Peaine Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 266 at the 2020 census.
The township occupies the southern portion of Beaver Island in Lake Michigan.
Communities
- Bonner Landing is an unincorporated community located within the township at .
- Martins Bluff is an unincorporated community located on the eastern shores of Beaver Island at .
- Nomad is an unincorporated community located within the township along the southeast coast of Beaver Island at . The settlement began around the Nomad Shingle Company mill, operated by Evart Cole. Julie Cole became the first postmaster when the Nomad post office opened on March 10, 1917. The post office operated until October 31, 1933.
History
The Ottawa and the Ojibwe people originally lived in the area. James Strang and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) lived on the island in the 1850s.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (28.32%) is water.
The township occupies all but the northern tip of Beaver Island, with St. James Township bordering Peaine Township to the north. Peaine Township is one of only seven municipalities in the state of Michigan to consist entirely of islands, including Grosse Ile Township, Drummond Township, Bois Blanc Township, Mackinac Island, St. James Township, and Sugar Island Township.
Demographics
As of the census
In 2021, the population rose to 284.
The median age, as of 2021, is 67.6 years. There are around 153 households, and the median household income is $61,875. The income per capita is $46,788, and about 8.8% of people were below the poverty line. It is one of only four insular school districts in the state, along with Bois Blanc Pines School District, Grosse Ile Township Schools, and Mackinac Island School District.
As of 2021, about 98.8% of residents hold at least a high school diploma. 49.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher.