West Bloomfield Township is a charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a population of 64,860.

Overview

West Bloomfield is noted as the "lake township of Oakland County," 1 being heavily dotted with small and medium sized inland lakes. The little land left to build on has become prime real estate in the Metro Detroit area. Cass Lake, the largest lake in the county, is in part of West Bloomfield, and Pine Lake, which has a private country club on its shores, is only a few miles away from Cass and is completely within West Bloomfield. Orchard Lake, which is surrounded by the village of Orchard Lake, is immediately west of Pine Lake. Several smaller lakes are scattered around these larger ones.

Orchard Lake Road runs north-south through the middle of the township and is the main artery of West Bloomfield's economy, flanked on each side by long strip malls and shopping complexes. In the last decade, the township has seen an increase in Jewish and Chaldean populations.

West Bloomfield has borders with: Bloomfield Township to its east, Farmington Hills to its south, Commerce Township to its west, and three communities to its north: Waterford Township, Orchard Lake Village, Keego Harbor, and Sylvan Lake.

History

On April 22, 1823, Bloomfield Township was divided in two and the western portion was called West Bloomfield. The area was spotted with apple orchards throughout much of the 1800s.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 80.9 km² (31.2 mi²). 70.8 km² (27.3 mi²) of it is land and 10.1 km² (3.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.49% water.

Demographics

For reasons known only to the U.S. Census Bureau, West Bloomfield Township was also defined as a census-designated place (CDP) in the 2000 Census. The final statistics for the township and the CDP are identical. In the 2003 census estimates, the CDP is no longer present and the name of the township appears as "West Bloomfield charter township" rather than as "West Bloomfield township" as in the 2000 census. As of the census² of 2000, there are 64,860 people, 23,414 households, and 18,192 families residing in the township. The population density is 916.6/km² (2,374.3/mi²). There are 24,410 housing units at an average density of 345.0/km² (893.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the township is 84.25% White, 5.18% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 7.81% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 23,414 households out of which 37.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% are married couples living together, 5.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% are non-families. 19.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.74 and the average family size is 3.17.

In the township the population is spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township is $91,661, and the median income for a family is $103,671. Males have a median income of $74,557 versus $45,339 for females. The per capita income for the township is $44,885. 2.7% of the population and 1.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Charter Township of West Bloomfield