# Orion Township, Michigan

Orion Charter Township (/ˈɒriən/ ORR-ee-ən) is a charter township of Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The population was 38,206 as of the 2020 census.
The official motto of the township and village is, "Where living is a vacation". "Lake Orion" is often used to describe both the village and the township. The township hosts General Motors' Orion Assembly plant which produces small cars, and EV pickup trucks.

## Communities

Lake Orion is an incorporated village located within Orion Township. The Township has three unincorporated communities:
* Eames began as a station on the railroad in 1874. It was given a post office in 1883.
* Lake Orion Heights is located between Lake Orion, Square Lake and Elkhorn Lake (42°46′13″N 83°15′51″W﻿ / ﻿42.77028°N 83.26417°W﻿ / 42.77028; -83.26417 Elevation: 1007 ft./307 m.).
* Gingellville is located at Baldwin and Gregory Roads (42°43′18″N 83°18′28″W﻿ / ﻿42.72167°N 83.30778°W﻿ / 42.72167; -83.30778 Elevation: 1017 ft./310 m.).
Former places include:
* Rudds Mill (also known as Rudds Station) is located at Kern and Clarkston Roads (42°46′04″N 83°13′06″W﻿ / ﻿42.76778°N 83.21833°W﻿ / 42.76778; -83.21833 Elevation: 945 ft./288 m.).
* Cole was a station on the Pontiac, Oxford and Northern Railroad. It had a post office from 1884 until 1907.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.9 square miles (93 km$^2$), of which 33.3 square miles (86 km$^2$) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km$^2$), or 7.18%, is water. The Township boasts more than 4,200 acres or parks and open spaces, including 42 lakes larger than five acres, more than 10 square miles of recreation, and more than 50 miles of safety path and trail ways.
Orion Township Is bordered to the east by Oakland Township, to the west by Independence Township, to the south by Auburn Hills and to the north by Oxford Township.

## Parks, trails and attractions

* Friendship Park is the largest Township owned property with 134.97 acres of land. It is located at the intersection of Baldwin and Clarkston Roads with access from Clarkston Road.
* Camp Agawam is located in the heart of Orion Township, Michigan. The camp was previously owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, until 2014 at which point Orion Township took ownership.
* Civic Center Park is a 78.86 acre community park located on Joslyn Road north of Waldon Road with access from both roadways.
* Jesse Decker Park is the newest Orion Township community park constructed in 2009. It is located in the southeast corner of the Township on Squirrel Road south of Silverbell Road.
* Wildwood Amphitheater hosts the "Free Concerts & Movies in the Park" series that take place throughout the summer. The venue also hosts outdoor film festivals, music festivals, outdoor movies and other public events.
* The Paint Creek Trail is an 8.9 mile recreational trail located in northeast Oakland County. It traverses through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, and the Village of Lake Orion. Most of the trail is surfaced with crushed limestone, and is 8 feet wide. A 1/4 mile segment at the northern terminus in Lake Orion is paved with asphalt.
* The Polly Ann Trail is a major non-motorized trail in Oakland County extending north from Orion Township in suburban Detroit on a former Pontiac, Oxford, and Northern Railroad corridor. The Oakland County Polly Ann ends on Bordman Road at the Lapeer/Oakland County border. The Oakland County segment connects the Townships of Orion, Oxford and Addison and the Villages of Oxford and Leonard. The Orion Township pathway system connects the trail to the Paint Creek Trail.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,463 people, 12,246 households, and 8,976 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,003.3 inhabitants per square mile (387.4/km$^2$). There were 12,837 housing units at an average density of 384.9 per square mile (148.6/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the township was 95.42% White, 1.26% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.
There were 12,246 households, out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the township the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,844, and the median income for a family was $83,514. Males had a median income of $61,562 versus $36,481 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,299. About 2.0% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 and over.

## Education

The majority of students attend Lake Orion Community Schools. A small portion is in the Pontiac School District. Another portion of students also attend Clarkston, Rochester and Oxford Community School Districts.
St. Joseph Catholic School is located in the township.

## Notable people

The following list includes people from Orion Township and the Village of Lake Orion.
* Scott Amedure, The Jenny Jones Show murder victim
* Matthew Blackmer, American pair skater
* Christopher Bowman, World Medalist champion figure skater
* William Broomfield, former congressman
* Pat Caputo, sportswriter for The Oakland Press
* Rolla C. Carpenter, engineer, academic, writer
* Dave Collins, former professional baseball player
* Barbara Ann Crancer, daughter of Jimmy Hoffa
* Matthew Dear, musician
* Andrew J. Feustel, NASA astronaut
* Frontier Ruckus, art-folk band
* Tom Gillis, professional golfer
* Jeff Heath, professional football player
* Frederick Henderson, former CEO of General Motors
* James P. Hoffa, son of Jimmy Hoffa
* Jimmy Hoffa, former Teamsters President
* Zak Keasey, former professional football player
* Mickey Lolich, former professional baseball player
* James Marcinkowski, politician, attorney
* Chris Michels, syndicated radio show host
* Jamie Milam, professional hockey player
* Troy Milam, professional hockey player
* Frank Novak, former NFL coach
* Raymond Plouhar, staff sergeant, USMC
* William Edmund Scripps, newspaper magnate
* Rich Strenger, former professional football player
* Rod Taylor, former professional hockey player
* Ron Tripp, World Sambo and Judo champion
* Cynthia Watros, actress
* Mike Weger, former professional football player
* Louis George Carpenter, College Professor, known for scientific irrigation