![]() ![]() ![]() There were 17,120 housing units at an average density of 552.0 per square mile (213.2/km²). The population density was 1,261.2 per square mile (487.0/km²). DemographicsĪs of the census of 2000, there were 39,116 people, 16,414 households, and 9,782 families residing in the township. GeographyĪccording to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.5 square miles (82 km 2), of which 30.5 square miles (79 km 2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km 2) (3.4%) is water. A local organization, the Friends of Historic Meridian, has an archive of local historic information and also maintains the historic buildings in the Meridian Historical Village. The Township is rich with history and one resident, Joseph Kilbourne, had a major role in the decision in 1847 to relocate the state capitol from Detroit to Lansing (then Lansing Township). In 1857 the Michigan Legislature changed the name of the village officially to Okemos to honor the old chief. The village area was one of his primary camping areas and he traveled frequently between the village and another campsite near present-day Portland, Michigan. Kilbourne was the first postmaster.Ī local Native American, Chief John Okemos, was well known throughout the area. The village was first known as Hamilton.Ī post-office called Sanford was established in the spring of 1840. It was Bray who platted out the southeast corner of his land and sold the lots to newcomers traveling into the mid-state wilderness. They were soon followed by Joseph Kilbourne, who took out land for his brother-in-law, Freeman Bray. The first settlers near the current Village of Okemos (to the south of the former Pine Lake) were Sanford Marsh and his wife who built their cabin in 1839. Currently, the Village of Haslett is located at the south side of Lake Lansing. An amusement park was introduced and enjoyed immense popularity into the mid-20th century. ![]() During the late 19th century, the lake became known as a local vacation area served by an "interurban trolley" which ran from the City of Lansing to the resort on the south side of the lake. The lake was later the site of a Spiritualist Meeting Camp led by John Haslett. The earliest settlers located at Pine Lake (now Lake Lansing) and made use of the numerous stands of pines to build their cabin. In November 1836 Obed Marshall purchased 180 acres (73 ha) of land near present-day Haslett. Meridian Township was first settled by pioneers in 1836. ![]()
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