Crystal Township, Montcalm County, Michigan

Crystal Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 2,619.

Communities
Crystal is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the northwest part of the township at 43.26306°N, -84.91472°W. The Crystal post office, with ZIP code 48818, serves the northern portion of Crystal Township as well as portions of southern Ferris Township.

Geography
The township is in southeastern Montcalm County and is bordered to the east by Gratiot County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.8 sqmi, of which 34.0 sqmi are land and 1.8 sqmi, or 5.04%, are water. The township is drained mainly by Fish Creek, which crosses the township from west to southeast and is a tributary of the Maple River, part of the Grand River watershed flowing to Lake Michigan. The northeast corner of the township is drained by Carpenter Creek, a tributary of the Pine River, part of the watershed flowing to Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Crystal Lake, Mud Lake, and Duck Lake are water bodies in the northern part of the township.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,824 people, 1,097 households, and 770 families residing in the township. The population density was 82.7 PD/sqmi. There were 1,594 housing units at an average density of 46.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.52% White, 0.14% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 1,097 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $34,421, and the median income for a family was $41,016. Males had a median income of $31,034 versus $23,264 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,231. About 5.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

 * Crystal Motor Speedway
 * Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink - Since 1948
 * Crystal Lake Association - Since 1932
 * Crystal Congregational Church
 * Crystal Box Office Theater (1947)