The city of Harrisville, at the junction of US 23 and M-72, is surrounded by the township, but is administratively autonomous. The village of Lincoln is at the northwest corner of the township, and although the village corporation boundaries do not extend into the township, some development around the village does. Springport is a small, mostly historic, unincorporated community located on US 23 Lake Huron at the southern end of Harrisville State Park, approximately two miles from downtown Harrisville at. It was first settled by the family of S.M. Holden, a native of New York. He is credited with being the first permanent white settler in Alcona County. In September 1846, while fishing, his ship and two-man crew was driven ashore. Near that place, Holden found a tract with good springs and pine trees. He soon moved his family there and established a prosperous fishing enterprise. Joseph Van Buskirk built a store and sawmill in about 1865. The settlement was at first called "Sunflower Hill" and also as "South Harrisville". It was renamed for the springs gushing from the cliffs there.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Harrisville State Park is just south of Harrisville on Lake Huron.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,411 people, 555 households, and 405 families residing in the township. The population density was 46.7 per square mile. There were 790 housing units at an average density of 26.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 98.72% White, 0.35% Native American, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population. There were 555 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couplesliving together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.74. In the township the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males. The median income for a household in the township was $35,074, and the median income for a family was $36,685. Males had a median income of $28,500 versus $20,588 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,907. About 7.8% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
