Orion Charter Township ( ) is a charter township of Oakland County, Michigan, United States. The population was 38,206 as of the 2020 census.

The official motto of the township and village is "Where living is a vacation." "Lake Orion" is often used to describe both the village and the township. The township hosts General Motors' Orion Assembly plant which produces small cars and EV pickup trucks.

Communities

Lake Orion is an incorporated village located within Orion Township.

The Township has three unincorporated communities:

  • Eames began as a station on the railroad in 1874. It was given a post office in 1883.
  • Lake Orion Heights is located between Lake Orion, Square Lake, and Elkhorn Lake ( Elevation: 1007 ft/307 m).
  • Gingellville is located at Baldwin and Gregory Roads ( Elevation: 1017 ft/310 m).

Former places include:

  • Rudds Mill (also known as Rudds Station) is located at Kern and Clarkston Roads ( Elevation: 945 ft/288 m).
  • Cole was a station on the Pontiac, Oxford and Northern Railroad. It had a post office from 1884 until 1907.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 7.18%, is water. The Township boasts more than 4,200 acres of parks and open spaces, including 42 lakes larger than five acres, more than 10 square miles of recreation area, and more than 50 miles of safety paths and trail ways.

Orion Township is bordered to the east by Oakland Township, to the west by Independence Township, to the south by Auburn Hills, and to the north by Oxford Township.

Parks, Trails, and Attractions

  • Friendship Park is the largest Township-owned property with 134.97 acres of land. It is located at the intersection of Baldwin and Clarkston Roads with access from Clarkston Road.
  • Camp Agawam is located on Clarkston Road east of Joslyn Road. The camp was previously owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, until 2014 at which point Orion Township took ownership.
  • Civic Center Park is a 78.86 acre community park located on Joslyn Road north of Waldon Road with access from both roadways.
  • Jesse Decker Park, constructed in 2009, is the newest Orion Township community park. It is located in the southeast corner of the Township on Squirrel Road south of Silverbell Road.
  • Wildwood Amphitheater hosts a "Free Concerts & Movies in the Park" series that take place throughout the summer. The venue also hosts outdoor film festivals, music festivals, outdoor movies, and other public events.
  • The Paint Creek Trail is an 8.9 mile recreational trail located in northeast Oakland County. It traverses through Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, and the Village of Lake Orion. Most of the trail is surfaced with crushed limestone and is 8 feet wide. A 1/4 mile segment at the northern terminus in Lake Orion is paved with asphalt.
  • The Polly Ann Trail is a major non-motorized trail in Oakland County extending north from Orion Township on a former Pontiac, Oxford, and Northern Railroad corridor. The Oakland County Polly Ann ends on Bordman Road at the Lapeer/Oakland County border. The Oakland County segment connects the Townships of Orion, Oxford and Addison and the Villages of Oxford and Leonard. The Orion Township pathway system connects the trail to the Paint Creek Trail.

==Demographics==<!-- This section is linked from Lake Orion, Michigan -->

As of the census

St. Joseph Catholic School is located in the township.

Notable people

The following list includes people from Orion Township and the Village of Lake Orion.

  • Scott Amedure, The Jenny Jones Show murder victim
  • Matthew Blackmer, American pair skater
  • Christopher Bowman, World Medalist champion figure skater
  • William Broomfield, former congressman
  • Pat Caputo, sportswriter for The Oakland Press
  • Rolla C. Carpenter, engineer, academic, writer
  • Dave Collins, former professional baseball player
  • Barbara Ann Crancer, daughter of Jimmy Hoffa
  • Matthew Dear, musician
  • Andrew J. Feustel, NASA astronaut
  • Frontier Ruckus, art-folk band
  • Tom Gillis, professional golfer
  • Jeff Heath, professional football player
  • Frederick Henderson, former CEO of General Motors
  • James P. Hoffa, son of Jimmy Hoffa
  • Jimmy Hoffa, former Teamsters President
  • Zak Keasey, former professional football player
  • Mickey Lolich, former professional baseball player
  • James Marcinkowski, politician, attorney
  • Chris Michels, syndicated radio show host
  • Jamie Milam, professional hockey player
  • Troy Milam, professional hockey player
  • Frank Novak, former NFL coach
  • Raymond Plouhar, staff sergeant, USMC
  • William Edmund Scripps, newspaper magnate
  • Rich Strenger, former professional football player
  • Rod Taylor, former professional hockey player
  • Ron Tripp, World Sambo and Judo champion
  • Cynthia Watros, actress
  • Mike Weger, former professional football player
  • Louis George Carpenter, College Professor, known for scientific irrigation

See also

  • List of cities, villages, and townships in Michigan

References

  • Orion Township Public Library
  • Lake Orion Community Information Network