Editing Clay Township, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Clay Township, Michigan
| settlement_type                 = [[Civil township]]
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline                   = Clay Township, MI offices.jpg
| imagesize                       = 275
| image_caption                   = Clay Township Municipal Offices
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = 
<!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map                     = Michigan#USA
| pushpin_label_position          = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label                   = Clay Township
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
| pushpin_mapsize                 = 
| image_map                       = Clay Township, MI location2.png
| mapsize                         = 250
| map_caption                     = Location within [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair County]] (red) and the administered CDP of [[Pearl Beach, St. Clair County, Michigan|Pearl Beach]] (pink)

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Michigan]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes            = <ref>{{cite web|last=[[Michigan Townships Association]]|url=https://michigantownships.org/find-a-township/?fips=16180|title=Clay Twp., St. Clair Co.|date=2022|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref>
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Supervisor
| leader_name                     = Paul Cassidy 
| Supervisor                  = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
| leader_name1                    = Tanya Hogan

| established_title               = Settled
| established_date                = 1805
| established_title1              = Established
| established_date1               = 1826 (Plainfield Township)<br>1828 (Clay Township)
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 213.60
| area_land_km2                   = 91.48
| area_water_km2                  = 122.12
| area_total_sq_mi                = 82.47
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 35.32
| area_water_sq_mi                = 47.15

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = <ref name=C2020>{{cite web|last=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Clay_township,_St._Clair_County,_Michigan?g=060XX00US2614716180|title=Clay township, St. Clair County, Michigan|date=August 12, 2023}}</ref>
| population_total                = 8446
| population_density_km2          = 
| population_density_sq_mi        = 102.4

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                        = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 176
| elevation_ft                    = 577
| coordinates                     = {{coord|42|36|38|N|82|35|31|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code                     = 48001 ([[Algonac, Michigan|Algonac]])<br>48028 ([[Harsens Island, Michigan|Harsens Island]])
| area_code                       = [[Area code 810|810]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 26-16180<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 1626090<ref>{{gnis|1626090}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|http://www.claytownship.org/|Official website}}
| footnotes                       = 
}}
'''Clay Township''' is a [[civil township]] of [[St. Clair County, Michigan|St. Clair County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]].  The population was 8,446 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=C2020/>

The township is located along the mouth of the [[St. Clair River]] at [[Lake St. Clair]].  The river delta includes numerous islands, in which [[Harsens Island]] is the largest.  The township mostly surrounds the city of [[Algonac, Michigan|Algonac]], but the two are administered autonomously since Algonac incorporated as a city in 1967.  Most of [[Algonac State Park]] is located within Clay Township.

==Communities==
*'''Bedore''' is an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] located along the southern coast of [[Harsens Island]] at {{coord|42.5578126|-82.6129630|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624378|Bedore, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Clays Landing''' is an unincorporated community located at the southern terminus of [[M-154 (Michigan highway)|M-154]] on Harsens Island at {{coord|42.5517016|-82.6043512|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624457|Clays Landing, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Forster''' is an unincorporated community located just west of Bedore at {{coord|42.5611459|-82.6182410|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624546|Forster, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Grand Pointe''' is an unincorporated community located in the northeastern area of Harsens Island at {{coord|42.5994788|-82.5451844|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624574|Grand Pointe, Michigan}}</ref>  The affluent community was settled as early as 1888 by the Grand Pointe Improvement Company, and a post office operated briefly from October 16, 1889 until January 5, 1892.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=233}}
*'''Harsens Island''' is the name of the post office that serves the island and several surrounding islands.  Harsens Island was first settled as early as 1779 by James Harsen, who was the area's first white settler.  By 1783, Harsen had purchased the entire island from its native Indian population.  As late as 1809, the island was also known as James (also Jacob or Jacobus) Island.  The post office began operating under the name Sans Souci on April 24, 1900 and was renamed Harsens Island on December 31, 1960.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=255}}{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=500}}  The post office uses the 48028 ZIP Code.<ref>{{google maps |url = https://www.google.com/maps/place/Harsens+Island,+MI+48028/@42.5690526,-82.6891914,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88253e60dac36cc5:0xc88a3ebfc1460b28!8m2!3d42.5772353!4d-82.6159271 |title = 48028 ZIP Code map |access-date = July 24, 2022 }}</ref><ref name=ZIPC>{{cite web|last=UnitedStatesZipCodes.org|url=https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/48028/|title=ZIP Code 48028: Harsens Island|date=2022|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref> 
*'''Maple Leaf''' is an unincorporated community located on Harsens Island just southwest of the community of Sans Souci at {{coord|42.5780902|-82.5696288|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624704|Maple Leaf, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Miller''' is an unincorporated community located near the southernmost end of Harsens Island at the end of public road access at {{coord|42.5492017|-82.6587976|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624743|Miller, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Muirs''' is an unincorporated community located along M-154 on Harsens Island at {{coord|42.5564238|-82.5871285|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624771|Muirs, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''[[Pearl Beach, St. Clair County, Michigan|Pearl Beach]]''' is an unincorporated community and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) located along the southern end of the mainland at {{coord|42.6267006|-82.5976876|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624814|Pearl Beach, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Perch Point''' is an unincorporated community located along [[M-29 (Michigan highway)|M-29]] in the northwestern portion of the township along the border with [[Ira Township, Michigan|Ira Township]] at {{coord|42.6650333|-82.6201900|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624817|Perch Point, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Pointe aux Tremble''' is an unincorporated community located along M-29 within the Pearl Beach CDP at {{coord|42.6214230|-82.5710196|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624836|Pointe aux Tremble, Michigan}}</ref>  The community was settled in 1904 as a station along the railway about {{convert|3.0|mi|km|1}} west of Algonac.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=449}}
*'''Riverside''' is an unincorporated community located in the southern portion of Harsens Island at {{coord|42.5589237|-82.6301859|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624861|Riverside, Michigan}}</ref>
*'''Roberts Landing''' is an unincorporated community located along M-29 near [[Algonac State Park]] along the border with [[Cottrellville Township, Michigan|Cottrellville Township]] at {{coord|42.6597561|-82.5157415|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624867|Roberts Landing, Michigan}}</ref>  The community was named after its first settler, who arrived here in 1830.  The Roberts family settled the area as a popular fishing and hunting destination.  A post office operated here from April 29, 1869 until December 15, 1895.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=479}}   
*'''[[Sans Souci, Michigan|Sans Souci]]''' is an unincorporated community located on Harsens Island at {{coord|42.5811490|-82.5621580|format=dms}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1624914|Sans Souci, Michigan}}</ref>

==History==
The area was first settled by John Martin in 1805, and the area was originally referred to as Pointe du Chene (Oak Point).  In 1826, the area was organized as Plainfield Township, which was named by early settler John K. Smith after his hometown of [[Plainfield, Vermont]].  A post office named Plainfield began operating here on April 5, 1826 with Smith serving as the first postmaster.  In 1828, the township was reorganized and renamed after attorney and statesman [[Henry Clay]], and the post office was later renamed Clay on December 23, 1835; Smith continued serving as postmaster.  The post office was renamed Algonac on August 17, 1843.  Algonac incorporated as a village within Clay Township in 1867.  The village gained autonomy from the township when it incorporated as a city in 1967.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=17}}

===Historic sites===
* [[Colony Tower Complex]]
* Harsen House<ref>{{cite web|last=St. Clair County MPC|url=http://www.bluewaysofstclair.org/place.asp?ait=av&aid=866|title=Blueway of St. Clair: Harsen House|accessdate=August 10, 2023}}</ref>
* [[LeRoy Smith House]]
* North Channel Shooting Club<ref>{{cite web|last=[[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]|url=https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/ArcGISOnline/StoryMaps/mhc_historical_markers/pdfs/MHC741988002.pdf|title=Historical Marker - L1488B - North Channel Shooting Club (Marker ID#:L1488B)|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref>
* [[St. Clair River]] Informational Designation<ref>{{cite web|last=MichMarkers.com|url=http://03c1c3a.netsolhost.com/default?page=S0124|title=St. Clair River: Registered Site S0124|date=2023|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref>
* Stewart Farm / Memoir of Aura Stewart<ref>{{cite web|last=MichMarkers.com|url=http://03c1c3a.netsolhost.com/default?page=L2128|title=Stewart Farm / Memoir of Aura Stewart: Registered Site L2128|date=2023|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref> 
* [[St. Clair Flats Front and Rear Range Light]]

==Geography==
[[File:Algonac_State_Park_3.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Looking north on [[M-29 (Michigan highway)|M-29]] along the [[St. Clair River]] at [[Algonac State Park]]]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|82.47|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|35.32|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|47.15|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (57.17%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019111423/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-19 |url-status=live|format=PDF |title=Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing | date = September 2012|publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]| work = [[2010 United States census]]| accessdate = August 11, 2023|page=40 Michigan}}</ref>

The township contains a large portion of water that includes areas along the [[St. Clair River]] mouth in the northern Anchor Bay area of [[Lake St. Clair]], which contains numerous channels and canals.  Directly across the river is the [[Walpole Island First Nation]] in [[Ontario]], which is accessible via the [[Walpole–Algonac Ferry]] in downtown [[Algonac, Michigan|Algonac]]. 

The St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area and the majority of the St. John's Marsh State Wildlife Area are located within Clay Township.<ref>{{cite web|last=[[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]|url=http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/sga/St_Clair_Flats_SWA_map.pdf|title=St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area|date=May 2006|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=[[Michigan Department of Natural Resources]]|url=http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/sga/St_Johns_Marsh_SWA_map.pdf|title=St. John's Marsh State Wildlife Area|date=May 2006|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref>  Most of [[Algonac State Park]] is located within Clay Township with a small portion extending north into [[Cottrellville Township, Michigan|Cottrellville Township]].       

===Islands===
{{div col}}
*Bruckner Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624421|Brucker Island}}</ref>
*Club Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624460|Club Island}}</ref>
*Dickinson Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624491|Dickinson Island}}</ref>
*Green Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624580|Green Island}}</ref>
*Gull Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624585|Gull Island}}</ref>
*[[Harsens Island]]<ref>{{GNIS|1624592|Harsens Island}}</ref>
*McDonald Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624718|McDonald Island}}</ref>
*Middle Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624737|Middle Island}}</ref>
*Muscamoot Ridge<ref>{{GNIS|1624773|Muscamoot Ridge}}</ref>
*North Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624788|North Island}}</ref>
*[[Russell Island (Michigan)|Russell Island]]<ref>{{GNIS|1624875|Russell Island}}</ref>
*Sand Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624910|Sand Island}}</ref>
*Strawberry Island<ref>{{GNIS|1624961|Strawberry Island}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Harsens Island Ferry (August 2022).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Ferry service to and from [[Harsens Island]]]]
===Airport===
*[[File:Airport Sign.svg|20px|alt=|link=]] Harsens Island Airport ([[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]]: Z92) is a [[general aviation]] public airport located on [[Harsens Island]].  The airport began operating in 1994 and contains a single grass runway.<ref>{{cite web|last=AirNav, LLC.|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/z92|title=Harsens Island Airport|date=2023|accessdate=August 10, 2023}}</ref>

===Ferries===
*{{jct|extra=ferry}} Champion's Auto Ferry is a commercial ferry service that provides passenger and automobile transportation from the mainland to Harsens Island.<ref>{{cite web|last=Champion's Auto Ferry|url=https://hiferry.com/|title=Welcome to Champion's Auto Ferry|date=2023|accessdate=August 11, 2023}}</ref> 
*{{jct|extra=ferry}} Russell Island Ferry transports only passengers to [[Russell Island (Michigan)|Russell Island]], which does not allow automobile traffic.  The mainland ferry terminal is located in the city of Algonac.  The service consists of a single ferry, the ''Pride of Lake Huron'', which was built in 1948.<ref>{{cite web|last=[[Bowling Green State University]]|url=https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/439447|title=Historical Collections of the Great Lakes: Pride of Lake Huron|accessdate=August 10, 2023}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*{{jct|state=MI|M|29}} curves through the township along the coastline of the North Channel and St. Clair River.
*{{jct|state=MI|M|154}} is a located entirely on Harsens Island and is accessible via ferry service from M-29.
*[[File:USBR 20.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Bicycle Route 20]] runs through portions of the township and also runs conterminous at some points with the Bridge to Bay Trail.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bridge to Bay Trail|url=https://bridgetobay.org/maps-and-resources/maps/|title=Bridge to Bay Trail: Trail Map|date=2023|accessdate=August 10, 2023}}</ref>

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 9,822 people, 3,934 households, and 2,844 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|277.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 5,325 housing units at an average density of {{convert|150.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 97.92% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.20% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.68% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.11% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.87% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.85% of the population.

There were 3,934 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,059, and the median income for a family was $63,182. Males had a median income of $48,053 versus $31,923 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $27,169.  About 2.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book |first1=Walter |last1=Romig |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities  |type=Paperback  |orig-date= 1973 |date=October 1, 1986 |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |isbn = 978-0-8143-1838-6 |location=Detroit, Michigan| pages=17, 233, 255, 449, 479, 500}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.achistory.com/ach1/ Algonac–Clay Township Historical Society]
*[http://www.claytownship.org/ Clay Township official website]

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Clay Township
| North = [[Cottrellville Township, Michigan|Cottrellville Township]]
| Northeast = ''[[St. Clair River]]'' / {{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[St. Clair, Ontario|St. Clair]]
| East =  [[Algonac, Michigan|Algonac]]
| Southeast = ''[[St. Clair River]]'' / {{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[Walpole Island First Nation]]
| South = {{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[Walpole Island First Nation]]<br>''[[Lake St. Clair]]''
| Southwest = ''[[Lake St. Clair]]''
| West = [[Harrison Township, Michigan|Harrison Township]] / ''[[Lake St. Clair]]''
| Northwest = [[New Baltimore, Michigan|New Baltimore]], [[Ira Township, Michigan|Ira Township]]<br/>[[Chesterfield Township, Michigan|Chesterfield Township]] / ''[[Lake St. Clair]]''
}}

{{St. Clair County, Michigan}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Townships in St. Clair County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Townships in Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan populated places on Lake St. Clair]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1828]]
[[Category:1828 establishments in Michigan Territory]]