Bethel, Michigan
| Bethel Township, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| Township | |
 Bethel Township
|
|
| Coordinates: 41°51′11″N 85°6′43″W / 41.85306°N 85.11194°WCoordinates: 41°51′11″N 85°6′43″W / 41.85306°N 85.11194°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Branch |
| Organized | April 3, 1837 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.1 sq mi (93.4 km2) |
| • Land | 35.8 sq mi (92.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 961 ft (293 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,434 |
| • Density | 40/sq mi (15.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 49028 (Bronson), 49036 (Coldwater) |
| FIPS code | 26-08060 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1625931 |
Bethel Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 1,434.
There are no incorporated municipalities within the township.
Eleazar Snow was the first settler in the area in 1830, though he sold out to Moses Olmstead in 1831. The town was first called Elizabeth, probably by Mr. Olmstead after Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was organized as a township under that name by the Michigan Legislature of 1836-37, and the first township meeting for the township of Elizabeth was held at the house of Moses Olmstead on April 3, 1837. The Michigan Legislature of 1838-39 changed the name of the township to Bethel, although no reasons for the change were recorded.
The township is drained by tributaries of the St. Joseph River: the Prairie River in the south and Swan Creek in the north.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.1 square miles (93.4 km2), of which 35.8 square miles (92.8 km2) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2), or 0.67%, is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,421 people, 475 households, and 362 families residing in the township. The population density was 39.6 per square mile (15.3/km²). There were 510 housing units at an average density of 14.2 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.74% White, 1.06% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 8.09% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.26% of the population.
...
Wikipedia