Arcadia Township is a township located in Manistee County, Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 621.
The unincorporated community of Arcadia is located within the township on Michigan State Highway 22 on the shore of Lake Michigan. Arcadia is at . The elevation is 587 feet above sea level. The ZIP code is 49613 and the FIPS place code is 03300.
Founded in 1880, Arcadia's early history was dominated by lumber baron Charles Starke. Starke also established Trinity Lutheran Church, Arcadia's most prominent structure and a Michigan state historic site. The town thrived as a lumber town through the early 1900's. In 1906 Starke's lumber mill burns to the ground and is replaced by the Arcadia Furniture Factory.
The population of Arcadia roughly doubles during the summer months as people from across the United States maintain summer homes in Arcadia. Many of the visitors are connected with a Lutheran family retreat center called Camp Arcadia. Besides a bar called the Big Apple, activities in the township are few; people are drawn to the natural beauty and relative remoteness of the area. One of the few gravity hills in Michigan is located in Arcadia at the intersection of Putney and Joyfield Roads.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 49.1 km² (19.0 mi²). 48.3 km² (18.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.69% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 621 people, 280 households, and 197 families residing in the township. The population density is 12.9/km² (33.3/mi²). There are 545 housing units at an average density of 11.3/km² (29.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the township is 98.55% White, 0.16% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.13% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 280 households out of which 23.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% are married couples living together, 7.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% are non-families. 25.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.20 and the average family size is 2.57.
In the township the population is spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 49 years. For every 100 females there are 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township is $34,844, and the median income for a family is $41,731. Males have a median income of $24,844 versus $22,813 for females. The per capita income for the township is $23,089. 13.3% of the population and 9.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
