Van Buren Township is a type of township in Wayne County, Michigan. It is a western suburb of Detroit and is located about 28 miles (45.1 km) southwest of downtown Detroit and 17 miles (27.4 km) southeast of Ann Arbor. According to the 2020 census, the township had a population of 30,375. It surrounds the city of Belleville but is not part of it.

Belleville Lake is the main natural feature in the township. The township also includes Willow Run Airport, which reaches into the neighboring Ypsilanti Township.

Communities

• Belleville North is an unincorporated community located at 42°13′22″N 83°28′55″W / 42.22278°N 83.48194°W / 42.22278; -83.48194, just north of Interstate 94.
• Denton is an unincorporated community located in the northwest corner of the township at 42°15′28″N 83°31′27″W / 42.25778°N 83.52417°W / 42.25778; -83.52417. The community was settled along the railway line starting in 1864 and officially mapped in 1866. Denton had a post office from February 28, 1870, to October 14, 1933.
• Edgewater Heights is an unincorporated community located along Belleville Lake near the city of Belleville at 42°12′14″N 83°30′43″W / 42.20389°N 83.51194°W / 42.20389; -83.51194.
• French Landing is an unincorporated community located along the Huron River near the French Landing Dam and Powerhouse at 42°12′36″N 83°26′23″W / 42.21000°N 83.43972°W / 42.21000; -83.43972. Originally settled along the railway line, French Landing had a post office named Frenchlanding from February 25, 1896, to 1919.
• Rawsonville is a mostly historic unincorporated community located in the western portion of the township along the county line with Washtenaw County at 42°12′55″N 83°33′06″W / 42.21528°N 83.55167°W / 42.21528; -83.55167. The community was settled as early as 1800 and was also called Snow’s Landing and Michigan City. Rawsonville had a post office from November 14, 1838, to October 25, 1895, and again from November 20, 1895, to February 28, 1902.
• Roulo is an unincorporated community located just south of the city of Belleville at 42°11′24″N 83°29′00″W / 42.19000°N 83.48333°W / 42.19000; -83.48333.

History

In 1800, a settler named Henry Snow settled on land that is now the border with Ypsilanti Township in Washtenaw County, which was originally called Snow's Landing.

A settlement along the Huron River received a post office on May 7, 1834, and was named West Huron with Scott Vining as the postmaster. The township was established by the state in 1835 and later renamed Martin Van Buren, after the vice president of the United States at that time. The post office name was also changed to match. On November 14, 1838, the Van Buren post office was moved to Rawsonville and took that name. The Rawsonville post office closed on October 25, 1895, but reopened on November 20, 1895, and closed again on February 28, 1902.

In 1925, the French Landing Dam and Powerhouse was built on the Huron River, causing part of Rawsonville to be underwater in the new Belleville Lake. However, most of the original land where the town was located remains above water.

The only visible sign of the historic community today is a historical marker at the intersection of Rawsonville and Grove Road.

Geography

The United States Census Bureau reports that the township has a total area of 36.06 square miles (93.39 square kilometers). Of this area, 33.97 square miles (87.98 square kilometers) is land, and 2.09 square miles (5.4 square kilometers), which is 5.80%, is water.

Demographics

In 2000, according to the census, there were 23,559 people, 9,867 households, and 6,117 families living in the township. The population density was 694.9 people per square mile (268.3 per square kilometer). There were 10,417 housing units, with an average density of 307.3 per square mile (118.6 per square kilometer). The race groups in the township were as follows: 82.64% White, 12.03% African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 2.25% of the population.

Of the 9,867 households, 29.8% had children under 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples, 11.7% had a female head of household without a husband, and 38.0% were non-families. Twenty-nine point one percent of all households included only one person, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.38 people, and the average family size was 2.96 people.

The population was distributed across age groups: 23.9% were under 18, 11.0% were 18 to 24, 36.2% were 25 to 44, 22.2% were 45 to 64, and 6.6% were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 99.8 males.

The median household income was $50,984, and the median family income was $60,561. Males had a median income of $44,867, while females had a median income of $30,299. The average income per person in the township was $24,820. Approximately 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 7.5% of those under 18 and 6.1% of those aged 65 or older.

Economy

Visteon, a company that makes car parts, is located in Van Buren Township. A factory that will produce batteries for electric vehicles, specifically lithium iron phosphate batteries, is being built.

USA Jet Airlines has its main office at Willow Run Airport, which is located in Van Buren Township.

Gallery

• The welcome sign for Van Buren Charter Township
• Wayne County Community College's Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center West
• Willow Run Airport