Editing Pipestone Township, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Pipestone Township, Michigan
|settlement_type          = [[Civil township]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Pipestone Township Logo.png
|seal_type                = logo
|seal_size                = 200px

<!-- Maps -->
|pushpin_map            =Michigan#USA
|pushpin_label_position =top<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_label          =Pipestone Township
|pushpin_map_caption    =Location within the state of Michigan
|pushpin_mapsize        =
|image_map                = Pipestone Township, MI location.png
|mapsize                  = 250
|map_caption              = Location within [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]] (red) and an administered portion of the [[Eau Claire, Michigan|Eau Claire]] village (pink)

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

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Supervisor
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Established
|established_date         = 1842

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 93.0
|area_land_km2            = 92.0
|area_water_km2           = 1.1
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_sq_mi         =

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2177
|population_density_km2   = 
|population_density_sq_mi =

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 228
|elevation_ft             = 748
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|01|52|N|86|17|27|W|region:US-MI_type:adm2nd_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
|postal_code              = 49047, 49111
|area_code                = [[Area code 269|269]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 26-64480<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              = 1626908<ref>{{gnis|1626908}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://pipestonetownship.org/|Official website}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Pipestone Township''' is a [[civil township]] of [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The population was 2,177 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=Pipestone township, Berrien County, Michigan - Census Bureau Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Pipestone_township,_Berrien_County,_Michigan?g=060XX00US2602164480 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> The township was organized on February 16, 1842.{{citation needed|date= March 2024}}

==History==
The first settler in the township was James Kirk, who moved with his family to [[Niles, Michigan]], in 1833 and then established a residence in Pipestone in April 1837. In the fall of 1837, Dr. Morgan Enos moved from [[Bainbridge Township, Michigan|Bainbridge Township]] and settled at a point that became known as "Shanghai Corners", because, according to local history, Dr. Enos was the first to bring [[Cochin (chicken)|Shanghai chickens]] into the township. Joab Enos, a brother of Dr. Enos, moved into the township in 1838. He and William Boughton laid out a village known first as "Pipestone", and later as "Shanghai". Although only a few lots were sold, a post office was established in the village in 1846, and later there was a store operated by John Garrow.<ref>Coolidge, Orville W. (1906). [https://books.google.com/books?id=3G0Qo9lf4nsC&pg=PA249 ''A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County Michigan''], pp. 249-50.  The Lewis Publishing Company.</ref>

The word "pipestone" refers to a red stone, known today as [[catlinite]], which is used to make the bowls of some [[Indigenous peoples in the United States|Indian]] [[ceremonial pipe]]s. Pipestone Creek was so named because [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] have found material for making pipes along its course. The name was later extended to Pipestone Township.<ref>Vogel, Virgil J. (1986). [https://books.google.com/books?id=T5d5wS7so14C&pg=PA96 ''Indian Names in Michigan''], p. 96. University of Michigan Press.</ref>

== Communities ==
* The village of [[Eau Claire, Michigan|Eau Claire]] lies partially within the township and partially within [[Berrien Township, Michigan|Berrien Township]] to the south. There are no other incorporated municipalities within the township. The township is primarily agricultural.
* '''Pleasant Valley''' was a rural post office in the township at approximately {{Coord|42|02|20|N|86|14|30|W|region:US-MI_type:city_scale:30000_source:GNIS|name=Pleasant Valley}}<ref>{{gnis|2376456|Pleasant Valley Post Office (historical)}}</ref> from May 11, 1870, until September 18, 1874.<ref name="Romig">{{cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter  | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | orig-year= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | isbn = 0-8143-1838-X}}</ref>

==Geography==
Two tributaries of the [[St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)|St. Joseph River]] drain the township: Pipestone Creek in the north and Farmers Creek in the south. [[M-140 (Michigan highway)|M-140]] runs north–south through the township.

[[Sodus Township, Michigan|Sodus Township]] lies to the west, [[Benton Charter Township, Michigan|Benton Charter Township]] to the northwest, [[Bainbridge Township, Michigan|Bainbridge Township]] to the north, [[Van Buren County, Michigan|Van Buren County]] to the northeast, [[Cass County, Michigan|Cass County]] to the east, and [[Berrien Township, Michigan|Berrien Township]] to the south.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|93.0|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|92.0|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.1|km2|disp=flip}}, or 1.16%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2602164480| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212152723/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2602164480| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pipestone township, Berrien County, Michigan| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=January 13, 2014}}</ref>

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,474 people, 842 households, and 661 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|69.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 899 housing units at an average density of 25.2 per square mile (9.7/km{{sup|2}}).  The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.93% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.85% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.16% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.87% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.97% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.44% of the population.

There were 842 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $41,440, and the median income for a family was $45,859. Males had a median income of $32,214 versus $24,432 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $16,423.  About 8.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pipestonetownship.org Pipestone Township official website]

{{Berrien County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Townships in Berrien County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Townships in Michigan]]