Shelby Charter Township, Michigan


Shelby Charter Township, officially the Charter Township of Shelby, is a charter township and census-designated place located in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township, an affluent northern suburb of Detroit, is located roughly 15 miles north of the city. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 65,159. The 2010 Census places the population at 73,804. Shelby Charter Township is one of the fastest growing communities in Metro Detroit.

Communities

There are no incorporated villages and four unincorporated communities:
The U.S. Census Bureau has also defined Shelby Charter Township as a census-designated place in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places as well on the list of county subdivisions. The final statistics for the township and the CDP are identical.
As of the census of 2010, there were 73,804 people, 28,299 households, and 17,923 families living in the township. The racial makeup of the township was 89.4% White, 3.1% African American, 3.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,159 people, 24,486 households, and 17,923 families living in the township. The population density was 1,878.7 per square mile. There were 25,265 housing units at an average density of 728.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 94.95% White, 0.85% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.
There were 24,486 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township the population dispersal was 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $65,291, and the median income for a family was $76,312, making Shelby Charter Township one of the most affluent areas in Michigan. Males had a median income of $59,380 versus $33,844 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,131. About 2.7% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The majority of residents are zoned into Utica Community Schools, which serves parts of the communities of Sterling Heights, Macomb Township, Washington Township, and Ray Township, as well as most of Shelby Charter Township, and all of Utica. However, a small number of residents are zoned into Romeo Community Schools.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Neighboring communities:

Government

Shelby Charter Township has a Supervisor-Board style township government with elected supervisor, clerk, treasurer and four trustees. The Township operates the Shelby Township Library as well as Cherry Creek Golf Course.

History

Shelby Township was set off by an act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature on April 12, 1827, and a civil government was organized the following May. It originally included the area that is now Sterling Heights, which was set off March 17, 1835, as the township of Jefferson, renamed to Sterling on March 6, 1838. Utica, located on the southern edge of the township, originally incorporated as a village on March 9, 1838, although that corporation was dissolved soon afterwards. The village incorporated a second time on May 10, 1877.
The village of Disco was located at what is now the junction of 24 Mile Road and Van Dyke Road. and was platted in 1849. The community never incorporated, although the local high school, the "Disco Academy" gained some local recognition and a post office operated named Disco from May 5, 1854, until July 31, 1906. Only a few homes and a namesake on old county road maps remain of this now forgotten historic place. See also: "The Lost Village of Disco" on the Shelby Township Historical Society website.

Main Highways

Shelby Charter Township sits on two main thoroughfares:
;State highways