- Waterford Township, Michigan
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Waterford Township
other_name =
native_name =
nickname =
settlement_type = Township
motto =
mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Waterford Township within Oakland County, Michigan
mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name =United States
subdivision_name1 =Michigan
subdivision_name2 = Oaklandgovernment_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Organized
established_date = 1834area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 91.4
area_land_km2 = 81.2
area_water_km2 = 10.3
area_total_sq_mi = 35.3
area_land_sq_mi = 31.3
area_water_sq_mi = 4.0
area_water_percent = 11.22population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total = 73150
population_density_km2 = 901.3
population_density_sq_mi = 2334.3timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 42 |lats = 8.33 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 24 |longs = 9.06 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 289
elevation_ft = 948postal_code_type =
ZIP code s
postal_code = 48327-48330
area_code = 248
website = [http://twp.waterford.mi.us/ Charter Township of Waterford Michigan]
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-84240GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1627218 [gnis|1627218]
footnotes =Waterford Township is a
charter township of Oakland County in theU.S. state ofMichigan . As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 73,150. Waterford is also part of "The Lakes Area" because of the large number of freshwater lakes throughout the township. Other Lakes Area communities include Commerce Township, Union Lake, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake and Wixom.History
Lewis Cass , the third governor ofMichigan Territory , established the boundaries of Oakland County in 1819. Waterford Township was organized in 1834.Before being displaced by European settlers in the 18th and early 19th century, the area was populated with
Iroquoian andAlgonquian tribes of theHuron s, Ottawas,Ojibwa s,Potawatomi es, Miamis,Sauk ,Sashabaw s, and others. During theFrench and Iroquois Wars , theIroquois expanded westward and maintained a temporary presence in the area, having displaced other tribes. However, by the time white settlers ventured into the area that would become Waterford Village, there were few Native Americans living in the area.In the latter part of 1818 Oliver Williams and his brother-in-law, Alpheus Williams, entered the first land purchase for $2.00 an acre ($494/km²). Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased convert|161.40|acre|ha|1|lk=on in what became the Village of Waterford.
In 1819, the Oliver Williams family established the first farm settlement in the county on the banks of Silver Lake. Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams continued on to where the Clinton River crossed the Saginaw Trail (now known as US-24/
Dixie Highway ). Here the first house of the Village of Waterford was built by Alpheus Williams on the north bank of the river. Archibald Phillips built his home across from the south corner where Andersonville Road meets Dixie Highway. Williams and Phillips also built the first dam where the Clinton River crossed over the Saginaw Trail and erected the first saw mill.The historic district of Waterford Township includes Dixie Highway, a block north and south of Andersonville Road, then Andersonville Road between Dixie Highway and Airport Road, south on Airport Road to the railroad tracks.
Other neighborhoods in Waterford Township include Watkins Lake Estates, northwest of Scott Lake Road at Pontiac Lake Road; Elizabeth Lake Estates, south of Elizabeth Lake Road between Cooley Lake Road and Cass Lake Road; Drayton Plains, near where Dixie Highway and Sashabaw Road meet; Clintonville, near Lake Oakland; Four Towns, on the southwest corner of the township and home to
Oakland Community College 's Highland Lakes campus; and Huron Heights, on the northern shores of Sylvan Lake and home to the Summit Place shopping center. There are many lakes within Waterford Township, and many parks, including the Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area and Dodge Brothers State and Waterford Oaks county parks.Waterford Township is also home to a
General Motors Service Parts Operations (SPO) auto parts warehouse, andOakland County International Airport .Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the township has a total area of 35.3 square miles (91.4 km²), of that 31.3 square miles (81.2 km²) of it is land and 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²) of it (11.22%) is water.Static and interactive maps of the Township are available at the Township's web site: [http://www.twp.waterford.mi.us/gis/ Waterford GIS]
Climate
Like the rest of
Southeast Michigan , Waterford Township has acontinental climate . However, it has a somewhat higher elevation than Detroit (982 feet compared to 585 feet), and therefore the township is cooler than Detroit and other nearby cities. It is moderately cold in the winter with varied snowfall throughout. Spring varies from warm by day to cool at night. The township's warmest weather occurs in the summer with temperatures in the eighty to ninety degree range and typically high humidity. Summer is also the wettest season in the area. In recent years, Waterford Township has seen a few 100-plus degree days. Fall starts warm, but November ends with high temperatures barely above freezing. [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=856602]Demographics
The
U.S. Census Bureau has also defined Waterford Township as acensus-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
census GR|2 of 2000, there were 73,150 people, 29,387 households, and 19,130 families residing in the township. Thepopulation density was 2,334.3 people per square mile (901.2/km²). There were 30,404 housing units at an average density of 970.2 per square mile (374.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.65% White, 2.89% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.91% of the population.There were 29,387 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $55,008, and the median income for a family was $64,500. Males had a median income of $47,409 versus $32,016 for females. The
per capita income for the township was $27,432. About 3.8% of families and 5.1% of the population were below thepoverty line , including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 and over.Famous People From Waterford
Kirk Gibson , MLB (Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers)Pat LaFontaine , NHL (New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers)Tony Lucca , actor and former Mousketeer on Disney Channel's "Mickey Mouse Club".Jim Miller, National Football League player
Mike York , NHL (New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders)Paul Woods , NHL (Detroit Red Wings)The Black Dahlia Murder , metal/metalcore band, 3 world toursGail Goestenkors , head coach of Texas University's women's basketball teamJean Prahm (formerly Jean Racine), US Olympic Bobsled Pilot 2002Michael Gibbs , Sport Karate Champion (1998 U.S.A World Kickboxing Association Team Member)Andy Thorn, former
Dallas Cowboys tight end.Kristopher Pooley , Musician (Gwen Stefani, Liz Phair, Jane's Addiction, The Great Fiction)Morgan Brown - Musician, lead singer of rock band
Bang Camaro .Eric Horan - Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt trained by the Gracies of Rio De Janeiro. Winner of Abu Dhabi submission championship.
Lonnie Hall (L-Hall #23), Young Money/Cash Money Records
ports
References
External links
* [http://twp.waterford.mi.us/ Charter Township of Waterford Michigan]
* [http://waterford.lib.mi.us/ Waterford Township Public Library]
* [http://www.theoaklandcounty.com The Oakland County]
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