Saugatuck Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,443 at the 2020 census, up from 2944 at the 2010 census. The city of Saugatuck is in the northwestern corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous; the two share a ZIP code.
Communities
There are no villages within the township, but there are two unincorporated communities:
- Macks Landing is located at Riverside Drive and 62nd Street, near the Kalamazoo River (423753N 0860916W; elevation: .).
- Oxbow is located on Rupprecht Way, just north of Saugatuck (elevation: ).
History
In 1837, Oshea Wilder and his sons founded the community named for the southeastern Asia city of Singapore at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. In 1875, Singapore was abandoned.
The township name was Newark until 1861.
On December 13, 2004, Douglas residents voted to adopt a charter changing the status of the village into a city form of government removing Douglas from the Township.
From 2004 to 2006, Oklahoma billionaire Aubrey McClendon bought of undeveloped duneland in Saugatuck Township for $39.5 million with plans to build luxury homes, 28 condos, a hotel, a marina, and a golf course. In 2006, the Saugatuck Township Board re-zoned the land, making McClendon unable to build his planned project. The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance opposes McClendon's plans, citing environmental concerns. In 2009, McClendon sold of the land in order to alleviate the group's concerns. In March 2010, McClendon sued the township in federal court to overturn the zoning. The township has spent more than $250,000 fighting the lawsuit, and has raised taxes in the township in order to raise revenue.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.50%, is water.