11 |longEW = W
area_total_sq_mi = 41.9
area_land_sq_mi = 24.6
area_water_sq_mi = 17.3
elevation_m = 183
elevation_ft = 600
website = http://www.leelanaucounty.com/government506497.asp
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 49682
area_code = 231
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-77620GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1627143 [gnis|1627143]
footnotes =

Suttons Bay Township is a civil township of Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,982 at the 2000 census. The village of Suttons Bay is located within the township. In a 2004 referendum, voters approved moving the county seat to a site in section 19 in the southwest corner of the township, nearer to the geographic center of the county.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 41.9 square miles (108.6 km²), of which, 24.6 square miles (63.7 km²) of it is land and 17.3 square miles (44.9 km²) of it (41.32%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,982 people, 1,114 households, and 834 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.2 per square mile (46.8/km²). There were 1,406 housing units at an average density of 57.2/sq mi (22.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 75.52% White, 0.20% African American, 19.01% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 3.45% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.51% of the population.

There were 1,114 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the township the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,068, and the median income for a family was $52,596. Males had a median income of $36,389 versus $22,794 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,640. About 5.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

In 1854, Harry T. Sutton and his crew established a wooding station to provide fuel to wood-burning steamboats. [ [http://www.suttonsbayarea.com/about/ Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce -- about Suttons Bay] ] The Sutton name first caused the village to be called Suttonsburg. Pleasant City was another name, but Suttons Bay was later adopted for this growing community.

Railroads played an important role in the development of the area. Running through Suttons Bay, the train passed near the site of Sutton's station and the community's next enterprise, a sawmill built by Sutton's son-in-law, George Carr, and connected to Fountain Point, an historic resort site. [ [http://www.suttonsbayarea.com/history Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce -- history] ]

The township is also known for the Native American community of Peshawbestown, also known as Eagletown. [ [http://www.thetctraveler.com/us/mi/cities/peshawbestown.asp Background on Peshawbestown] ] Once a Franciscan mission named after Chief Peshaba, who ruled in the 1880s, this community has grown to include a casino and resort.

Other features of Suttons Bay Township include Lake Leelanau on its southwestern corner, which can be accessed by taking M-204 west to the community of Lake Leelanau, [ [http://www.annmariemitchell.com/lake-leelanau.php Real estate agent website re village of Lake Leelanau] ] where the channel runs between Lake Leelanau's upper and lower lakes. This township is also prime cherry country, with several orchards and wineries among its hills. [ [http://www.infomi.com/township/suttonsbay/ Information Michigan website] ] [ [http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-42,GGLJ:en&q=wineries&near=Suttons+Bay,+MI+49682&sa=X&oi=local&ct=title List of wineries in area] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.leelanaucounty.com/suttonsbaytwp.asp Suttons Bay Township Website]
* [http://www.fountainpointresort.com Fountain Point Resort Website]
* [http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-lwm-water-highrisk-suttons-bay-twp.pdf Michigan DEQ map of Suttons Bay Township]