Township Information

Socioeconomic Profile

Population Trends

The first U.S. Census for Milton Township was completed in 1840, which reported its population at 439. Between 1840 and 1940, the Township's population fluctuated but did not substantially increase. After World War II, both Milton Township and Cass County began to grow. Between 1940 and 1970, the Township's population expanded by 279%, while the County grew by 97.7%. This post-war trend was influenced by renewed national prosperity, which stimulated automobile and home ownership. Federal and state highway construction programs, along with federal housing programs, also contributed to this growth. Records show that between 1980 and 1990, the Township experienced its smallest population growth rate since World War I. This trend has been attributed to the poor economic conditions experienced in Michigan during that time period. The 1990 census showed 2,284 persons in Milton Township, and an estimate of the 1999 population, based on tax assessment and building permit records, is 2,693.

Milton Township has 21.4 square miles, instead of the typical 36. It ranks 4^th in Cass County in terms of population density, Ontwa, Howard and Mason being 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd. La Grange is 5^th. The average household size in Milton Township decreased from 3.14 to 2.95 between 1980 and 1990, corresponding to the national trend toward smaller households. Compared to the State of Michigan and Cass County, Milton Township had a slightly older population in 1990, the median age being 35.1, which was 2 years and 5 months older than the median for the State and 7 months older than the County median. 22% of the Township's population was within the mature family age range (45-64), while only 14.4% are in the category statewide. The largest share of Milton Township's population can be found in the family forming age group (19-44 years), representing 40.2% of the population.

Racial Composition

In 1990 Milton Township's population was 95.5% white and 3.1% black, all other races representing 1.4% of the population. These percentages were similar to those reported in 1980.

Educational Attainment

The educational attainment for persons 25 years and older was comparable to County and State averages, the percent of Township residents 25 years and older with a high school degree or higher being 75.9%. 24.1% had no diploma; 64.6% were high school graduates; 11.3% were college graduates.

Employment & Income

The labor force (residents age 16 and over who are working or looking for work) was 67.1% in 1990. Nearly one third (31%) of the labor force worked in the manufacturing industry, with 25.5% in the service industry and 19.3% in retail/wholesale trade. Other employment included construction (7.7%), transportation (6.4%), finance/insurance (4.7%), farm (3.8%), and government (1.5%). In 1989 the Township's per capita income was $13,814, second highest in Cass County but below the State per capita income of $14,154. The median household income was $35,179, which ranked first in the County and above the State level of $31,020. The percentage of residents below poverty level was 6.8, below the County (11.9%) and State (13.1%) levels.

Geographic Features

Milton Township has a nearly level elevation. Its land surface is lowest in the west, peaks toward the center, and declines slightly toward the southeast. The lowest point (approximately 730 feet) is located in Sections 6 and 7 between Brandywine Creek and Bell Street. The highest point (approximately 880 feet) is in Section 4, east of Surges Road and north of Worrell Street.

Geological deposits which are products of the post-glacial era shape the present contour of Milton Township and range from 150 to 350 feet in depth above bedrock. The advance and retreat of the Cary substage of the Wisconsin Glaciation left varying thickness and types of sediment upon the landscape. An outwash plain extends from the western part of the Township to the western part of Marcellus Township. This area was formed from flowing glacial melt water as ice retreated from the area. Hence, large tracts of land along Brandywine Creek in the northwestern part of the Township have high water table and floodplain characteristics. The inner and outer ridge of the Kalamazoo moraine runs diagonally across Cass County from Milton Township through the northwestern and southeastern parts of Volinia Township. Prime farmland soils comprise 8.26 square miles or 38.7% of Milton Township. 7% of the prime farmland has a seasonal high water table, which can be overcome by drainage measure or flood control.

Page updated 7-01-05