Cascade Charter Township is a charter township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 19,667 at the 2020 census.

The township is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is located just east of the city of Grand Rapids. The township is the location of Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Communities

  • Cascade is an unincorporated community within the township at the intersection of 28th Street and Cascade Road. Cascade was initially platted in 1845 by D. S. T. Weller. It had a post office from 1854 until 1910.
  • Forest Hills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place that occupies the northern half of the township. The CDP consists of (51.09%) of the township's area and 12,917 township residents (75.39%) at the 2010 census. Forest Hills is organized for statistical purposes only and also contains a large area of Ada Township to the north. It is the largest CDP in the state of Michigan in both area and population.

History

The township was originally a part of Ada Township and was separately organized in 1848.

The Whitney Tavern Stand is located within the township. It was built in 1853 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (2.81%) is water.

The township is situated in the southeastern section of Kent County, approximately southeast of Grand Rapids. A defining feature of the township is the Thornapple River, which divides the township into east and west halves. The township is bordered to the west by the city of Kentwood, to the north by Ada Township, to the east by Lowell Charter Township, and to the south by Caledonia Charter Township.

Transportation

Airport

  • 20px Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport that occupies of the southwestern portion of the township.

Major highways

  • runs east–west through the center of the township.
  • enters at the southern portion of the township and has its eastern terminus at I-96.
  • enters briefly at the southwestern corner of the township.

Education

The township is served by three public school districts. Caledonia Community Schools serves the southern portion of the township. Most of the township is served by Forest Hills Public Schools, and Lowell Area Schools serves a small eastern portion of the township.

West Michigan Aviation Academy is a charter high school located within the township.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the township had a population of 19,667 people. The racial makeup was 87.1% Non-Hispanic White, 2.8% Black or African American, 4.0% Asian, 0.1% Native American, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.2% of the population.

2000 census

As of the census