York Township, Michigan

Othniel Gooding, the first clerk of York Township

The area that is now York Township was first settled in 1824, and organized into York Township on March 7, 1834. The township was named York due to the large number of residents originating from New York. The township's first clerk was Othniel Gooding.[5]

Mooreville is located about two miles west of Milan. It was founded in 1831 by William Moore; Moore purchased property in York Township in 1831 and created a home there for himself and his family. At one time Mooreville was a larger town than Milan, with a post office, flour mill, physician, cheese factory, and other amenities ahead of Milan's development. But in 1878 the Ann Arbor Railroad built a line through Milan, bypassing Mooreville; and in 1880 the Wabash Railroad did likewise. After that, Mooreville's population diminished, but it still has a cluster of homes there who identify themselves as residents of Mooreville. This community is a hamlet, never having attained the status of village.[6]

Map of York Charter Township

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 34.9 square miles (90.3 km²), of which 34.7 square miles (89.9 km²) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km²), or 0.47%, is water.[7]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 7,392 people, 1,901 households, and 1,608 families residing in the township. The population density was 210.2 per square mile (81.2/km²). There were 1,936 housing units at an average density of 55.1 per square mile (21.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 83.75% White, 12.72% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.

There were 1,901 households, out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.1% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. 11.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 38.3% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 160.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 182.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $84,232, and the median income for a family was $91,986. Males had a median income of $52,788 versus $36,189 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,528. About 3.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Toyota Engineering Center entrance

Toyota operates the Toyota Technical Center in the township.[8][9] In 2004 the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate passed legislation permitting the sale of 690 acres (280 ha) of land in the township to Toyota Technical Center USA so a research and development facility would be built there.[10] The expanded technical center was scheduled to open in 2008.[11]

The interior of Federal Correctional Institution, Milan

The Federal Bureau of Prisons operates the Federal Correctional Institution, Milan in the township.[9][12][13]

Milan Area Schools serves portions of the township,[14] while other portions are served by Saline Area Schools.[15]

South Arbor Academy, a National Heritage Academies charter school chartered by Central Michigan University, is in the township. The school opened in the autumn of 1999.[16]

Two parks are operated by the township.[17]

The 125-acre (51 ha) Sandra Richardson Park has soccer fields leased to the Saline Area Soccer Association, three walking trails, a 32-by-40-foot (9.8 by 12.2 m) picnic pavilion north of the park's parking lot, a sheltered picnic table, the historic Judd Road Bridge, two bridges crossing wet areas of the trails, a shelter gazebo located at the intersection of the three trails, and portable toilets. A 1.4-mile (2.3 km) walking trail opened in 2002, while a second trail opened in 2003. Boy Scout Eagle projects led to the installation of the picnic tables and bridges. In 2004 the York Township Parks and Recreation Community applied for a grant from the Michigan National Resources Trust Fund. The grant was awarded in 2005. The township used the grant funds and local match funds to build the pavilion and surface several park trails to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The township also installed a handicapped parking pad near the pavilion, built the gazebo, and installed portable toilets. The township reseeded 5 acres (2.0 ha) of prairie with native grasses and wildflowers. The township re-installed the Judd Road Bridge. A boardwalk was built from a Boy Scout Eagle project. In 2005 the State of Michigan gave an additional 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land to the park.[17]

The 38-acre (15 ha) Mary McCann Park consists of an open field and a wooded area, each taking about half of the park grounds. The park includes a 1-mile (1.6 km) walking/nature trail built in 2003 and a trail extension carved by a Boy Scout from Saline. Another Boy Scout built an open field and a pond. A teaching station for 30 students overlooks the field and pond.[17]

• Mary Collins Whiting (1835–1912), lawyer, business woman, teacher

Wikimedia Commons has media related to York Charter Township, Michigan.

• York Township official website