Clay Township is a type of local government area in St. Clair County, Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population of Clay Township was 8,446.

The township is located at the place where the St. Clair River meets Lake St. Clair. The area where the river flows into the lake, called a river delta, includes many islands, with Harsens Island being the largest. Clay Township surrounds the city of Algonac, but the two areas are governed separately because Algonac became a city in 1967. Most of Algonac State Park is located within Clay Township.

Communities

• Bedore is an unincorporated community located along the southern coast of Harsens Island at 42°33′28″N 82°36′47″W / 42.5578126°N 82.6129630°W / 42.5578126; -82.6129630.
• Clays Landing is an unincorporated community located at the southern end of M-154 on Harsens Island at 42°33′06″N 82°36′16″W / 42.5517016°N 82.6043512°W / 42.5517016; -82.6043512.
• Forster is an unincorporated community located just west of Bedore at 42°33′40″N 82°37′06″W / 42.5611459°N 82.6182410°W / 42.5611459; -82.6182410.
• Grand Pointe is an unincorporated community located in the northeastern area of Harsens Island at 42°35′58″N 82°32′43″W / 42.5994788°N 82.5451844°W / 42.5994788; -82.5451844. The community was settled as early as 1888 by the Grand Pointe Improvement Company. A post office operated briefly from October 16, 1889, until January 5, 1892.
• Harsens Island is the name of the post office that serves the island and several surrounding islands. The area was first settled as early as 1779 by James Harsen, who was the region's first white settler. By 1783, Harsen had purchased the entire island from its native population. The island was also known as James (or Jacob or Jacobus) Island as late as 1809. The post office began operating under the name Sans Souci on April 24, 1900, and was renamed Harsens Island on December 31, 1960. The post office uses the ZIP Code 48028.
• Maple Leaf is an unincorporated community located on Harsens Island just southwest of the community of Sans Souci at 42°34′41″N 82°34′11″W / 42.5780902°N 82.5696288°W / 42.5780902; -82.5696288.
• Miller is an unincorporated community located near the southernmost end of Harsens Island at the end of public road access at 42°32′57″N 82°39′32″W / 42.5492017°N 82.6587976°W / 42.5492017; -82.6587976.
• Muirs is an unincorporated community located along M-154 on Harsens Island at 42°33′23″N 82°35′14″W / 42.5564238°N 82.5871285°W / 42.5564238; -82.5871285.
• Pearl Beach is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located along the southern end of the mainland at 42°37′36″N 82°35′52″W / 42.6267006°N 82.5976876°W / 42.6267006; -82.5976876.
• Perch Point is an unincorporated community located along M-29 in the northwestern portion of the township along the border with Ira Township at 42°39′54″N 82°37′13″W / 42.6650333°N 82.6201900°W / 42.6650333; -82.6201900.
• Pointe aux Tremble is an unincorporated community located along M-29 within the Pearl Beach CDP at 42°37′17″N 82°34′16″W / 42.6214230°N 82.5710196°W / 42.6214230; -82.5710196. The community was settled in 1904 as a station along the railway about 3.0 miles (

History

The area was first settled by John Martin in 1805. It was originally called Pointe du Chene, which means "Oak Point" in French. In 1826, the area became Plainfield Township, named by early settler John K. Smith after his hometown in Vermont. A post office named Plainfield opened on April 5, 1826, with Smith as the first postmaster. In 1828, the township was restructured and renamed after Henry Clay, a lawyer and leader. The post office was later renamed Clay on December 23, 1835, and Smith remained the postmaster. The post office changed its name again to Algonac on August 17, 1843. In 1867, Algonac became a village within Clay Township. The village became independent when it was incorporated as a city in 1967.

• Colony Tower Complex
• Harsen House
• LeRoy Smith House
• North Channel Shooting Club
• St. Clair River Informational Designation
• Stewart Farm / Memoir of Aura Stewart
• St. Clair Flats Front and Rear Range Light

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the township has a total area of 82.47 square miles, which is about 213.60 square kilometers. Of this area, 35.32 square miles (91.48 km²) is land, and 47.15 square miles (122.12 km²), or 57.17%, is water.

The township includes a large amount of water, such as areas near the mouth of the St. Clair River in the northern part of Anchor Bay, Lake St. Clair. This region has many channels and canals. Across the river in Ontario is the Walpole Island First Nation, which is connected by the Walpole–Algonac Ferry in downtown Algonac.

The St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area and most of the St. John's Marsh State Wildlife Area are in Clay Township. Most of Algonac State Park is also in Clay Township, with a small part extending into Cottrellville Township.

Transportation

• Harsens Island Airport (FAA: Z92) is a public airport used for general aviation located on Harsens Island. The airport opened in 1994 and has one grass runway.

• Champion's Auto Ferry is a commercial ferry service that carries passengers and cars from the mainland to Harsens Island.

• Russell Island Ferry only carries passengers to Russell Island, where cars are not allowed. The mainland ferry terminal is in Algonac. The service uses one ferry, the Pride of Lake Huron, which was built in 1948.

• M-29 follows the coastline of the North Channel and St. Clair River through the township.
• M-154 is located entirely on Harsens Island and can be reached by ferry from M-29.
• U.S. Bicycle Route 20 passes through parts of the township and runs alongside the Bridge to Bay Trail in some areas.

Demographics

According to the 2000 census, the township had 9,822 people, 3,934 households, and 2,844 families. The population density was 277.0 people per square mile (107.0/km²). There were 5,325 housing units, with an average density of 150.2 per square mile (58.0/km²). The racial makeup included 97.92% White, 0.20% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 0.85% of the population.

Of the 3,934 households, 27.9% had children under 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples, 7.0% had a female householder without a husband, and 27.7% were non-families. Twenty-two point nine percent of households included only individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 people, and the average family size was 2.94 people.

The population was distributed as follows: 22.6% were under 18, 6.5% were 18 to 24, 28.2% were 25 to 44, 28.8% were 45 to 64, and 13.9% were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median household income was $55,059, and the median family income was $63,182. Males earned a median income of $48,053, while females earned $31,923. The per capita income was $27,169. Approximately 2.3% of families and 4.7% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 6.7% of those under 18 and 3.6% of those 65 or older.