Waterford Township is charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 73,150.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 91.4 km2 (35.3 mi2). 81.2 km2 (31.3 mi2) of it is land and 10.3 km2 (4.0 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 11.22% water.
Static and interactive maps of the Township are available at the Township's web site: Waterford GIS
The U.S. Census Bureau has also defined Waterford 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 census2 of 2000, there are 73,150 people, 29,387 households, and 19,130 families residing in the township. The population density is 901.2/km2 (2,334.3/mi2). There are 30,404 housing units at an average density of 374.6/km2 (970.2/mi2). The racial makeup of the township is 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. 3.91% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 29,387 households out of which 30.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% are married couples living together, 9.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% are non-families. 27.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 2.99.
In the township the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township is $55,008, and the median income for a family is $64,500. Males have a median income of $47,409 versus $32,016 for females. The per capita income for the township is $27,432. 5.1% of the population and 3.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.8% of those under the age of 18 and 4.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Lewis Cass, the third governor of Michigan Territory established the boundaries of Oakland County in 1819 and Waterford township was organized in 1834.
Before being displaced by European settlers in the 18th and early 19th century, the area was populated with Algonquin tribes of the Hurons, Ottawas, Ojibwas, Potawatomies, Miamis, Sauk, Sashabaws and others. During the French and Iroquois Wars, the Iroquois expanded westward and were a temporary presence in the area, having first displaced other tribes. However, by the time white settlers ventured into Waterford Village, there were few Indians living in the area.
In the latter part of 1818 Oliver Williams and Alpheus Williams, his brother-in-law, entered the first land purchase for $2.00 an acre ($494/km2). Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased 161.40 acres (653,000 m2) 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 that Indian trail is called 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 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, not to mention many parks including the Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area and Dodge Brothers State and Waterford Oaks County parks.
Source:
WaterfordMichigan.com
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