# Ypsilanti Charter Township, Michigan

Ypsilanti Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 55,670 at the 2020 census. The city of Ypsilanti is mostly surrounded by the township, but the two are administered autonomously.

## Communities

* Eastlawn is an unincorporated community located within the township just east of the city limits of Ypsilanti near the junction of U.S. Route 12 and Interstate 94 at 42°14′08″N 83°35′17″W﻿ / ﻿42.23556°N 83.58806°W﻿ / 42.23556; -83.58806.
* Rawsonville is an unincorporated community located along the eastern border of the township at 42°12′55″N 83°33′06″W﻿ / ﻿42.21528°N 83.55167°W﻿ / 42.21528; -83.55167. The community is located along the Huron River and Belleville Lake and also extends to the east in Van Buren Township in Wayne County.
* Willow Run is an unincorporated community located within the township at 42°15′26″N 83°34′28″W﻿ / ﻿42.25722°N 83.57444°W﻿ / 42.25722; -83.57444. It was named after the Willow Run, which is a small stream and tributary of the Huron River. It is the site of Willow Run Airport. In 1943, the federal government constructed a bomber plant, which was operated by Henry Ford during World War II. A community named Willow Village was constructed to house the workers of the facility and their families, and it was also given a post office until the bomber plant closed on June 30, 1945.
* Woodgruff's Grove is a former community that was settled in 1823 by Ohio native Benjamin Woodruff. A post office operated in Woodgruff's Grove from May 9, 1825, to January 28, 1828. At the time, the community was administratively part of Wayne County when Ypsilanti Township was created in 1827. Washtenaw County was created in 1829 within the Michigan Territory. The community became part of the village of Ypsilanti when it incorporated in 1832.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.72 square miles (82.15 km$^2$), of which 29.93 square miles (77.52 km$^2$) is land and 1.79 square miles (4.64 km$^2$) (5.64%) is water.
Ford Lake Dam is located in the eastern part of the township. Ford Lake is within the township along the Huron River, and Paint Creek also runs through the township. The Border-to-Border Trail runs through the township along the Huron River.

### Major highways

* I-94 runs east–west through the township and forms part of the boundary with the city of Ypsilanti.
* US 12 (Michigan Avenue) enters the township in the northeast corner and runs concurrently with I-94 through most of the township.
* M-17 (Washtenaw Avenue) begins at US 12 and runs through the township, in and out of the city of Ypsilanti.

## Demographics

As of 2010 Ypsilanti Township had a population of 53,362. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 58.4% white, 32.8% black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race and 4.6% from two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,182 people, 20,194 households, and 12,338 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,631.4/sq mi (629.9/km$^2$). There were 21,196 housing units at an average density of 703.1/sq mi (271.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the township was 67.51% White, 25.47% African American, 0.49% Native American, 2.01% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 3.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.80% of the population.
There were 20,194 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the township the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $46,460, and the median income for a family was $55,131. Males had a median income of $41,298 versus $29,732 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,970. About 8.0% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Economy

Cargo airline Kalitta Air is headquartered at Willow Run Airport in the township.

## Education

Ypsilanti Charter Township is served by two separate public school districts. The southern section of the township approximately south of Ford Lake is served by Lincoln Consolidated School District in Augusta Charter Township. The northern portion of the township, including the autonomous city of Ypsilanti, is served by Ypsilanti Community Schools. Portions of the township were also served by Willow Run Community Schools until it was consolidated into Ypsilanti Community Schools in 2013. Ypsilanti Community High School is located within the township.
Global Educational Excellence, based in Ann Arbor, operates the Global Tech Academy (PreK–5) in the township.

## Government

Ypsilanti Charter Township is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, consisting of a Supervisor, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and four at-large Trustees.
The current members of the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees, as of March 2023, are:
* Supervisor: Brenda Stumbo
* Clerk: Heather Jarrell Roe
* Treasurer: Stan Elridge
* Trustee: Ryan Hunter
* Trustee: John P. Newman II
* Trustee: Gloria Peterson
* Trustee: Debbie Swanson

## Notable parks

* Ford Heritage Park
* Ford Lake Park
* Hewens Creek Park
* North Bay Park
* Pine View Golf Course
* Rolling Hills

## Notable people

* Edward P. Allen, politician.
* Martha Bablitch, Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge.
* Owen Cleary, Michigan Secretary of State.
* Amy Devers, furniture designer and television host.
* Clayton Eshleman, poet and translator.
* Carol Fox, figure skater.
* Ralph Gerganoff, architect.
* William H. Joslin, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
* Charles Kettles, Medal of Honor recipient.
* Bernard Kirk, American football player.
* Christian Longo - Murderer
* Shara Nova, singer and songwriter.
* Keith Simons, American football player.
* Larry Soderquist, Author and Professor of Law.
* David P. Weikart, psychologist.

## Images

* Ford Lake Dam along the Huron River
* Ford Lake from North Bay Park
* Welcome sign along M-17
* Ypsilanti District Library