Clay Township, Michigan

Clay Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,446 at the 2020 census.[2]

Clay Township, Michigan
Clay Township Municipal Offices
Clay Township Municipal Offices
Location within St. Clair County (red) and the administered CDP of Pearl Beach (pink)
Location within St. Clair County (red) and the administered CDP of Pearl Beach (pink)
Clay Township is located in Michigan
Clay Township
Clay Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Clay Township is located in the United States
Clay Township
Clay Township
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 42°36′38″N 82°35′31″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountySt. Clair
Settled1805
Established1826 (Plainfield Township)
1828 (Clay Township)
Government
  SupervisorArtie Bryson
  ClerkCindy Valentine
Area
  Total82.47 sq mi (213.60 km2)
  Land35.32 sq mi (91.48 km2)
  Water47.15 sq mi (122.12 km2)
Elevation
577 ft (176 m)
Population
  Total8,446
  Density102.4/sq mi (39.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48001 (Algonac)
48028 (Harsens Island)
Area code810
FIPS code26-16180[3]
GNIS feature ID1626090[4]
WebsiteOfficial website

The township is located along the mouth of the St. Clair River at Lake St. Clair. The river delta includes numerous islands, in which Harsens Island is the largest. The township mostly surrounds the city of Algonac, but the two are administered autonomously since Algonac incorporated as a city in 1967. Most of Algonac State Park is located within Clay Township.

Communities

History

The area was first settled by John Martin in 1805, and the area was originally referred to as Pointe du Chene (Oak Point). In 1826, the area was organized as Plainfield Township, which was named by early settler John K. Smith after his hometown of Plainfield, Vermont. A post office named Plainfield began operating here on April 5, 1826 with Smith serving as the first postmaster. In 1828, the township was reorganized and renamed after attorney and statesman Henry Clay, and the post office was later renamed Clay on December 23, 1835; Smith continued serving as postmaster. The post office was renamed Algonac on August 17, 1843. Algonac incorporated as a village within Clay Township in 1867. The village gained autonomy from the township when it incorporated as a city in 1967.[25]

Historic sites

Geography

Looking north on M-29 along the St. Clair River at Algonac State Park

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 82.47 square miles (213.60 km2), of which 35.32 square miles (91.48 km2) is land and 47.15 square miles (122.12 km2) (57.17%) is water.[30]

The township contains a large portion of water that includes areas along the St. Clair River mouth in the northern Anchor Bay area of Lake St. Clair, which contains numerous channels and canals. Directly across the river is the Walpole Island First Nation in Ontario, which is accessible via the Walpole–Algonac Ferry in downtown Algonac.

The St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area and the majority of the St. John's Marsh State Wildlife Area are located within Clay Township.[31][32] Most of Algonac State Park is located within Clay Township with a small portion extending north into Cottrellville Township.

Islands

Transportation

Ferry service to and from Harsens Island

Airport

Ferries

  • Champion's Auto Ferry is a commercial ferry service that provides passenger and automobile transportation from the mainland to Harsens Island.[47]
  • Russell Island Ferry transports only passengers to Russell Island, which does not allow automobile traffic. The mainland ferry terminal is located in the city of Algonac. The service consists of a single ferry, the Pride of Lake Huron, which was built in 1948.[48]

Major highways

  • M-29 curves through the township along the coastline of the North Channel and St. Clair River.
  • M-154 is a located entirely on Harsens Island and is accessible via ferry service from M-29.
  • U.S. Bicycle Route 20 runs through portions of the township and also runs conterminous at some points with the Bridge to Bay Trail.[49]

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 9,822 people, 3,934 households, and 2,844 families residing in the township. The population density was 277.0 inhabitants per square mile (107.0/km2). There were 5,325 housing units at an average density of 150.2 per square mile (58.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.92% White, 0.20% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.

There were 3,934 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,059, and the median income for a family was $63,182. Males had a median income of $48,053 versus $31,923 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,169. About 2.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. Michigan Townships Association (2022). "Clay Twp., St. Clair Co". Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  2. United States Census Bureau (August 12, 2023). "Clay township, St. Clair County, Michigan".
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clay Township, Michigan
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bedore, Michigan
  6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clays Landing, Michigan
  7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Forster, Michigan
  8. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Grand Pointe, Michigan
  9. Romig 1986, p. 233.
  10. Romig 1986, p. 255.
  11. Romig 1986, p. 500.
  12. Google (July 24, 2022). "48028 ZIP Code map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  13. UnitedStatesZipCodes.org (2022). "ZIP Code 48028: Harsens Island". Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  14. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Maple Leaf, Michigan
  15. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Miller, Michigan
  16. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Muirs, Michigan
  17. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pearl Beach, Michigan
  18. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Perch Point, Michigan
  19. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pointe aux Tremble, Michigan
  20. Romig 1986, p. 449.
  21. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Riverside, Michigan
  22. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Roberts Landing, Michigan
  23. Romig 1986, p. 479.
  24. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sans Souci, Michigan
  25. Romig 1986, p. 17.
  26. St. Clair County MPC. "Blueway of St. Clair: Harsen House". Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  27. Michigan Department of Natural Resources. "Historical Marker - L1488B - North Channel Shooting Club (Marker ID#:L1488B)" (PDF). Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  28. MichMarkers.com (2023). "St. Clair River: Registered Site S0124". Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  29. MichMarkers.com (2023). "Stewart Farm / Memoir of Aura Stewart: Registered Site L2128". Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  30. "Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing" (PDF). 2010 United States census. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. 40 Michigan. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  31. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (May 2006). "St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area" (PDF). Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  32. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (May 2006). "St. John's Marsh State Wildlife Area" (PDF). Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  33. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Brucker Island
  34. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Club Island
  35. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dickinson Island
  36. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Green Island
  37. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Gull Island
  38. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Harsens Island
  39. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: McDonald Island
  40. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Middle Island
  41. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Muscamoot Ridge
  42. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Island
  43. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Russell Island
  44. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sand Island
  45. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Strawberry Island
  46. AirNav, LLC. (2023). "Harsens Island Airport". Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  47. Champion's Auto Ferry (2023). "Welcome to Champion's Auto Ferry". Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  48. Bowling Green State University. "Historical Collections of the Great Lakes: Pride of Lake Huron". Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  49. Bridge to Bay Trail (2023). "Bridge to Bay Trail: Trail Map". Retrieved August 10, 2023.

Sources

  • Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (Paperback). Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. pp. 17, 233, 255, 449, 479, 500. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6.
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