In 1800, settler Henry Snow came and settled on what is now the border with Ypsilanti Township, Washtenaw County which was original called Snow's Landing. A settlement of the Huron River received a post office on May 7, 1834 with the name of West Huron and postmaster Scott Vining. The township was formed by the State in 1835 and was soon renamed for Martin Van Buren, then vice president of the US. The post office name was also changed. On November 14, 1838, The Van Buren post office was move to Rawsonville and assumed that name. On October 25, 1895, the Rawsonville post office was closed only to reopen on November 20, 1895 only to close again on February 28, 1902. In 1925, the French Landing Dam and Powerhouse was put in place on the Huron River, placing most of the Rawsonville village under water of the new Belleville Lake. The only visual sign that a village was here at one time is the historical marker in front of the McDonald's on Rawsonville Road and across from Grove Road.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,559 people, 9,867 households, and 6,117 families residing in the township. The population density was 694.9 per square mile. There were 10,417 housing units at an average density of 307.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 82.64% White, 12.03% African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population. There were 9,867 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couplesliving together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96. In the township the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males. The median income for a household in the township was $50,984, and the median income for a family was $60,561. Males had a median income of $44,867 versus $30,299 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,820. About 4.4% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
