Alpine Township, Michigan


Alpine Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It became a charter township in 1979, but in 1996, the township de-chartered and returned to general law status. As of the 2010 census the township population was 13,336.

Geography

The township is northwest of Grand Rapids and is bordered by Wright Township in Ottawa County to the west, Sparta Township to the north, Plainfield Charter Township to the east, and the city of Walker to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of, of which are land and, or 0.86%, are water.

Communities

Alpine Township was set off from Walker Township in 1847.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,976 people, 5,550 households, and 3,468 families residing in the township. The population density was 389.9 per square mile. There were 5,830 housing units at an average density of 162.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 89.55% White, 3.11% African American, 0.77% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.85% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.55% of the population.
There were 5,550 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,484, and the median income for a family was $50,068. Males had a median income of $37,143 versus $26,417 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,412. About 6.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Portions of the township are in Kenowa Hills Public Schools, which has its headquarters in the township. Schools within the township limits include Alpine Elementary School, Kenowa Hills Middle School, and Kenowa Hills High School.
Portions of the township are in Comstock Park Public Schools. Greenridge Elementary School serves preschool, kindergarten and PPI. Stoney Creek Elementary School has grades 1 and 2. Pine Island Elementary School serves 3 through 5. Mill Creek Middle School has grades 6 through 8. Comstock Park High School serves grades 9 through 12. Of the schools, Greenridge Elementary and Stoney Creek Elementary are in the Alpine Township limits.
Portions of the township are in the Sparta Area School District. Ridgeview Elementary School serves kindergarten through second grade. Appleview Elementary School serves grades 3 through 5. Sparta Middle School serves grades 6 through 8. Sparta Senior High School serves grades 9 through 12. Englishville School is an alternative high school and serves grades 9 through 12. Englishville School is the only school within the township limits.
Kent District Library serves the township with the Alpine Branch Library. It is near the Comstock Park CDP.