Harris Township, Michigan

• Harris is an unincorporated community in the township on US 2 and US 41 at 45°42′13″N 87°20′43″W.[5] A post office named "DeLoughary" was first established here on July 8, 1880, named for its first postmaster, George W. DeLoughary, a local farmer. The office was closed on May 4, 1883, after DeLoughary resigned. The office reopened on July 13, 1883, with postmaster Michael B. Harris, a lumberman who had settled here in 1875 and was later a state legislator. On September 6, 1900, the office was renamed for him.[6] The Harris post office (ZIP Code 49845) serves the community.
• Perronville is an unincorporated community in the township on M-69 at 45°47′55″N 87°21′11″W.[7] A railroad was built through here in 1873 to haul ore and timber. The settlement was named for Menasippe Perron, who built a dam and sawmill here in 1883, and became the first postmaster on September 11, 1897.[6] The Perronville post office (ZIP Code 49873) covers the northern half of the township.
• Wilson is an unincorporated community in the western part of the township along US 2 and US 41 at 45°42′19″N 86°26′17″W.[8] The Wilson post office (ZIP Code 49896) covers the southern third of Harris Township, excluding the community of Harris.

Harris Township occupies the northeast part of Menominee County, extending 24 miles (39 km) from north to south. It is bordered to the east by Delta County and to the north by Marquette County. The city of Escanaba is 16 miles (26 km) to the east via US Routes 2 and 41, while the village of Powers is 6 miles (10 km) to the west. Menominee, the county seat, is 58 miles (93 km) to the south by road.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Harris Township has a total area of 143.3 square miles (371 km²), of which 143.2 square miles (371 km²) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²), or 0.10%, are water.[1] The Cedar River and its tributaries drain the southern third of the township, except for along the eastern border, where the Bark River has its source. The Ford River drains the northern part of the township, while its tributary Tenmile Creek drains the central part. The entire township drains to Lake Michigan.

Most of the Hannahville Indian Community is located within Harris Township.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,895 people, 656 households, and 516 families residing in the township. The population density was 13.2 inhabitants per square mile (5.1/km²). There were 862 housing units at an average density of 6.0 per square mile (2.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 76.20% White, 0.11% African American, 21.16% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 656 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $32,950, and the median income for a family was $38,382. Males had a median income of $26,908 versus $22,583 for females. The per capita income for the township was $14,764. About 8.7% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Most of the township is in the Bark River-Harris School District, while a portion is in the North Central Area Schools.[10]

Hannahville Indian School, a Bureau of Indian Education-affiliated tribal school (which also functions as a charter school) is in the township.