Grattan Township is one of the eastern tier of townships in Kent County, and its center is about northeast of Grand Rapids and nearly the same distance northwest of Ionia. The township is surrounded by Oakfield, Cannon and Vergennes townships in Kent County and Otisco Township in Ionia County. State highwayM-44 bisects the township west to east. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of, of which are land and, or 8.36%, are water. There are at least 25 lakes in the township, varying in size from to each. Many of these find a natural outlet through Seely Creek, the only stream of note in the township, and which empties into the Flat River near Smyrna in Ionia County.
Grattan Township was established in 1846, and named in honor of the Irish orator and politician Henry Grattan.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,551 people, 1,235 households, and 990 families residing in the township. The population density was 101.5 per square mile. There were 1,428 housing units at an average density of 40.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 96.90% White, 0.70% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population. There were 1,235 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couplesliving together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.14. The age distribution of the township includes 27.9% of the population under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.5 males. The median income for a household in the township was $56,467, and the median income for a family was $62,148. Males had a median income of $44,813 versus $27,014 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,213. About 1.2% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
The current Township Supervisor is Franklin J. Force.
