Canton Township, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Canton Charter Township, Michigan
settlement_type = Township
motto = "Michigan's Community of Vision."


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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Canton within Michigan|.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = flagicon|USA United States
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_name2 =
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1825
established_title2 = Organized
established_date2 = 1834
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type =
leader_title = Supervisor
leader_name = Thomas Yack
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 93.2
area_total_sq_mi = 36.0
area_land_km2 = 93.2
area_land_sq_mi = 36.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
area_water_percent = 0.0
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 86,539
population_density_sq_mi = 2121.5
population_density_km2 = 819.0
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_m = 207
elevation_ft = 679
latd = 42 |latm = 18 |lats = 31 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 28 |longs = 56 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 48187-48188
area_code = 734
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-13120GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1626030 [gnis|1626030]
footnotes =
website = http://www.canton-mi.orgThe Charter Township of Canton, usually referred to as Canton, is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit and only twenty minutes east of Ann Arbor. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 76,366. The 2006 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau put the population at 86,539. [According to the [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=06000US2616313120&-ds_name=PEP_2006_EST&-_lang=en&-mt_name=PEP_2006_EST_G2006_T001 2006 Population Estimates] , the population was 86,539. The Census Bureau's [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=06000US2616313120&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_DP5&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-_lang=en&-_sse=on American Community Survey] (ACS) for 2006 provided an estimate of 92,284, with a margin of error of +/-5,984. According to the Census Bureau, "it is the Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns".] 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 municipality with a population over 75,000 during 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 [ [http://morganquitno.com/cit06pop.htm#CITIES Morgan Quitno Awards] ] . The designation is based on crime statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.

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 coord|42|16|29|N|83|28|33|W|. [gnis|637714|Sheldon, Michigan] It is named after Timothy F. Sheldon who purchased lands there in 1842.
*Cherry Hill is a historic locale in the west of the township at coord|42|18|22|N|83|32|10|W| [gnis|623159|Cherry Hill, Michigan] at the intersection of Cherry Hill Road and Ridge Road. It is the site of a new urbanist 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. It is now the site of a theatre, the Village Theater. Cherry Hill Village is evolving into the "downtown" area, much like downtown Plymouth

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 is near Detroit and has a rapidly increasing population.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.0 sq mi (93.2 km²). None of the total area 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.

Education

Canton Township is served by the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Wayne-Westland Schools (which serves the south-eastern portion of Canton) and Van Buren Schools (which serves the south-western portion of the township). P-CCS includes most of Canton Township, city of Plymouth, Plymouth Township, and portions of Salem, Superior, and Northville Townships.

chools

Wayne-Westland Community Schools

*Adlai E. Stevenson Middle School
*John Glenn High School
*Walker-Winter Elementary School
*Wayne Memorial High School

Van Buren Community Schools

*Belleville High School

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

*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)

Public Charter Schools

*Canton Charter Academy

Private Schools

*All Saints Catholic School
*Agape Christian Academy
*Plymouth Christian Academy
*Crescent Academy International

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 censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 76,366 people, 27,490 households, and 20,562 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,121.5 per square mile (819.0/km²). There were 28,430 housing units at an average density of 789.8/sq mi (304.9/km²). 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. The median household price was $239,900 according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey estimates. [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=06000US2616313120&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US26%7C05000US26163%7C06000US2616313120&_street=&_county=Canton&_cityTown=Canton&_state=04000US26&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Canton township, Wayne County, Michigan Fact Sheet] , 2006 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau]

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.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $77,840, and the median income for a family was $89,160. [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US2616313120&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US24%7C16000US2472450&_street=&_county=canton&_cityTown=canton&_state=04000US26&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_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 $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.

Notable residents

*Jason Stollsteimer, front man of the band The Von Bondies
*James Wisniewski, NHL player
*Nate Robertson, Detroit Tigers pitcher
*Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, ice dancers
*Kevin Jones, Chicago Bears running back
*Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers 3rd baseman (now residing in Dexter, MI - sometime around 2007)
*Jeremy Sheridan Wells, writer and visual artist
*Igor Shpilband, ice dancing coach
*Brian Calhoun, Detroit Lions Back Up Running Back
*Spencer Haywood, Retired NBA player
*Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canadian ice dancers

References

External links

* [http://www.canton-mi.org/ Canton Township]
* [http://www.cantonpl.org/ Canton Public Library]
* [http://www.canton-mi.org/CHS/index.htm Canton Historical Society]
* [http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;sid=4d99790b3feb34b9e80fef4eea29c82e;q1=Canton;cite1=Wayne;cite1restrict=title;op2=and;op3=and;rgn=pages;idno=BAD1460.0002.001;view=image;seq=00000489 Canton Township] in "History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan", Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902.