Independence Township, Michigan

Independence Township, Michigan
Charter township

Location within Oakland County
Independence Township, Michigan

Location within the state of Michigan

Coordinates: 42°44′24″N 83°22′59″W / 42.74000°N 83.38306°W / 42.74000; -83.38306Coordinates: 42°44′24″N 83°22′59″W / 42.74000°N 83.38306°W / 42.74000; -83.38306
Country United States
State Michigan
County Oakland
Area
 • Total 36.3 sq mi (94.0 km2)
 • Land 35.2 sq mi (91.2 km2)
 • Water 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2)
Elevation 1,112 ft (339 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 34,681
 • Density 960/sq mi (370/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 48346 and 48348
Area code(s) 313 (1947-93), 810 (1993-97), 248 (1997-present), 947 (2002-present)
FIPS code 26-40400[1]
GNIS feature ID 1626511[2]
Website twp.independence.mi.us

Independence Township is a charter township of Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan.

The City of the Village of Clarkston, autonomous and incorporated in 1992, is completely surrounded by the township.

The township is home to Pine Knob Ski Resort, and DTE Energy Music Theater.[3]

Independence Township was named by one of its earliest settlers, Joseph Van Sycle, who came to the area in 1834 from Independence Township, New Jersey.[4][5]

History

The first settlers arrived in Independence Township in the mid 1820s and early 1830s, primarily from New Jersey and New York. The first settler to purchase and settle land in the township was John W. Beardslee (b. 1799, d. 1883), from Sussex County, New Jersey.[6]

While initially the township was primarily agricultural, the many lakes in the area were beginning to draw vacationers out of Detroit and other cities. In 1851, the railroad came through Clarkston, which prompted hotels to be built in the township to accommodate the resort vacationers coming to the area.

The invention of the automobile had a tremendous effect on Independence Township. Roads that were once Native American trails were paved and widened for this new mode of transportation. The old Saginaw Trail, now known as Dixie Highway, was paved as early as 1920, and Main Street (M-15) in Clarkston was paved around 1922.

The expanding national highway system brought I-75 through Independence Township 1962, spurring both business and residential development. Many farms gave way to subdivisions and strip malls as Independence Township continued evolving into part of Metropolitan Detroit.[7]

Parks

Independence Township is home to several parks.

Education

Independence Township is primarily serviced by the Clarkston Community Schools.[12]

In 2016, Clarkston High School had an enrollment of 1,930 students in grade nine through twelve.[13] The school is located at 6093 Flemings Lake Road in Independence Township.

Clarkston High School offers twenty-six varsity sports, and competes in the Oakland Activities Association.[14] It is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.[15]

Renaissance High School is located at 6558 Waldon Road in Independence Township. Renaissance High School is for students in grades 9 to 12 who need an alternative to the traditional high school setting in order to be successful. Renaissance students must meet Clarkston High School graduation requirements and receive a Clarkston High School diploma. Renaissance students are encouraged to participate in athletics, clubs and extracurricular activities offered at Clarkston High School. Renaissance students can also take courses at the Oakland Schools Campus, whose Northwest campus is also located in the township at 8211 Big Lake Road.[16][17]

Opened in 2008, Everest Collegiate High School is a private Roman Catholic high school also located in the township at 5935 Clarkston Road in Independence Township. The school competes athletically in the Catholic High School League[18] and is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.[19]

Clarkston Junior High School is located at 6595 Waldon Road in Clarkston. The school teaches eight and ninth grades.

Sashabaw Middle School is located at 5565 Pine Knob Lane in Independence Township. The school teaches sixth and seventh grades.

There are seven public elementary schools in Independence Township:

Everest Academy, a private Catholic elementary school, is also located in Independence Township.

Subdivisions

As of 2016, there were seventy-five real estate subdivisions in Independence Township:[20]

Golf

Independence Township is home to three public golf courses; Fountains Golf Golf Club, an 18-hole course located at 6060 Maybee Road in Independence Township, Pine Knob Golf Club, a 27-hole course, located at 5580 Waldon Road in Independence Township,[21] and Shepherd's Hollow Golf Club, a 27- hole championship course rated 42nd best golf course in the United States by Golf Magazine.[22] It is located at 9085 Big Lake Road in Independence Township.[23]

Oakhurst Golf and Country Club is a private club, located at 7000 Oakhurst Lane in Independence Township.[24] Oakhurst was the home of the 99th Michigan Amateur[25]

Skiing and music

Pine Knob is a ski resort located in Independence Township. It features 17 trails and 12 lifts. It is known for its slope called "The Wall".

Pine Knob is also home to the DTE Energy Music Theatre, an outdoor Amphitheater concert venue that has featured hundreds of celebrities and is always one of the highest grossing outdoor amphitheaters in the United States.[26] It is located in Independence Township minutes away from downtown Clarkston.

The concert venue, which opened in 1972, was originally called Pine Knob Music Theater until DTE Energy purchased its naming rights in 2001.[27][28]

Hills and lakes

Independence Township is located along the Hillsdale-Lapeer Moraine Range. The highest hill along that range in Independence Township is Pine Knob, at 1,221 feet. It is also the highest point in Southeastern Michigan. Only three miles away is Waterford Hill, the second highest hill in Independence Township with an elevation of 1,150 feet.[29] Atop Waterford Hill is Olympus Circle, the highest elevation of any residential street in Independence Township.[30]

The Clinton River winds its way through Independence Township creating more than thirty named lakes of all sizes along the way.[31][32]

Lakes in Independence Township[33]
Lake Size in acres Depth in feet
Cranberry Lake 35
Crooked Lake (previously Lower Bushman Lake) 68 65
Dark Lake (adjacent to Deer Lake) 5 10
Dark Lake (adjacent to Whipple Lake) 7 12
Deer Lake 137 63
Dollar Lake 3 15
Flemings Lake 27
Greens Lake 117 55
Gulick Lake 16
Heather Lake (part) 64
Knox Lake 2
Lake Oakland (part) 255 64
Lester Lake (part) 12 25
Little Walters Lake 17
Lotus Lake (part) 179 65
Mead Lake 11
Middle Lake 23 35
Morgan Lake 50
Parke Lake 23 50
Round Lake 37
Sans Souci Lake (part) 7
Spring Lake 12 15
Townsend Lake 26 55
Upper Bushman Lake 30 32
Van Norman Lake (most) 66 90
Walters Lake 77 76
Whipple Lake 75 50
Woodhull Lake (part) 135 56

Road racing

Waterford Hills Road Racing Track is a professional road racing track located at 4770 Waterford Road in Independence Township.

The track is a 1.5 mile road racing track (not an oval) with right and left turns, hills and straight-a-ways. The fastest cars hit over 120mph on the back straight. The track has spectator seating along the track.[34]

Races are run in accordance with the Sports Car Club of America) competition rules.

Location

Clarkston falls in the exact middle of both Detroit and Flint, Michigan

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94 km2), of which 35.2 square miles (91 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), or 3.03%, is water.

 Groveland Township Brandon Township Oxford Township
Springfield Township Orion Township
   Independence Township  
White Lake Township Waterford Township Auburn Hills

Demographics

The population of Independence Township was 34,681 at the 2010 census.[35]

In Independence Township in 2010, there were:

Notable people

This list includes people from the area (Clarkston and Independence Township).

References

  1. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Independence Township, Michigan
  3. ↑ http://www.villageofclarkston.org/
  4. ↑ http://interactive.ancestry.com/1246/RHUSA2007B_MI0220-00493/862215? Independence Township, Michigan, Land Patent of Joseph Van Syckle of (Independence Township,) Warren County, New Jersey (Ancestry.com subscription access retrieved 17 July 2015)
  5. ↑ http://interactive.ancestry.com/8057/4410710_00300/2240542? 1840 U.S. Federal Census Schedule of the whole number of persons in the division, Michigan, Oakland County, Independence Township (Ancestry.com subscription access retrieved 17 July 2015)
  6. ↑ http://www.twp.independence.mi.us/residents/township_history/index.php#gdEEQjzjma3ZJTOz.99
  7. ↑ http://www.clarkstonhistorical.org/
  8. ↑ http://www.destinationoakland.com/parksandtrails/parks/independenceoaks/pages/default.aspx
  9. ↑ http://www.destinationoakland.com/parksandtrails/parks/independenceoaks/pages/default.aspx
  10. ↑ http://oaklandcountymoms.com/deer-lake-beach-clarkston-review-pics-25862/
  11. ↑ http://www.indetwp.com/departments/parks_rec_and_seniors/parks_and_facilities.php#kwypRSTuA0JfXKEC.99
  12. ↑ http://216.11.46.29/education/components/sectionlist/default.php?sectiondetailid=5
  13. ↑ https://k12.niche.com/rankings/public-high-schools/largest-enrollment/s/michigan/
  14. ↑ http://www.oaklandactivitiesassoc.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=275
  15. ↑ http://www.mhsaa.com/
  16. ↑ http://www.ostconline.com/CAMPUSES/NorthwestCampusClarkston/tabid/2828/Default.aspx
  17. ↑ http://216.11.46.29/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=773&
  18. ↑ http://www.chsl.com/
  19. ↑ http://www.mhsaa.com/
  20. ↑ https://www.google.com/search?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.michiganrelocationguides.com%2Findependence-township-area-michigan&oq=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.michiganrelocationguides.com%2Findependence-township-area-michigan&aqs=chrome..69i58j69i57j69i60l2.3726j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
  21. ↑ http://pineknobmansion.com/golf/
  22. ↑ http://www.shepherdshollow.com/
  23. ↑ http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.aspx?dest=Clarkston+mi
  24. ↑ http://www.oakhurstgolf.com/
  25. ↑ http://www.mlive.com/sports/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/06/michigan_amateur_gears_for_99t.html
  26. ↑ https://www.palacenet.com/about-pse/history-info
  27. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pine-knob-to-be-renamed-dte-energy-music-theatre-71105357.html
  28. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pine-knob-to-be-renamed-dte-energy-music-theatre-71105357.html
  29. ↑ http://www.topozone.com/michigan/oakland-mi/locale/clarkston-4/
  30. ↑ http://www.topozone.com/michigan/oakland-mi/summit/waterford-hill/
  31. ↑ http://www.expertgps.com/data/mi/lakes.asp
  32. ↑ http://www.lakeplace.com/lakefinder/mi/oakland
  33. ↑ http://www.twp.independence.mi.us/Opportunities_2030__Independence_Township_Master_Plan_Draft__June_3_2015_.pdf
  34. ↑ http://www.waterfordhills.com/about.shtml
  35. ↑ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Independence charter township, Oakland County, Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Valerie Bertinelli". International Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
  37. ↑ http://www.oldemillinnofclarkston.com/About-Us.html
  38. ↑ http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=det
  39. ↑ http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/01/11/life/suburban_life_clarkston/doc4b4af849340d2958384567.txt
  40. ↑ http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/07/29/sports/college/doc4e334bf2dfc66826331403.txt
  41. ↑ http://michiganhistory.leadr.msu.edu/henry-ford-in-the-village-of-clarkston/
  42. ↑ http://www.clarkstonhistory.info/history/chd/index.htm
  43. ↑ http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20090129/OPINION03/901290410
  44. ↑ http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/08/02/news/cops_and_courts/doc51fc53f1cc416724803083.txt
  45. ↑ http://www.clarkstonnews.com/Articles-i-2005-08-17-135461.112112_ARCA_driver_eyes_NASCAR.html
  46. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1047403/
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