Berlin Charter Township, Michigan

For other non-charter townships of the same name in Michigan, see Berlin Township, Michigan (disambiguation).

Berlin Charter Township, Michigan
Charter township
The community of Newport along Swan Creek Road
Location of Berlin Charter Township within Monroe County.
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Monroe
Area
• Total	37.1 sq mi (96.2 km2)
• Land	32.1 sq mi (83.1 km2)
• Water	5.1 sq mi (13.1 km2)
Elevation	587 ft (179 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	6,924
• Density	215.8/sq mi (83.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Zip codes	48117, 48134, 48166, 48179
FIPS code	26-07720
GNIS feature ID	1625924

Berlin Charter Township is a charter township of Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census, the township population was 6,924. Berlin Charter Township was organized from the northern portion of previously established Frenchtown Charter Township, and the township boundaries has been in place since 1867. As part of the Monroe Metropolitan Area, the township is also classified as part of the much larger Metro Detroit region.

The Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is located within Berlin Charter Township. The township contains two listings on the National Register of Historic Places. The Detroit River Light is within the township's water boundaries, although the station is under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. The Jefferson Avenue-Huron River Bridge spans the Huron River, connecting Berlin to Brownstown Charter Township in Wayne County. The eastern portion of the township along Lake Erie is served by Jefferson Schools, while the rest of the township is served by Airport Community Schools.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.1 square miles (96 km²), of which 32.1 square miles (83 km²) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km²) (13.60%) is water.

The township is bordered on the south by Frenchtown Charter Township and by Ash Township on the west. Most of the northern border of the township is the Huron River, with a small portion bordering Huron Charter Township in Wayne County. Berlin Charter Township also borders the city of Flat Rock, which has boundaries in both Monroe and Wayne County. As an incorporated city, the tiny portion of Flat Rock that extends into Monroe County is administered separately from Berlin Charter Township. On the other side of the Huron River, the township is bordered by Wayne County's Brownstown Township, Rockwood, and Flat Rock.

Interstate 75 and U.S Route 24 (known locally as Telegraph Road) run through Berlin Charter Township. Interstate 75 has two interchanges in the township: exit 21 at Swan Creek Road in Newport and exit 26 in South Rockwood. The original Dixie Highway once ran through the township, and the current roadway is known as North Dixie Highway. Jefferson Avenue runs south into Berlin Charter Township, where its southern terminus is at an intersection with North Dixie Highway. Locally, Jefferson Avenue is known plainly as U.S. Turnpike Road, and the changes names to West Jefferson Avenue after leaving the township to the north past the Huron River.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,924 people, 2,511 households, and 1,923 families residing in the township. The population density was 215.8 per square mile (83.3/km²). There were 2,654 housing units at an average density of 82.7 per square mile (31.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.11% White, 0.49% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

There were 2,511 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,403, and the median income for a family was $64,071. Males had a median income of $48,431 versus $27,568 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,898. About 2.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Estral Beach is a village in the southeastern most portion of the township along Lake Erie. As a village, Estral Beach has some autonomy but is still under the control of the township. The population of the small village was 486 at the 2000 census.
• Newport is an unincorporated area centered at in the southwest portion of the township. As an unincorporated area, Newport has no legal boundaries or demographic statistics of its own. Newport contains its own post office, and most locations in Berlin Charter Township use Newport as a mailing address. The areas included in the Newport community extend into Frenchtown Charter Township to the south and also includes the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station.
• South Rockwood is a village located in the northern portion of the township along the border of Wayne County. With a population of 1,284, it is the largest incorporated community in the township. South Rockwood contains its own post office in the 48179 zip code.