Waterford Township, Michigan

Waterford Township
Charter township
Charter Township of Waterford
Gateway sign heading into Waterford Township MI from eastbound M-59
Waterford Township Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Oakland
Organized	1834
Government
• Type	Charter Township
• Township Supervisor	Gary Wall
Area
• Total	35.3 sq mi (91.4 km2)
• Land	31.3 sq mi (81.2 km2)
• Water	4.0 sq mi (10.3 km2)  11.22%
Elevation	948 ft (289 m)
Population (2012)
• Total	72,166
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	48327-48330
Area code(s)	248
FIPS code	26-84240
GNIS feature ID	1627218
Website	Charter Township of Waterford Michigan

Waterford Township is a charter township in the center of Oakland County, Michigan. By 2012 Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) population estimates, the township had a population of 72,166, up from the 2010 census.

Communities

The Township has no incorporated villages and five unincorporated communities:

• Clintonville is located on Walton Boulevard between Clintonville and Sashabaw Roads () (Elevation: 968 ft./295 m.). It began with a grist mill and a sawmill constructed by Samuel C. Munson in 1830. It was platted in 1847. It had a post office from 1898 until 1902. In the 1960s there was an attempt to incorporate it as a city.
• Drayton Plains
• Elizabeth Lake is the name of a historic resort community on the lake of the same name. It had a post office from 1835 until 1841.
• Four Towns is located at Lochaven and Cooley Lake Roads () (Elevation: 951 ft./290 m.). It had a post office from 1856 until 1902.
• Huron Heights is located at Voorheis Road and Huron Street/M-59.
• Waterford is located at U.S. Highway 24 (US 24, Dixie Highway) and Andersonville Roads () (Elevation: 968 ft./295 m.).

History

Lewis Cass, the third governor of Michigan 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 and Algonquian tribes of the Hurons, Ottawas, Ojibwas, Potawatomies, Miamis, Sauk, Sashabaws, and others. During the French and Iroquois Wars, the Iroquois 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 selected land in Oakland County which he purchased for $2.00 an acre ($494/km²). Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased 161.40 acres (653,200 m²) in what became the village of Waterford. In 1819 he and his family established the first farm settlement in the county on the banks of Silver Lake. The same year, Oliver's brother-in-law, Alpheus Williams, and Archibald Phillips settled at the site of the present Waterford village. They also 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 the Saginaw Trail and erected the first sawmill.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.3 square miles (91 km²), of which 31.3 square miles (81 km²) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km²), or 11.22%, is water.

Climate

Like the rest of Southeast Michigan, Waterford Township has a continental climate. It has a somewhat higher elevation than Detroit (982 feet (299 m) compared to 585 feet (178 m)), 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.

Demographics

As of the 2012 population report from SEMCOG, Waterford Township had a population of 72,166. The ethnic and racial composition of the population was 96.3% White, 4.7% Black, 0.4% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanics from some other race, 1.9% from two or more races.

As of the census of 2000, there were 73,150 people, 29,387 households, and 19,130 families residing in the township. The population 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 the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 and over.

Transportation

Oakland County International Airport is located in Waterford Township. The airport is a hub for the airline Lakeshore Express, a local commuter airline to Pellston, and Chicago-Midway

Government and infrastructure

The West Campus of the Oakland County Service Center is located in Waterford Township. This includes the Oakland County Executive Building and Conference Center, and the Oakland County Children's Village, the county's juvenile detention center for children. The Children's Village acts as one of the support sites for the Waterford School District.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Waterford School District operates public schools in much of the township.

The Waterford School District has nine elementary schools (Beaumont, Cooley, Donelson Hills, Grayson, Haviland, Houghton, Knudsen, Riverside, and Schoolcraft), two middle schools (Mason and Pierce), and two high schools (Kettering and Mott). There is also a third high school called Durant High School, with about 225-250 students. The third middle school Crary was shut down.

The Pontiac School District serves a portion of the township.

The Oakland County intermediate school district, Oakland Schools, has its headquarters in the township.

Public libraries

Waterford Township Public Library serves the residents.

Public safety

Waterford Township maintains its own police and fire departments. The Waterford Police Department currently employs 65 Police Officers. The Waterford Regional Fire Department employs 144. It is currently the 4th largest Fire Department in the State of Michigan. Waterford Township also provides Fire, EMS, and Dispatch services to the neighboring City of Pontiac and City of Lake Angelus.

External links

• Charter Township of Waterford Michigan
• Waterford Township Public Library
• Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce