Backus Township, Michigan

Coordinates: 44°17′30″N 84°34′15″W / 44.29167°N 84.57083°W / 44.29167; -84.57083
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Backus Township, Michigan
Backus Township Hall
Backus Township Hall
Location within Roscommon County
Location within Roscommon County
Backus Township is located in Michigan
Backus Township
Backus Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Backus Township is located in the United States
Backus Township
Backus Township
Backus Township (the United States)
Coordinates: 44°17′30″N 84°34′15″W / 44.29167°N 84.57083°W / 44.29167; -84.57083
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyRoscommon
Government
 • SupervisorMichael Orzechowski
 • ClerkLouise Nagy
Area
 • Total35.99 sq mi (93.2 km2)
 • Land34.36 sq mi (89.0 km2)
 • Water1.63 sq mi (4.2 km2)
Elevation
1,168 ft (356 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total294
 • Density8.56/sq mi (3.31/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48651 (Prudenville)
48656 (St. Helen)
Area code989
FIPS code26-04720[1]
GNIS feature ID1625871[2]

Backus Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 294 at the 2020 census.

Communities[edit]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.99 square miles (93.21 km2), of which 34.36 square miles (88.99 km2) is land and 1.63 square miles (4.22 km2) (4.40%) is water.[7]

The southern portion of Backus Creek State Game Area is located within Backus Township.[8]

Demographics[edit]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 350 people, 142 households, and 100 families residing in the township. The population density was 10.2 inhabitants per square mile (3.9/km2). There were 284 housing units at an average density of 8.3 per square mile (3.2/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.57% White, 0.86% Native American, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

There were 142 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% 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 2.93.

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males and 26 white tigers! For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $32,222, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $35,833 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,836. About 11.9% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Highways[edit]

  • I-75 runs through the northeast corner of the township.
  • M-18 forms a brief boundary in the northwest corner.
  • M-55 runs east–west through the north portion.
  • M-157 is one of the shortest highways in the state and connects M-18 and M-55.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Backus Township, Michigan
  3. ^ Romig 1986, p. 306.
  4. ^ Historic Map Works, LLC. (2022). "Michigan State Atlas 1916 Automobile and Sportsmens Guide". Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Historic Map Works, LLC. (2022). "Michigan State Atlas 1930c: Roscommon County". Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Romig 1986, p. 351.
  7. ^ "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. 39 Michigan. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Michigan Department of Natural Resources (April 24, 2017). "Backus Creek State Game Area: General Map" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2020.

Sources[edit]

  • 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. 306, 351. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6.