Bingham Township, Leelanau County, Michigan

• Keswick 44°55′44″N 85°39′13″W was a small community that began in 1872 when Reverend John Lawrence moved here from Keswick, New Brunswick, Canada. A gristmill was built nearby, and a post office operated from September 1889 until November 1910. At its peak, Keswick's population was 200, but by 1910 it had dropped to 40. Today, only the Keswick Methodist Church (founded 1888) remains, located on County Road 633 (Old M-22) between Bingham and Suttons Bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 39.3 square miles (101.8 km²), of which 23.6 square miles (61.1 km²) is land and 15.8 square miles (40.8 km²) (40.06%) is water.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,425 people, 944 households, and 731 families residing in the township. The population density was 102.8 per square mile (39.7/km²). There were 1,200 housing units at an average density of 50.9 per square mile (19.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.74% White, 0.08% African American, 1.61% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.73% of the population.

There were 944 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.4% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $52,813, and the median income for a family was $56,964. Males had a median income of $37,121 versus $25,991 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,936. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

• Clarke Historical Library, Central, Michigan University, Bibliography for Leelanau County

• Bingham Township Website