North Berrien Community Development & Coloma-Watervliet Area Chamber of Commerce 142 Badt Drive PO Box 1028 Coloma, MI 49038-1028 Phone: (269) 468-4430 Cell: (269) 757-2457
Watervliet Charter Township is a charter township of Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,102 at the 2010 census.
The township originally included the area of Coloma Charter Township, which was separated in 1917. The city of Watervliet is the only incorporated municipality in the township. The Paw Paw River and Paw Paw Lake are prominent features of the township.
The Watervliet area is host to many "summer homes", which has contributed considerably to the local economy as well as increased development.
Interstate 94 crosses east-west through the south of the township with two interchanges, and M-140 runs north-south through the area.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Watervliet Township has a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.5 km2), of which 13.5 square miles (34.9 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), or 6.99%, is water. The largest water body in the township is Paw Paw Lake, shared with Coloma Township. The census-designated place of Paw Paw Lake consists of housing developments that surround the lake and is split evenly between the two townships.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,392 people, 1,348 households, and 939 families residing in the township. The population density was 248.7 per square mile (96.0/km²). There were 1,724 housing units at an average density of 126.4 per square mile (48.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.66% White, 1.71% African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 2.27% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.
There were 1,348 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,152, and the median income for a family was $45,709. Males had a median income of $35,842 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,134. About 7.8% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
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