Cannon Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 13,336 at the 2010 census.

The township was organized as a survey township in 1845. It is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is located about northeast of the city of Grand Rapids.

Communities

  • Cannonsburg is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the southeast part of the township.
  • Chauncey (also known as Buena Vista and Imperial Mills) is an unincorporated, mostly historical settlement on the boundary between Cannon Township and Plainfield Township where Bear Creek enters the Grand River.

History

The area that would become Cannon Township was originally attached to neighboring Plainfield Township. In 1837, Andrew Watson brought his family to Cannon and built the first farm in the township. Over the next decade, many other pioneers arrived and settled. In 1845, the township was split from Plainfield and took its present name. The state legislature organized Cannon Township as "Churchtown" in 1846. At the first town meeting, held in 1848, it was renamed "Cannon", after Cannonsburg, the largest village.

The township took its name from the small settlement of Cannonsburgh, which had been founded in 1842 at the direction of LeGrand Cannon, described as an eastern capitalist. The hamlet had two mills and a store by 1845, and the town was platted to encourage residential growth. LeGrand Cannon was proud of his little town, and provided a fitting gift in appreciation: a small cannon inscribed with his name and date. The cannon was used by the townspeople to commemorate holidays, such as the 4th of July, until someone was hurt firing the ordnance. The cannon was then buried to prevent further injuries, but was later discovered and refitted for firing. Unfortunately, another person was subsequently injured while firing the cannon, and again it was buried, and has not been found again to this day.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bowne Township has a total area of , of which is land and (4.63%) is water.

References

  • Cannon Township official website