White Lake Charter Township is a type of township in Oakland County, Michigan. It includes two areas that are not part of a city and is located on the edges of the larger Detroit area. According to the 2020 census, the township had a population of 30,950 people. The Huron River begins in White Lake Township.

Communities

The Township includes three unincorporated communities:

• East White Lake was the name of a post office in the township from 1846 to 1850.
• Oxbow is located at the intersection of Union Lake and Elizabeth Lake Roads (42°38′26″N 83°28′23″W / 42.64056°N 83.47306°W / 42.64056; -83.47306; Elevation: 945 ft./288 m.). On June 11, 1873, the White Lake Centre Post Office opened here. The office was renamed Ox Bow on March 10, 1875, and later changed to Oxbow in 1894. The post office closed on June 29, 1901.
• White Lake is located at the intersection of Ormond and White Lake Roads (42°41′30″N 83°33′15″W / 42.69167°N 83.55417°W / 42.69167; -83.55417; Elevation: 1037 ft./316 m.). It is best known for the National Weather Service office within the township. White Lake had a post office that was initially named Plainville when it opened on July 11, 1838. The post office was renamed White Lake on May 29, 1841, and closed on January 31, 1910. It operated as a branch/station of Union Lake from 1962 to 1976.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township covers an area of 37.2 square miles, which is about 96 square kilometers. Of this area, 33.7 square miles, or about 87 square kilometers, is land, and 3.5 square miles, or about 9.1 square kilometers, is water. This means that 9.44% of the township’s area is water.

Many large areas of land in the community have been protected as state recreation areas and county parks. The township has 21 lakes within its borders, and many homes are built in rural areas near lakes.

The township is crossed by M-59, a major road that runs east to west. Most of the township’s businesses are located along this road.

The southern part of the township is 19 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Detroit and 10 miles (20 kilometers) from Pontiac’s downtown area.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 28,219 people, 10,092 households, and 7,821 families living in the township. The population density was 838.3 people per square mile (323.7 per square kilometer). There were 10,616 housing units, with an average density of 315.4 units per square mile (121.8 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the township was 96.56% White, 0.78% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 1.81% of the population.

Out of the 10,092 households, 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female head of household without a husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. Seventeen point six percent of all households included only one person, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.77 people, and the average family size was 3.15 people.

The population was spread across age groups: 27.7% were under 18, 6.8% were aged 18 to 24, 32.8% were aged 25 to 44, 24.9% were aged 45 to 64, and 7.8% were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $65,894, and the median income for a family was $75,842. Males had a median income of $52,276, while females had a median income of $31,742. The per capita income for the township was $27,916. Approximately 1.9% of families and 3.1% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those aged 65 or older.

Education

The Township has five public school districts: Clarkston, Holly, Huron Valley, Walled Lake, and Waterford.

St. Patrick Catholic School is located in White Lake.

Recreation

The Highland Recreation Area near here has many activities for people to enjoy. Trails in the area are suitable for horse riders, mountain bikers, hikers, and skiers. Three day-use areas offer plenty of space for picnics, swimming, horseshoes, and volleyball. There are access points on four lakes in the park for fishing and boating. Inside the park is Haven Hill, the Edsel Ford estate, which was designed by famous landscape architect Jens Jensen between 1922 and 1935. Haven Hill is listed as a Michigan State Historical Landmark and a State Natural Preserve. Jensen’s landscape designs, along with the variety of trees, plants, and animals, bring together beauty, history, and nature.

The town is home to Alpine Valley ski resort, which opened in 1961 and is a popular place to visit during winter. This resort, the largest in southeast Michigan, has several lifts and a range of ski runs. There are also terrain parks for skiers.

Other public and private parks and lakes in the area provide recreation for both residents and visitors. Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area has public boat access, is known for its difficult mountain bike trails, and is mostly within White Lake Township. Pontiac Lake is the site of the annual "Quake on the Lake" hydroplane races. White Lake also has public access. The township includes several parks with public golf courses, such as White Lake Oaks and Indian Springs Metropark.