Egelston Township, Michigan

Egelston Township is a general law township (known in other states as a civil township) of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 11,128, up from 9,909 in 2010.

History
Egleston Township was established in 1859.

Geography
The township is in southern Muskegon County, bordered to the northeast by Newaygo County. The community of Wolf Lake is in the western part of the township. State highway M-46 crosses the southern part of the township, leading west to Muskegon, the county seat, and east to Casnovia.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.8 sqmi, of which 33.2 sqmi are land and 2.6 sqmi, or 7.26%, are water. Wolf Lake, west of the center of the township, is the largest natural water body. The Muskegon River crosses the northern part of the township.

Government
Egelston Township, a general law township, is run under a board system of management. Its elected officials include a Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer and four trustees.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,537 people, 3,458 households, and 2,596 families residing in the township. The population density was 272.8 PD/sqmi. There were 3,643 housing units at an average density of 104.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 94.04% White, 1.05% African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 1.48% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.98% of the population.

There were 3,458 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $37,557, and the median income for a family was $41,810. Males had a median income of $33,140 versus $25,066 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,489. About 6.9% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Schools
The Muskegon Oakridge Public Schools District serves the Egelston area and is part of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District.