Spring Lake Township, Michigan

Aerial view of the lake

Within the Township of Spring Lake, is a 1,097-acre (444 ha) lake called Spring Lake.[3] This lake is roughly 4 miles long, not including its various bayous, and ~200 feet wide before it drains into the final stretches of the Grand River.

Spring Lake separates the township into two sections: one to the north of Ferrysburg and west of Spring Lake and the other to the east of Spring Lake and north of the Grand River (and area including the village of Spring Lake). There is only one bridge across the lake, M-104, which connects the village of Spring Lake with Ferrysburg. The only other way around the lake requires going north into Muskegon County. There is also a small peninsula in the Grand River, which is part of the Grand Haven State Game Area, where the only road access involves going through Crockery Township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km²), of which 16.5 square miles (43 km²) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) (17.09%) is water.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 13,140 people, 5,237 households, and 3,650 families residing in the township. The population density was 794.8 inhabitants per square mile (306.9/km²). There were 5,748 housing units at an average density of 347.7 per square mile (134.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.35% White, 0.33% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.43% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.

There were 5,237 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,648, and the median income for a family was $62,931. Males had a median income of $45,469 versus $28,253 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,548. About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

• Spring Lake Township