Alpine Township is a

civil township A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States that is subordinate to a County (United States), county, most often in the northern and midwestern parts of the country. The term town is used in New England town, Ne ...

of Kent County in the U.S. state of

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

. The population was 14,079 at the 2020 census. The township is part of the

Grand Rapids metropolitan area The Grand Rapids metropolitan area is a triangular shaped Metro Triplex, in West Michigan, which fans out westward from the primary hub city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the other two metro hubs of Muskegon and Holland. The metropolitan are ...

and is located just northwest of the city of

Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

Communities

*Alpine is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...

centered along M-37 at . * Comstock Park is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

that occupies the southeast corner of the township and extends east into Plainfield Charter Township. *Englishville is an unincorporated community along the northern border with Sparta Township at . It was founded in 1845. A school was built here in 1852, and it received a post office in 1856.

History

The area was originally settled by the

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, who had several camps in the area. Alpine Township was formally organized in 1847 from the northern half of Walker Township. The township was named after the abundance of pine trees in the area. It became a lumbering region with several sawmills. The township was struck by a tornado during the

1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak The 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak was a historic severe weather event that affected the Midwestern and Southeastern United States on April 10–12, 1965. The tornado outbreak produced 55 confirmed tornadoes in one day and 16& ...

. In 1979, the township became a

charter township A charter township is a form of Local government in the United States, local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. While all townships in Michigan are organized governments, a charter township has been granted a charter, which allows it cert ...

but relinquished this status and returned to a

in 1996.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (0.86%) is water. The township is northwest of

and is bordered by Wright Township in Ottawa County to the west, Sparta Township to the north, Plainfield Charter Township to the east, and the city of

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...

to the south.

Major highways

* runs east–west just south of the township boundary. * runs south–north just outside of the southeast boundary of the township. * runs south–north through the eastern portion of the township.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the township had a population of 14,079 people. The racial makeup was 68.3%

Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Whites, also referred to as White Anglo Americans or Non-Latino Whites, are White Americans who are classified by the United States census as "White" and not of Hispanic or Latino origin. According to annual estimates from the Unit ...

, 9.1% Black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Native American, and 7.9% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino people of any race were 14.9% of the population.

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 13,976 people, 5,550 households, and 3,468 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 5,830 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 89.55%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 3.11%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.77% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.05%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 2.85% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 6.55% of the population. There were 5,550 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04. In the township the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males. The median income for a household in the township was $42,484, and the median income for a family was $50,068. Males had a median income of $37,143 versus $26,417 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the township was $20,412. About 6.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Portions of the township are in

Kenowa Hills Public Schools Kenowa Hills Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Alpine Township, Michigan in Greater Grand Rapids. It serves portions of Alpine Township, the City of Walker, and Wright Township (including Marne).

,2010 Zoning Map ADOPTED BY THE ALPINE TOWNSHIP BOARD JUNE 18, 1990 AS AMENDED THROUGH ORD. No. 10-01
"
Archive
Alpine Township, Michigan. Retrieved on December 27, 2012. which has its headquarters in the township. Schools within the township limits include Alpine Elementary School, Kenowa Hills Middle School, and Kenowa Hills High School. Portions of the township are in

Comstock Park Public Schools Comstock Park Public Schools (CPPS) is a school district in Michigan, headquartered in the Comstock Park census-designated place,ABOUT OUR DISTRICT
."

Comstock Park Public Schools Comstock Park Public Schools (CPPS) is a school district in Michigan, headquartered in the Comstock Park census-designated place,Comstock Park High School serves grades 9 through 12. Of the schools, Greenridge Elementary and Stoney Creek Elementary are in the Alpine Township limits.Schools
." Comstock Park Public Schools. Retrieved on December 27, 2012. "Greenridge Elementary Pre-School & ECSE 3825 Oakridge, NE Comstock Park, MI 49321" and "Stoney Creek Elementary Grades: K, 1, 2 200 Lantern Dr. NW Comstock Park, MI 49321" and "Pine Island Elementary Grades 3, 4, & 5 6101 Pine Island Drive Comstock Park, MI 49321" and "Comstock Park High School Grades 9–12 150 Six Mile Rd. NE Comstock Park, MI 49321-0900" Portions of the township are in the Sparta Area School District. Ridgeview Elementary School serves kindergarten through second grade. Appleview Elementary School serves grades 3 through 5. Sparta Middle School serves grades 6 through 8. Sparta Senior High School serves grades 9 through 12. Englishville School is an alternative high school and serves grades 9 through 12. Englishville School is the only school within the township limits.

Kent District Library The Kent District Library is a public library system located in Kent County, Michigan. With twenty branch locations and an annual circulation of more than 8.2 million items ''(2016 circulation data)'', the Kent District Library is one of the lar ...

serves the township with the Alpine Branch Library. It is near the Comstock Park CDP.2010 CENSUS – CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Comstock Park CDP, MI
"
Archive

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

. Retrieved on December 25, 2012.

References

External links

Alpine Township official website
{{authority control Townships in Michigan Townships in Kent County, Michigan Populated places established in 1847 1847 establishments in Michigan Grand Rapids metropolitan area