Commerce Township is a charter township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northwestern suburb of Detroit, Commerce Township is located about northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the township had a population of 43,058.
As a western suburb of Metro Detroit, Commerce Township is bordered by the cities of Walled Lake and Wixom to the south, and the township contains the village of Wolverine Lake. Originally settled as a resort destination, the township has seen a large population increase of permanent residents due to the townships rural environment and recreation areas, including most of Proud Lake State Recreation Area. The Huron River runs mostly north–south through the township, and the township also contains numerous lakes.
History
The area of the future Commerce Township saw its first settler, Abram Walrod, arrive in May 1824. Sufficient population growth meant that the original Novi Township was quartered in size by the organization of Commerce Township and Lyon Township for self-government on March 7, 1834, with Milford Township beginning separate supervision from Lyon Township in 1835.
Geography
The northern terminus of M-5 is within Commerce Township. This highway was originally meant to connect the spur route Interstate 275 back to Interstate 75, but the project was canceled due to the difficulty of construction around the township's numerous lakes, as well as the high property value of the area.
Communities
- Commerce is located at Commerce and Sleeth Roads (; Elevation: 945 ft./288 m.). The community of Commerce Village was platted in 1836.
- Glengary is located on Benstein Road between Oakley Park and Glengary Roads (; Elevation: 922 ft./281 m.).
- Oakley Park is located on (; Elevation: 932 ft./284 m.).
- Union Lake is an unincorporated community in the northeastern part of the township, adjoining the townships of West Bloomfield, Waterford, and White Lake.
- Wolverine Lake is an incorporated village in the township.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (8.19%) is water.
Government
Federal, state, and county legislators
{| class="wikitable"
|+United States House of Representatives
!District
!Representative
!Party
!Since
|-
|11th
|Haley Stevens
| |Democratic
|2019
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Michigan Senate
!District
!Senator
!Party
!Since
|-
|13th
|Rosemary Bayer
| |Democratic
|2023
|-
|23rd
|Jim Runestad
| |Republican
|2019
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Michigan House of Representatives
!District
!Representative
!Party
!Since
|-
|20th
|Noah Arbit
| |Democratic
|2023
|-
|49th
|Ann Bollin
| |Republican
|2023
|-
|51st
|Matt Maddock
| |Republican
|2023
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Oakland County Board of Commissioners
!District
!Commissioner
!Party
!Since
|-
|12
|Christine Long
| |Republican
|2003
|-
|14
|Ajay Raman
| |Democratic
|2023
|}
Demographics
thumb|Commerce Township Drive In Landmark
As of the census
Walled Lake Northern, Walled Lake Central and Walled Lake Western High Schools are all located within the township.
Catholic schools are under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. St. William Catholic Church, which includes a portion of Commerce Township in its service area, operates St. William Catholic School, a K-8 school in Walled Lake.
Religion
St. William Church in Walled Lake includes a portion of Commerce Township in its service area.