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The Charter Township of Canton is a charter township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 76,366.
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 42°16'29" north latitude, 83°28'33" west longitude. The elevation is 682 feet above sea level. 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 42°18'22" north latitude, 83°32'10" west longitude at the intersection of Cherry Hill Road and Ridge Road. It is located on a rise over a branch of the Lower River Rouge at 720 feet above sea level.
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.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 93.2 km˛ (36.0 mi˛). 93.2 km˛ (36.0 mi˛) of it is land and none of it 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.
Demographics For reasons known only to the U.S. Census Bureau, Canton Township was also defined as a census-designated place (CDP) in the 2000 Census. The final statistics for the township and the CDP are identical. As of the census2 of 2000, there are 76,366 people, 27,490 households, and 20,562 families residing in the township. The population density is 819.0/km˛ (2,121.5/mi˛). There are 28,430 housing units at an average density of 304.9/km˛ (789.8/mi˛). The racial makeup of the township is 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. 2.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 27,490 households out of which 42.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% are married couples living together, 8.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% are non-families. 20.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.26.
In the township the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township is $72,495, and the median income for a family is $83,546. Males have a median income of $61,570 versus $35,615 for females. The per capita income for the township is $28,609. 3.7% of the population and 2.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.2% of those under the age of 18 and 5.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External link - Canton Township (http://www.canton-mi.org/)
- Canton Historical Society (http://www.canton-mi.org/CHS/index.htm)
- Canton Township (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) in History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan, Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902.
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