Editing Harrison Township, Michigan

{{for|the city in Northern Michigan|Harrison, Michigan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Harrison Township, Michigan
|official_name            = Harrison Charter Township
|settlement_type          = [[Charter township]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|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            = Harrison Township
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States
|pushpin_mapsize          =
|image_map                = Harrison Charter Township, MI location.png
|mapsize                  = 250
|map_caption              = Location within [[Macomb County, Michigan|Macomb County]]

<!-- 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        = [[Macomb County, Michigan|Macomb]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|last=[[Michigan Townships Association]]|url=https://michigantownships.org/find-a-township/?fips=36820|title=Harrison Charter Township, Macomb County, Michigan|date=2022|accessdate=January 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Harrison Charter Township|url=https://www.harrison-township.org/government/elected_officials/index.php|title=Elected Officials|accessdate=January 5, 2023}}</ref>
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Supervisor
|leader_name              = Kenneth Verkest
|leader_title1            = [[Municipal clerk|Clerk]]
|leader_name1             = Adam Wit
|established_title        = Established
|established_date         = 1827

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_cousubs_26.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=July 26, 2023}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 
|area_land_km2            = 
|area_water_km2           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 23.76
|area_land_sq_mi          = 14.25
|area_water_sq_mi         = 9.51

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0600000US2609936820&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Harrison charter township, Macomb County, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=July 26, 2023}}</ref>
|population_total         = 24314
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 1706.5

<!-- 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|35|01|N|82|49|45|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 48045
|area_code                = [[Area code 586|586]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 26-36820<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1626439<ref>{{GNIS|1626439}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.harrison-township.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Harrison Charter Township''' is a [[charter township]] of [[Macomb County, Michigan|Macomb County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]].  The population was 24,314 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020"/>

Harrison Township was formed in 1827 in the [[Michigan Territory]] along the shores of [[Lake St. Clair]]. The township became a [[charter township]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harrison Charter Township|url=https://www.harrison-township.org/residents/historical_society/index.php#:~:text=Harrison%20Township%20was%20formed%20in,presented%20by%20the%20Historical%20Commission.|title=Historical Commission|date=2018|accessdate=January 3, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
The township is in southeastern Macomb County, along the northwestern shores of [[Lake St. Clair]]. The [[Clinton River (Michigan)|Clinton River]] has its mouth in the lake within Harrison Township, and [[Lake St. Clair Metropark]] is within the township, along the lakeshore. The township is partially bordered to the west by the city of [[Mount Clemens, Michigan|Mount Clemens]], the Macomb [[county seat]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|23.76|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|14.25|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|9.51|sqmi}}, or 40.03%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/>

[[Selfridge Air National Guard Base]], which was first built in 1917, is an [[Air National Guard]] installation that occupies a large portion of the northern section of the township.

==Communities==
*'''Belvidere''', originally called Huron Point, was a historic settlement formed within the township in 1835 by David and James Conger from [[Cleveland]], who bought land near the mouth of the Clinton River.  It was [[plat]]ted the next year and given a post office in 1837.  Many lots of land were sold to future settlers, but the area had to be abandoned after being flooded soon after in 1838.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=55}}   
*'''Harrison''' was a historic settlement recorded in 1859.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=254}}
* '''Lakeside''' is an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] located in the southern portion of the township at {{coord|42|33|54|N|82|50|21|W}}.<ref>{{GNIS|1617669|Lakeside, Michigan}}</ref>  The community was settled around 1900 by [[Pittsburgh]] capitalists who anticipated creating a coastal city east of [[Mount Clemens, Michigan|Mount Clemens]] along L'Anse Creuse Bay ([[French language|French]] for "Little Bay").  The community never really developed on its own and merely succeeded due to its proximity to Mount Clemens.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=315}}   
*'''Liverpool''' is a former community located within the township along L'Anse Creuse Bay.  It began in 1856 when Edward Shook platted the village with the hopes of making it similar to [[Liverpool|Liverpool, England]].  He built a hotel and a dock along the lake, but the project failed.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=331}} 
*'''Saint Clair Haven''' is an unincorporated community located along the shores of Lake St. Clair at {{coord|42|35|00|N|82|47|25|W}}.<ref>{{GNIS|636597|Saint Clair Haven, Michigan}}</ref>

==Major highways==
*{{jct|state=MI|I|94}} runs south–north along the western edge of the township.
*{{jct|state=MI|MI|59}} enters briefly in the northwest corner of the township before having its eastern terminus at I-94.

== Demographics ==
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 24,461 people, 10,720 households, and 6,421 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|1,710.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 11,486 housing units at an average density of {{convert|803.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 94.53% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.47% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.38% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.58% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.45% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.55% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] residents of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 10,720 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the township, 21.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.7% was from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% was 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $51,892, and the median income for a family was $67,129. Males had a median income of $47,444 versus $31,561 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,491.  About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The entire township is served by [[L'Anse Creuse Public Schools]], which is headquartered in [[Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan|Clinton Township]] to the west.<ref>{{cite web|last=Michigan Geographic Framework|url=http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/pdfmaps/CountySchools/SD_BYCO_esize_MACOMB%20COUNTY.pdf|title=Macomb County School Districts|date=15 November 2013|accessdate=December 28, 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Dino Ciccarelli]], retired professional ice hockey player<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hotts |first1=Mitch |title=Dino Ciccarelli to close Club 22, open sports bar |url=https://www.macombdaily.com/2011/02/10/dino-ciccarelli-to-close-club-22-open-sports-bar/ |work=Macomb Daily |date=February 10, 2011 |quote=Ciccarelli, of Harrison Township, is expected to introduce celebrity guests at Saturday’s party.}}</ref>
*[[Uncle Kracker]], singer and musician<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graff |first1=Gary |title=Happy Hour for Uncle Kracker |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2009/11/01/happy-hour-for-uncle-kracker/ |quote=Harrison Township singer Uncle Kracker, 35, opens for Train on Tuesday at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. |work=The Oakland Press |date=November 1, 2009}}</ref>
*[[David Legwand]], retired professional ice hockey player<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Josh |title=David Legwand announces retirement from NHL |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/david-legwand-announces-retirement-from-nhl-223010976.html |website=Yahoo Sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119012036/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/david-legwand-announces-retirement-from-nhl-223010976.html |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |url-status=live |date=December 22, 2016 |quote=Legwand currently resides in Harrison Township, Michigan and is a co-owner of the Sarnia Sting in the OHL, along with fellow former player Derian Hatcher.}}</ref>
*[[Candice Miller]], county and state politician<ref>{{cite web |title=Candice Miller |url=https://www.northwood.edu/dw/archives/2015-2059/Candice-Miller |website=Northwood University |date=January 1, 2019 |quote=Washington, D.C. & Harrison Township, MI}}</ref>
*[[Angela Ruggiero]], retired professional ice hockey player and Olympian<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lapointe |first1=Joe |title=U.S. Women Beat Canada to Win Gold Medal |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/specials/olympics/nagano/hkw/021798oly-hkw-us-canada.html |work=The New York Times |date=February 17, 1998 |quote="It's so heavy," said Angela Ruggiero of Harrison Township, Michigan}}</ref>

==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 |series=Great Lakes Books Series |type=Paperback  |orig-date= 1973 |date=October 1, 1986 |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |isbn = 978-0-8143-1838-6 |location=Detroit, Michigan| pages=55, 254, 315, 331}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.harrison-township.org}}
*[https://cms2.revize.com/revize/harrisonmi/residents/historical_society/docs/lostcities.pdf The Lost Villages of Harrison]
*[https://www.htlibrary.org/harrison-township-factsheet/ Harrison Township Factsheet]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Harrison Township 
|North = [[Chesterfield Township, Michigan|Chesterfield Township]]
|Northeast = ''[[Lake Saint Clair (North America)|Lake St. Clair]]'' / [[Ira Township, Michigan|Ira Township]]
|East = ''[[Lake Saint Clair (North America)|Lake St. Clair]]'' / [[Clay Township, Michigan|Clay Township]]
|Southeast = ''[[Lake Saint Clair (North America)|Lake St. Clair]]''
|South = ''[[Lake Saint Clair (North America)|Lake St. Clair]]''<br/>{{flagicon|CAN}}{{flagicon|Ontario}} [[Lakeshore, Ontario|Lakeshore]]
|Southwest =[[St. Clair Shores, Michigan|St. Clair Shores]]
|West = [[Mount Clemens, Michigan|Mount Clemens]]<br />[[Charter Township of Clinton, Michigan|Clinton Township]]
|Northwest = [[Macomb Township, Michigan|Macomb Township]]
}}
{{Macomb County, Michigan}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Townships in Macomb County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Charter townships in Michigan]]
[[Category:Former census-designated places in Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan populated places on Lake St. Clair]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1827]]
[[Category:1827 establishments in Michigan Territory]]