Allendale Charter Township, Michigan

Allendale Charter Township is a charter township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 20,708. It is a part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is an exurb of Grand Rapids due to its major commuter routes into the city (M-45 and I-96).

Allendale Charter Township, Michigan
Charter township
Map of Allendale Charter Township.
Allendale Charter Township, Michigan
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°58′40″N 85°57′31″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyOttawa
Government
 • TypeTownship Board
 • SupervisorAdam Elenbaas
Area
 • Total32.2 sq mi (83.4 km2)
 • Land31.3 sq mi (81.1 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
Elevation
627 ft (191 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,708
 • Density661.6/sq mi (255.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
49401 (Allendale)
49426 (Hudsonville)
49428 (Jenison)
Area code(s)616
FIPS code26-01360[1]
GNIS feature ID1625822[2]
Websitehttp://www.allendale-twp.org/

Allendale is located in the center of Ottawa County, bordered by Tallmadge Township, Polkton Township (City of Coopersville), Robinson Township, Blendon Township and Georgetown Township.

Allendale Charter Township is best known as being home to the main campus of Grand Valley State University.

History

The land within the current borders of the township has been inhabited by humans since at least ca. 200 BCE to 500 CE, earliest evidence suggests occupation by Goodall Focus, a Middle Woodland Hopewellian culture. At the time of European contact, Anishinaabe-speaking peoples, the Odawa and the Potawatomi lived within the current township.[3]

The first documented European in what is now Allendale was Pierre Constant, a French fur trader who established a trading post at Charleston for John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company in 1810.[4] The first permanent European settler[5] was Richard Roberts, of Wales, who purchased one hundred and sixty acres along the Grand River, building a log cabin in 1842 that became known as the Half-way House, as it was situated roughly halfway between Grand Haven and Grandville.[5] Roberts established a sawmill, a blacksmith shop, a wheelwright and a store.

In the winter of 1848–49, a meeting was held at the home of Alexander Milne for the purpose of drafting a petition requesting to become an organized Township, to be called the Township of Isaac. Those attending the meeting, along with Milne, were James Scott, Johnson Balcom, Alexander Scott, Robert Scott, John Hanna and Henry M. Reed. James Scott drew up the township petition which was signed by all of them.[5] The petition was presented to the state legislature by state Senator Henry Pennoyer of Grand Haven. Senator Pennoyer, on his own initiative, substituted Isaac with the (misspelled) Allandale after Agnes Allen, the first name appearing on the tax roll, and the widow of Hannibal Allen, son of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen.[6] The spelling was subsequently changed from Allandale to the current Allendale.

In 1854 the township of Blendon was organized, and set off from Allendale.

Communities

There are no incorporated municipalities within the township.

  • Allendale is a census-designated place consisting of the northern two-thirds of the township and the Allendale ZIP code 49401 serves most of the township except for small areas along the southern boundary.[7]
  • Conger was the name of a rural post office in the township from 1899 until 1907.[8]
  • Hudsonville is to the southeast, and the Hudsonville ZIP code serves a small area on the central part of the southern boundary of Allendale Township.[9]
  • Jenison is to the southeast, and the Jenison ZIP code 49428 serves a small area in the southeast corner of the Allendale Township.[10]
  • Pearline, also known as East Allendale, is an unincorporated community about one mile east of Allendale on M-45/Lake Michigan Dr. at 42°58′20″N 85°55′27″W.[11] Fruit grower Joh W. Everhart was the first postmaster of a rural post office here, which operated from April 29, 1891, until May 31, 1908.[12]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 32.2 square miles (83 km2), of which 31.3 square miles (81 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) (2.80%) is water.

The Grand River forms the northern and eastern boundaries of the township. Georgetown Township is to the southeast, Blendon Township to the south, Olive Township to the southwest, Robinson Township to the west. Across the Grand River, Crockery Township is to the northwest, Polkton Township to the north, and Tallmadge Township to the east and northeast.

M-45 crosses east–west through the township, and crosses the Grand River in the east. Except for US-31 in Grand Haven; M-45, 68th Avenue just to the north and M-231 to the west are the only roads to cross the Grand River in Ottawa County.

Climate

Allendale experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb), warm to hot summers and cold winters, similar to most of the Midwestern United States. It is often humid in the summer.

Allendale receives 132 inches of measurable precipitation per year, on average 33 inches of rain and 82 inches of snowfall.[13]

There are 162 sunny days per year. The comfort index, based on humidity during the hot months, is a 51 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.[13]

Climate data for Allendale, MI
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 34
(1)		 36
(2)		 46
(8)		 60
(16)		 70
(21)		 79
(26)		 83
(28)		 81
(27)		 75
(24)		 62
(17)		 51
(11)		 38
(3)		 60
(15)
Average low °F (°C) 21
(−6)		 22
(−6)		 29
(−2)		 38
(3)		 48
(9)		 58
(14)		 62
(17)		 60
(16)		 53
(12)		 43
(6)		 35
(2)		 25
(−4)		 41
(5)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.95
(50)		 1.67
(42)		 2.07
(53)		 3.54
(90)		 3.91
(99)		 3.31
(84)		 3.05
(77)		 2.56
(65)		 2.60
(66)		 3.54
(90)		 2.95
(75)		 2.20
(56)		 33.35
(847)
Source: [14]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850168—
186024545.8%
1870799226.1%
18801,07434.4%
18901,34525.2%
19001,4296.2%
19101,4894.2%
19201,307−12.2%
19301,3251.4%
19401,3773.9%
19501,66320.8%
19602,23834.6%
19703,55458.8%
19806,08071.1%
19908,02231.9%
200013,04262.6%
201020,70858.8%
2018 (est.)26,68628.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 20,708 people, 3,306 households, and 2,294 families residing in the township. The population density was 661.6 per square mile (255.3/km2). There were 3,492 housing units at an average density of 111.6 per square mile (43.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 93.61% White, 2.68% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.88% of the population.

There were 3,306 households, out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 39.3% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 10.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,669, and the median income for a family was $58,576. Males had a median income of $40,419 versus $25,188 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,065. About 2.8% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Cook Carillon Tower at Grand Valley State University Allendale campus

Primary and secondary schools

Higher education

The main campus of Grand Valley State University, founded in 1960, is located in Allendale Charter Township on 1,237 acres (5.01 km2). Grand Valley State University is the fastest growing university in the United States, both in population and physical size, as the university is continually building more facilities. The university is also ranked one of the top up and coming schools in the Midwest. The university enrolls a total of just under 25,000 students on the Allendale campus and two campuses in the surrounding area, and offers over 200 areas of study, making it the largest university in the Grand Rapids region.[15]

Parks

Allendale Community Park is a 40-acre (16 ha) park situated near the township office.[16][17] It contains a Veterans Garden of Honor honoring U.S. soldiers. It contains nine statues representing veterans of U.S. wars.[18] One of the statues, installed in 1998, depicting a Confederate and Union soldier standing back-to-back with a young slave crouched between them at their feet, has been controversial for seeming to honor the Confederacy.[19][20] During the George Floyd protests in 2020, the Allendale Township Board voted on June 30, 2020 to keep it.[21][22]

Points of interest

On campus

Off campus

Local media

Newspapers

Radio
  • WGVU-FM (88.5 FM Allendale/Grand Rapids) – GVSU Public Radio (NPR/Jazz)
  • WCKS "The Whale" – GVSU student run radio

Television
  • WGVU-TV – GVSU PBS member station
  • GVBN – GVSU student run television station

Transportation

Mass transit
  • Interurban Transit Partnership (The Rapid), is a public regional bus system that provides transit throughout the eastern part of Allendale, GVSU, Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas. It connects Allendale and GVSU with Grand Rapids and GVSU's Pew Campus.

Major highways
  • M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive)

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Allendale Charter Township, Michigan
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-09-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Baxter, Albert (1891). "History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan ...: (With an Appendix--History of Lowell, Michigan)".
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2015-09-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Allendale Historical Recognition Program Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, p. 19
  7. 49401 5-Digit ZCTA, 494 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  8. Walter Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 130
  9. 49426 5-Digit ZCTA, 494 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  10. 49428 5-Digit ZCTA, 494 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  11. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pearline, Michigan
  12. Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  13. Allendale, Michigan Climate
  14. "Monthly Averages for Allendale, MI". MSN Weather. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  15. "Quick Facts About Grand Valley". Grand Valley State University web site. Grand Valley State University. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  16. "Allendale Charter Township Parks and Recreation Plan 2020-2024". Allendale Charter Township. December 10, 2019. p. 10.
  17. hostmaster (2017-03-10). "Allendale Community Park". Michigan. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  18. "Veterans Garden of Honor - Allendale MI". www.aaa.com. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  19. "Controversial Civil War statue will remain at township park in West Michigan". mlive. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  20. "Hundreds gather in Ottawa County to protest Confederate statue in park, demand removal". mlive. 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  21. "Allendale Twp. Confederate soldier statue will stay in place". woodtv.com. June 30, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-02. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  22. "Allendale leader: Board plans to keep Confederate soldier statue". woodtv.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
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