Editing Waterford Township, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name               = Waterford Township, Michigan
| official_name      = Charter Township of Waterford
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[Charter township]]
| motto              = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Waterford MI Gateway Sign.jpg
| imagesize          = 275
| image_caption      = Welcome sign to Waterford Township
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
<!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map        = Michigan
| pushpin_label_position = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label      = Waterford Township
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Michigan
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| image_map          = Waterford Charter Township, MI location.png
| mapsize            = 250
| map_caption        = Location within [[Oakland County, Michigan|Oakland County]]
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_name1  = [[Michigan]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Oakland County, Michigan|Oakland]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Supervisor
| leader_name        = Gary Wall<ref>{{cite web|url=https://waterfordmi.gov/148/Supervisors-Office|title=Supervisor's Office - Waterford, MI|website=Watefordmi.gov|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1834
<!-- Area -->
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 91.4 <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2      = 81.2 <!--See table @ Template:Infobox settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2     = 10.3
| area_total_sq_mi   = 35.3
| area_land_sq_mi    = 31.3
| area_water_sq_mi   = 4.0
| area_water_percent = 11.22
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 70,565<ref name="2020 U.S. Census Data"/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 4296250 ([[Metro Detroit]])
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|42|39|30|N|83|23|10|W|type:city_region_US-MI_dim:10000|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 289
| elevation_ft       = 948
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code        = 48327–48330, 48346, 48387
| area_code          = [[Area codes 248 and 947|248]]
| website            = {{URL|https://waterfordmi.gov}}
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|26|84240|125}}<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1627218<ref>{{Cite GNIS|1627218|Charter Township of Waterford}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Waterford Township''' (commonly known simply as '''Waterford''') is a [[charter township]] in [[Oakland County, Michigan|Oakland County]] in the U.S. state of [[Michigan]]. A northern suburb of [[Metro Detroit|Detroit]], Waterford is located roughly {{convert|30|mi|km|1}} northwest of [[downtown Detroit]]. As of the 2020 census, the township had a population of 70,565.<ref name="2020 U.S. Census Data">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/waterfordchartertownshipoaklandcountymichigan/POP010220#POP010220 |title=2020 U.S. Census Data |website=www.census.gov |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref>

==Communities==
Waterford Township has five [[Unincorporated areas|unincorporated communities]]:

* [[Clintonville, Michigan|Clintonville]] ({{Coord|42|41|25|N|83|21|22|W|}}) is located on Walton Boulevard between Clintonville Road and Sashabaw Road. 
* [[Drayton Plains, Michigan|Drayton Plains]] ({{coord|42|41|03|N|83|22|38|W|}}) is located at [[Dixie Highway]] on the west end of [[Loon Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Loon Lake]]. 
* [[Elizabeth Lake, Michigan|Elizabeth Lake]] ({{Coord|42|38|14|N|83|23|18.0|W}}) is an historic resort community located on [[Elizabeth Lake (Waterford, Michigan)|Elizabeth Lake]].
* [[Four Towns, Michigan|Four Towns]] ({{Coord|42|37|04|N|83|24|49|W|}}) is located at Lochaven Road and Cooley Lake Road.<ref>{{Cite GNIS|626335|Four Towns, Michigan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglemap?p_lat=42.6178099&p_longi=-83.4135489&fid=626335 |title=Geographic Information System |website=Geonames.usgs.gov |date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Waterford Village, Michigan|Waterford Village]] ({{Coord|42|42|08|N|83|24|10|W|}}) is an historic village located at Dixie Highway and Andersonville Road.<ref>{{Cite GNIS|161584|Waterford, Michigan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gazpublic/getgooglemap?p_lat=42.7022527&p_longi=-83.402718&fid=1615842 |title=Geographic Information System |website=Geonames.usgs.gov |date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

==History==
[[Lewis Cass]], the third [[governor]] of [[Michigan Territory]], established the boundaries of Oakland County in 1819.<ref>Seeley, Thaddeus D. (1912)</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historyoaklandc01seelgoog |title=History Of Oakland County Michigan |author=Thaddeus D. Seeley |via=Internet Archive |access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref> Waterford Township was organized in 1834.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bad1028.0001.001.umich.edu|title=History of Oakland County Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historic Progress, Its People, Its Principal Interests|date=January 1, 1912|publisher=Lewis Publishing Company|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

In 1818, Oliver Williams selected land in Oakland County<ref name=seeley484>Seeley (1912), p. 484-85.</ref> that he purchased for two dollars an [[acre]]. Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased {{convert|161.40|acre|m2}} in what would later become known as [[Waterford Village, Michigan|Waterford Village]].

In 1818, Oliver Williams and his family established the first [[farm]] settlement in the county on the banks of [[Silver Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Silver Lake]].

In 1819, Alpheus Williams and Archibald Phillips continued on to where the [[Clinton River (Michigan)|Clinton River]] crossed the old [[Saginaw Trail]] (now known as Dixie Highway). They settled at the site of the present Waterford Village. Here the first [[house]] of Waterford Village was built by Alpheus Williams on the north bank of the river. Archibald Phillips built his [[home]] across from the south corner where Andersonville Road meets Dixie Highway.

Williams and Phillips also built the first [[dam]] where the Clinton River crossed the Saginaw Trail and erected the first [[sawmill]].<ref name=seeley484/>

The township was named Waterford because of the vast number of lakes covering the township.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterfordhistoricalsociety.org/pdf/newsletter/WHS%20Newsletter%20Sept-Oct-Nov%202014%20web%20site%20version.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818144615/http://www.waterfordhistoricalsociety.org/pdf/newsletter/WHS%20Newsletter%20Sept-Oct-Nov%202014%20web%20site%20version.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-18 |url-status=live |title=Newsletter |date=2014 |website=www.waterfordhistoricalsociety.org }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|35.3|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|31.3|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.0|sqmi}}, or 11.22%, is water.
{{Geographic location
|Center    = Waterford Township
|North     = [[Independence Township, Michigan|Independence Township]]
|Northeast = [[Orion Township, Michigan|Orion Township]]
|East      = [[Lake Angelus, Michigan|Lake Angelus]]<br />[[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]]
|Southeast = [[Sylvan Lake, Michigan|Sylvan Lake]]
|South = [[Keego Harbor, Michigan|Keego Harbor]]<br />[[West Bloomfield Township, Michigan|West Bloomfield Township]]
|Southwest = [[Commerce Township, Michigan|Commerce Township]]
|West      = [[White Lake Township, Michigan|White Lake Township]]
|Northwest = [[Springfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan|Springfield Township]]
}}

== Government and infrastructure ==
The West Campus of the Oakland County Service Center is located in Waterford Township.<ref name="Complexmap">{{cite web |title=Oakland County Service Center : Map |url=https://www.oakgov.com/maps/Documents/occomplexmap.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710032719/https://www.oakgov.com/maps/Documents/occomplexmap.pdf |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |website=Webcitation.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Oakland County Service Center : Map |url=http://twp.waterford.mi.us/Departments/GIS-and-Online-Mapping/Documents/Generic-Base-Map-2014.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113150851/http://twp.waterford.mi.us/Departments/GIS-and-Online-Mapping/Documents/Generic-Base-Map-2014.aspx |archive-date=January 13, 2015 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |website=Webcitation.org |df=mdy}}</ref> This includes the Oakland County Executive Building and Conference Center,<ref>{{cite web |date=January 2014 |title=Oakland County Michigan : Waterford Township Base Map |url=https://www.oakgov.com/advantageoakland/media-center/Documents/Maps/map_eob.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710114738/https://www.oakgov.com/advantageoakland/media-center/Documents/Maps/map_eob.pdf |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |website=Webcitation.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and the Oakland County Children's Village,<ref name="Complexmap" /> the county's [[juvenile detention center]] for children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oakland County Michigan : Oakland County Children's Village |url=https://www.oakgov.com/village |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710014343/https://www.oakgov.com/village |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |website=Webcitation.org |df=mdy}}</ref> The Children's Village acts as one of the support sites for the [[Waterford School District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Oakland County Michigan : Oakland County Children's Village |url=http://www.waterford.k12.mi.us/NorthstarMedia/download/97671?token=OCaRojCyVwc%3d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904112756/http://www.waterford.k12.mi.us/NorthstarMedia/download/97671?token=OCaRojCyVwc%3d |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |website=Webcitation.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Federal, state, and county legislators ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[United States House of Representatives]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hendrickson |first=Clara |date=2024-11-05 |title=US Rep. Haley Stevens reelected to another 2-year term in Congress, defeating Nick Somberg |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/us-rep-haley-stevens-reelected/75807876007/ |access-date= |website=[[Detroit Free Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
!District
!Representative
!Party
!Since
|-
|[[Michigan's 11th congressional district|11th]]
|[[Haley Stevens]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2019
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[Michigan Senate]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Michigan State Senate Districts (Linden) |url=https://data.michigan.gov/download/i67p-mi6f/application%2Fpdf |website=Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Senators |url=https://senate.michigan.gov/senators/senators/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Michigan Senate}}</ref>
!District
!Senator
!Party
!Since
|-
|[[Michigan's 7th Senate district|7th]]
|Jeremy Moss
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|2023
|-
|[[Michigan's 23rd Senate district|23rd]]
|[[Jim Runestad]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2023
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[Michigan House of Representatives]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Michigan State House Districts (Hickory) |url=https://data.michigan.gov/download/fjje-2wv6/application%2Fpdf |website=Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=2024 MI State House General Election Results |url=https://www.freep.com/elections/results/2024-11-05/michigan/state-house |access-date= |website=[[Detroit Free Press]] |language=en}}</ref>
!District
!Representative
!Party
!Since
|-
|[[Michigan's 52nd House of Representatives district|52nd]]
|[[Mike Harris (Michigan politician)|Mike Harris]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|2022
|-
|[[Michigan's 52nd House of Representatives district|53rd]]
|[[Brenda Carter]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|2023
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[Oakland County Board of Commissioners]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commissioner Districts |url=https://oakgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4f848e8372074b6b864d919929127fe4 |access-date= |website=Oakland County |via=[[ArcGIS]]}}</ref>
!District
!Commissioner
!Party
!Since
|-
|8
|Karen Joliat
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|2021
|-
|10
|Kristen Nelson
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|2019
|-
|12
|Christine Long
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|2003
|}

== Climate ==
Like the rest of [[Southeast Michigan]], Waterford Township has a [[continental climate]]. It has a higher elevation than [[Detroit]] ({{convert|982|ft}} compared to {{convert|585|ft}}), and therefore the township is somewhat cooler than Detroit and other nearby cities. It is moderately cold in the winter with varied snowfall throughout. Spring varies from warm by day to cool at night. The township's warmest weather occurs in the summer with temperatures in the eighty to ninety degree range and typically high humidity. Summer is also the wettest season in the area. In recent years, Waterford Township has seen a few 100-plus-degree days. Fall starts warm, but November ends with high temperatures barely above freezing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=856602|title=Waterford, Michigan Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase.com|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

==Lakes==
[[Image:Cass Lake (Michigan) boats Wednesdays (514873849).jpg|350px|thumbnail|center|Cass Lake, the largest and deepest lake in Waterford Township]]
Waterford Township is home to 34 named lakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://waterfordmi.gov/461/Demographics|title=Demographics - Waterford, MI|website=Watefordmi.gov|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811232257/https://waterfordmi.gov/461/Demographics|archive-date=August 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/maps/place/Waterford%20Twp,%20MI/@42.6931663,-83.4362389,13.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8824bd46163a5281:0xc65e80cab861f512!8m2!3d42.6907443!4d-83.4066132|title=Google Maps|website=Google.com|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_52261_52964_66796-67601--,00.html|title=DNR - Oakland County|website=Michigan.gov|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waterfordmi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/460 |title=Archived copy |website=www.waterfordmi.gov |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015033242/http://www.waterfordmi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/460 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/22335/Waterford+Township/Oakland+County+1908/Michigan/|title=Waterford Township, Atlas: Oakland County 1908, Michigan Historical Map|first=Historic Map Works|last=LLC.|website=www.historicmapworks.com}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! colspan=3|Lakes in Waterford Township
|-
! Lake !! Size in acres !! Depth in feet
|-
|[[Baldwin Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Baldwin Lake]] || 9 || 10
|-
|[[Cass Lake (Michigan)|Cass Lake]] (part) || 1,280 || 123
|-
|[[Clam Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Clam Lake]] || 21 || 10
|-
|[[Crescent Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Crescent Lake]] ||90 ||40
|-
|[[Eagle Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Eagle Lake]] ||19 || 20
|-
|[[Elizabeth Lake (Waterford, Michigan)|Elizabeth Lake]] ||363 || 72
|-
|[[Fiddle Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Fiddle Lake]] || 9 || 10
|-
|[[Geneva Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Geneva Lake]] ||19 ||35
|-
|[[Huntoon Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Huntoon Lake]] ||42.5 ||15
|-
|[[Lake Angelus (Michigan)|Lake Angelus]] (part) ||477 ||88
|-
|[[Lake Oakland (Michigan)|Lake Oakland]] (most) ||255 || 64
|-
|[[Lake Goodrich (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Lake Goodrich]] || 4 || 10
|-
|[[Leggets Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Leggets Lake]] ||25 || 10
|-
|[[Lester Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Lester Lake]] (most) ||12 || 25
|-
|[[Loon Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Loon Lake]] ||243 || 73
|-
|[[Lotus Lake (Michigan)|Lotus Lake]] (most) ||179 || 65
|-
|[[Maceday Lake (Michigan)|Maceday Lake]] ||234 || 117
|-
|[[Mohawk Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Mohawk Lake]] ||23 || 33
|-
|[[Morgan Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Morgan Lake]] ||28 || 25
|-
|[[Otter Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Otter Lake]] ||74 || 50
|-
|[[Pleasant Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Pleasant Lake]] ||92 ||52
|-
|[[Pontiac Lake (Michigan)|Pontiac Lake]] (part) ||612 || 34
|-
|[[Rainbow Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Rainbow Lake]] || 5 || 15
|-
|[[Schoolhouse Lake (Michigan)|Schoolhouse Lake]] ||37 || 49
|-
|[[Scott Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Scott Lake]] ||77.5 || 35
|-
|[[Silver Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Silver Lake]] ||101 || 73
|-
|[[Sylvan Lake (Michigan)|Sylvan Lake]] (part) ||532 || 71
|-
|[[Upper Silver Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Upper Silver Lake]] (part) ||35.5 || 30
|-
|[[Van Norman Lake (Michigan)|Van Norman Lake]] (part) ||66 || 90
|-
|[[Watkins Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Watkins Lake]] ||238 || 25
|-
|[[White Horse Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|White Horse Lake]] || 8 || 10
|-
|[[Williams Lake (Michigan)|Williams Lake]] ||155 || 45
|-
|[[Woodhull Lake]] (most) ||135 ||56
|-
|[[Wormer Lake (Waterford Township, Michigan)|Wormer Lake]] ||27.5 || 24
|}

==Demographics==
According to the 2020 U.S. Census,<ref name="2020 U.S. Census Data"/> Waterford Township had a population of 70,565.

===2020 Census===
According to the 2020 U.S. Census,<ref name="2020 U.S. Census Data"/> the racial makeup of the township was:
* 85.2% White alone
* 5.7% Black or African American alone
* 0.5% American Indian and Alaska native alone
* 2.1% Asian alone
* 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone
* 4.9% Two or More Races alone
* 7.0% Hispanic or Latino
* 81.4% White alone, not Hispanic or Latino

===2010 Census===
According to the 2010 Census the racial and ethnic makeup of Waterford's population was 83.7% non-Hispanic White, and 4.8% African-American, 0.4% Native American, 1.9% Asian and 6.6% Hispanic.

===2000 Census===
According to the 2000 U.S. Census,<ref name="censusviewer.com">{{cite web|url=http://censusviewer.com/city/MI/Waterford|title=Waterford, MI Population - Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - CensusViewer|website=Censusviewer.com|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref> there were 73,150 people, 29,387 households, and 19,130 families residing in the township in 2000. The population density was {{convert|2,334.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

In 2000, there were 30,404 housing units, with an average density of {{convert|970.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

The racial makeup of the township in 2000 was:
* 92.65% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
* 3.91% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
* 2.89% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]]
* 0.35% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
* 1.27% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
* 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
* 1.13% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]]
* 1.69% from two or more races

In 2000, there were:
* 29,387 households
* 30.4% of the households had children under the age of 18 living with them
* 51.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together
* 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present
* 34.9% were non-families
* 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals
* 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older
* 2.42 was the average household size
* 2.99 was the average family size.

The township's 2000 population was:
* 23.2% under the age of 18
* 8.2% from 18 to 24
* 36.0% from 25 to 44
* 21.8% from 45 to 64
* 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older
* The median age was 36 years
* For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males
* For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males

The median income for a household in 2000 in the township was $55,008, and the median income for a family was $64,500. Males had a median income of $47,409 versus $32,016 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $27,432. About 3.8% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 and over.

==Transportation==
[[Oakland County International Airport]] is located in Waterford Township.<ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US2612584240&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Waterford township, Oakland county, Michigan]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on October 28, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804003656/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US2612584240&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=August 4, 2014 }}</ref> The airport is a hub for the airline Lakeshore Express, a local commuter airline to [[Pellston Regional Airport|Pellston]], and [[Chicago Midway International Airport|Chicago-Midway]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/10957085/lakeshore-express-starts-flights-from-chicago-midway-to-detroit-suburbs|title=Lakeshore Express Starts Flights from Chicago Midway to Detroit Suburbs from Chicago Department of Aviation|website=Aviationpros.com|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

==Railroad==
In 1851, the [[Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway]] came through Waterford Township and three train depots were built in Waterford Township; the [[Drayton Plains, Michigan|Drayton Plains]] depot (at Hatchery Rd.), the [[Waterford Village, Michigan|Waterford]] depot (at Airport Rd.) and the Windiate depot (at Windiate Rd.) . The railroad helped make the many lakes of the Waterford area easily accessible to summer vacationers from the big cities and served to make Waterford Township a summer resort area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_GI0AQAAMAAJ|title=History of Oakland County, Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests|first=Thaddeus De Witt|last=Seeley|date=1 January 1912|publisher=Lewis Publishing Company|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="newspapers.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/119054413/|title=Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan on July 3, 1898 · Page 11}}</ref>
In 1882, the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee Railway was purchased by the [[Grand Trunk Western Railroad]].[[Image:Grand Trunk Western logo.svg|thumb|right|Grand Trunk Western]]

As roads were improved, people began driving to their summer resort area and the passenger depots were closed in the late 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/127-oakland-county-63/1599-clarkston-mi|title=Station: Clarkston, MI|website=Michiganrailroad.com|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/127-oakland-county-63/1638-waterford-mi|title=Station: Waterford, MI|website=Michiganrailroad.com|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/127-oakland-county-63/1604-drayton-plains-mi|title=Station: Drayton Plains, MI|website=Michiganrailroad.com|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref>

The Windiate Park Hotel was a summer resort for vacationers from [[Detroit]] and
[[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]. The resort was easily accessed by four trains a day during the summer months from the 1890s to the 1940s and was located on [[Lotus Lake (Michigan)|Lotus Lake]], near the Windiate depot. The resort featured boating, fishing, sailing, sunbathing, tennis and a dance hall. The resort was owned by J.D. and M.L. Rice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahPiAAAAMAAJ&q=windiate+park+resort+mi&pg=PA5|title=History of Oakland County Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historic Progress, Its People, Its Principal Interests|date=August 31, 2018|publisher=Lewis Publishing Company|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="newspapers.com"/>

Another popular summer resort was the Waterford Hotel in the village of Waterford. The hotel was sold to William Bradt, who changed its name to Bradt's Exchange. The hotel was also named the Waterford Exchange, and served as a [[stagecoach]] stop for over 60 years.

[[Image:CN Railway logo.svg|thumb|right|Canadian National Railway]]

Today, the railroad is owned by [[Canadian National Railway]] (CN) and passenger service is no longer offered, giving way to freight only.

There are seven railroad crossings in Waterford Township and one railroad bridge.

==Education==
===Public schools===
The [[Waterford School District]] operates public schools in most of Waterford Township (the [[Pontiac School District]] serves a small portion of the township).<ref>Murray, Diana Dillaber. "[http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20130612/law-being-proposed-could-dissolve-pontiac-schools-other-struggling-districts Law being proposed could dissolve Pontiac schools, other struggling districts]." ''[[Oakland Press]]''. June 12, 2013. Retrieved on May 7, 2014. "Pontiac school district spreads from Pontiac into portions of seven surrounding communities including Auburn Hills, Sylvan Lake, Lake Angeles and townships of Bloomfield, Orion, Waterford and West Bloomfield."</ref>

In 1961, [[Waterford Kettering High School|Kettering High School]] opened and [[Waterford Mott High School|Mott High School]] opened in 1969. Kettering's address is now 2800 Kettering Drive in Waterford. In 2012, [[Waterford Durant High School|Durant High School]], an [[alternative school]], opened in the township at 501 N. Cass Lake Road in Waterford.<ref>{{cite web|title=Durant High School|url=http://www.waterford.k12.mi.us/pages/219/durant|website=Waterford School District|access-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref> All three Waterford Township public high schools were named after automobile industry pioneers; [[William C. Durant]], [[Charles F. Kettering]], and [[Charles S. Mott]]. Waterford Township High School was located in Waterford Township, Michigan at the corner of Highland Rd. and Crescent Lake Rd. It was closed as a high school in 1983, but the Board of Education continued to use the building for several years for various purposes.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} (Waterford Township: Year Opened: 1947, Year Closed: 1983).{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In 1957, [[John D. Pierce]] [[Junior High School]] opened at 5145 Hatchery Road in Waterford,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterfordhistoricalsociety.org/pdf/newsletter/WHS%20Newlsetter%20june%20july%20august%20%202012.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015818/http://www.waterfordhistoricalsociety.org/pdf/newsletter/WHS%20Newlsetter%20june%20july%20august%20%202012.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=live |title=Waterfoed Historical Society Newsbill |date=August 2012 |website=Waterfordhistoricalsociety.org |access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref> and [[Stevens T. Mason]] Junior High School was opened in 1965 at 3835 West Walton Blvd. in Waterford. Both junior high schools originally included grades 7 through 9. Today, both Pierce and Mason are [[middle schools]], which include grades 6 through 8.

As of the 2015–16 school year, the Waterford School District has nine [[State school|public]] [[elementary schools]] located within the township; [[William Beaumont]] Elementary School, [[Thomas M. Cooley]] Elementary School, Donelson Hills Elementary School, [[Ray Stannard Baker|David Grayson]] Elementary School, [[Laura S. Haviland]] Elementary School, [[Douglass Houghton]] Elementary School, [[William S. Knudsen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michiganhistory.leadr.msu.edu/waterford-schools-and-their-michigan-history-connection/|title=Waterford Schools and their Michigan history connection » Michigan History|website=Michiganhistory.leadr.msu.edu|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref> Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, and [[Henry R. Schoolcraft]] Elementary School.<ref>{{cite web|title=Waterford School District|url=http://www.wsdmi.org/|website=Waterford School District|access-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref>

===Private schools===
Opened in 1960, [[Our Lady of the Lakes School (Michigan)|Our Lady of the Lakes School]] is a [[Private school|private]] [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] K-12 school also located in the township at 5495 Dixie Highway, just south of [[Waterford Village, Michigan|Waterford Village]].<ref name="ollonline.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.ollonline.org/|title=Home|website=Ollonline.org|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

St. Benedict School in Waterford was in operation until circa 2003, when the campus became the lower (elementary school) of [[Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy]]; this occurred in a time when other Catholic elementary schools in the area closed. The lower school moved to the common [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]] campus in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndpma.org/about/the-history-of-notre-dame|title=History|publisher=Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy|access-date=2020-05-01}}</ref>

===Community College===
Waterford Township is home to the [[Oakland Community College]] Highland Lakes Campus. The campus, which opened in 1965,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oaklandcc.edu/about/default.aspx|title=About OCC - Oakland Community College|website=Oaklandcc.edu|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref> is located at 7350 Cooley Lake Road in Waterford.

[[Oakland Schools]], the [[intermediate school district]] serving [[Oakland County, Michigan|Oakland County]], has its offices in Waterford Township.<ref>"[http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/AboutUs/ContactUsMaps/tabid/143/Default.aspx Contact Us] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313093909/http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/AboutUs/ContactUsMaps/tabid/143/Default.aspx |date=March 13, 2012 }}." [[Oakland Schools]]. Retrieved on December 3, 2013. "Oakland Schools 2111 Pontiac Lake Road Waterford, MI 48328"</ref>

==Public library==
The Waterford Township Public Library serves the residents of the township.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://waterfordmi.gov/library|title=Waterford Township Public Library}}</ref> It is located at 5168 Civic Center Drive, off of Crescent Lake Road near Hatchery Road in Waterford.

==Public safety==
Waterford Township maintains its own police and fire departments.

The Waterford Police Department was founded in 1953. Frank VanAtta was appointed the first Waterford Chief of Police, earning a yearly salary of $5,500. William Stokes was a long-time chief who had some 30 years of service before retiring in 1985. He was followed by Robert (Duke) Reynolds, who graduated the FBI National Academy, and then Gary Root, Paul Valad, John Dean and Daniel McCaw. The current chief, Scott Underwood, retired as a Captain at the Warren Police Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://waterfordmi.gov/184/Department-History|title=Department History - Waterford, MI|website=Waterfordmi.gov|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>

The police station is located at 5150 Civic Center Drive in 
Waterford near the Waterford Township Hall and the 51st District Court in the Waterford Civic Center Complex. The police department was drastically cut in 2010 due to the falling economy and the closing of 2 of the largest commercial tax sources- The Summit Place Mall and a General Motors facility. The department went from over 100 sworn police officers to 55 which was similar to the number of officers in the 1970s. A recent tax increase voted on by the residents is supposed to add 9 more officers. Waterford still remains one of the largest physical and populated areas in Oakland County but remains on the bottom of police officers per population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twp.waterford.mi.us/Departments/Police.aspx |title=Waterford Township, Michigan - Police |access-date=May 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501052943/http://twp.waterford.mi.us/Departments/Police.aspx |archive-date=May 1, 2013 }}</ref> The department has a current force of roughly 25 patrol officers for the population of over 70,000 residents. The Waterford Regional Fire Department employs 144.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/04/23/news/local_news/doc5175e7cc92e36275733869.txt|title=Waterford adds nearly 40 new hires, now among largest fire departments in Michigan WITH VIDEO|website=Theoaklandpress.com|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508141323/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/04/23/news/local_news/doc5175e7cc92e36275733869.txt|archive-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It is currently the 4th largest Fire Department in the State of Michigan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twp.waterford.mi.us/Departments/Fire.aspx |title=Waterford Township, Michigan - Fire |access-date=May 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509081701/http://twp.waterford.mi.us/Departments/Fire.aspx |archive-date=May 9, 2013 }}</ref> Waterford Township also provides Fire, EMS, and Dispatch services to the neighboring [[Pontiac, Michigan|City of Pontiac]] and [[Lake Angelus, Michigan|City of Lake Angelus]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/02/01/news/local_news/doc4f2950a0e6b06579387129.txt#photo1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130701061330/http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/02/01/news/local_news/doc4f2950a0e6b06579387129.txt%23photo1 |archive-date=July 1, 2013 |url-status=dead|title=Waterford Fire Dept. takes over Pontiac WITH VIDEO |website=Theoaklandpress.com |access-date=June 29, 2016 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Todd Alsup]], pianist, singer-songwriter
*[[Tim Robinson (comedian)|Tim Robinson]], comedian, actor, writer and producer
*[[Mary Barra]], CEO, [[General Motors]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20131210/new-general-motors-ceo-is-waterford-native|title=New General Motors CEO is Waterford native|website=Theoaklandpress.com|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Paul Fry (baseball)|Paul Fry]], baseball player for the [[Baltimore Orioles]]
*[[Pat LaFontaine]], former [[NHL]] player, 2003 [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] inductee 
*[[Kirk Gibson]], former [[MLB]] player
*[[Gail Goestenkors]], former women's basketball head coach, [[University of Texas]]
*[[Michael L. Good]], dean, [[University of Florida College of Medicine]]
*[[Dylan Larkin]], [[NHL]] player and [[Captain (ice hockey)|captain]] of the [[Detroit Red Wings]] 
*[[Dave Marsh]], music critic<ref>{{cite news |title=Dave Marsh hits airwaves with new show on Oct. 10 |work=Detroit News |date=October 1, 2004 |quote=With the addition of Marsh, a graduate of Waterford Kettering High School, Sirius adds to its growing stable of Detroiters...}}</ref>
*[[Jim Miller (quarterback)|Jim Miller]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] player<ref>{{cite news |title=In Chicago, a 'Beary Christmas' |work=Detroit Free Press |date=November 29, 2001 |quote=Lately, the Bears have rallied around veteran quarterback Jim Miller, who played at Michigan State and Waterford Kettering High School. }}</ref>
*[[Paul Mitchell (politician)|Paul Mitchell]], Member of the [[United States House of Representatives]]
*[[Kristopher Pooley]], rock musician and musical director
*[[Jean Prahm|Jean (Racine) Prahm]], U.S. Olympian bobsledder
*[[Brett Reed (basketball)|Brett Reed]], men's basketball head coach, [[Lehigh University]]
*[[Amber Slagle]], racing driver
*[[Trevor Strnad]], lead singer, [[The Black Dahlia Murder (band)|The Black Dahlia Murder]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book |first1=Walter |last1=Romig |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-FPXEGRo-YC&q=Waterford |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |work=Great Lakes Books Series |type=Paperback |orig-year=1973 |date=October 1, 1986 |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |isbn=0-8143-1838-X |location=Detroit, Michigan <!--|ISBN=978-0814318386 --> |access-date=July 3, 2017}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Michigan}}
* [https://waterfordmi.gov/ Charter Township of Waterford Michigan]
* [http://www.waterfordchamber.org/ Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce]

{{Waterford Township, Michigan}}
{{Oakland County, Michigan}}
{{Metro Detroit}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Waterford Township, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Townships in Oakland County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Charter townships in Michigan]]
[[Category:Metro Detroit]]
[[Category:1834 establishments in Michigan Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1834]]
[[Category:Former census-designated places in Michigan]]