Forsyth Township, Michigan

Forsyth Township is a civil township of Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,824 at the 2000 census. Forsyth Township is one of the few townships in the Upper Peninsula that has its own police department.[3] Forsyth Township is larger than the City of Detroit in land area. The township was named for O. F. Forsyth, general agent for a mining firm in the area.[4]

Forsyth Township, Michigan
Civil township
Location within Marquette County (red) and the administered community of Gwinn and portions of the Sawyer Air Force Base (pink)
Forsyth Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 46°17′22″N 87°25′21″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyMarquette
Area
 • Total179.1 sq mi (464.0 km2)
 • Land175.2 sq mi (453.8 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10.2 km2)
Elevation
1,161 ft (354 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total4,824
 • Density27.5/sq mi (10.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49833, 49841, 49866, 49885
Area code(s)906
FIPS code26-29720[1]
GNIS feature ID1626299[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

Communities
  • Gwinn is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the township. The CDP includes the nearby communities of Austin and New Swanzy.
  • A portion of the former K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base extends into the township.
  • Little Lake is an unincorporated community in the township on M-35 at 46°17′20″N 87°20′31″W.[5] It is located to the northeast of Little Lake and approximately four miles east of Gwinn. The community was first settled in 1863 around the mill and general store of the Cheshire Iron Manufacturing Company. The station on the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was at first named Cheshire Junction. The community was known as Little Lake, because of its proximity to the body of water, but was given a post office named Forsyth after the township in October 1877. In March 1966, the post office was renamed as Little Lake.[4] The ZIP Code is 49833.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 179.1 square miles (464 km2), of which 175.2 square miles (454 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (2.19%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,824 people, 2,022 households, and 1,429 families residing in the township. The population density was 27.5 per square mile (10.6/km2). There were 3,846 housing units at an average density of 22.0 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.17% White, 0.56% African American, 1.51% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 2,022 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $34,944, and the median income for a family was $43,125. Males had a median income of $32,969 versus $20,665 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,550. About 10.6% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Forsyth Township, Michigan
  3. "List of law enforcement agencies in Michigan - Wikipedia". en.m.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2019-12-27. Upper Peninsula: Forsyth Township, Chocolay Township, Ishpeming Township
  4. Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Little Lake, Michigan
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