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,History of Novi Township. MIGenWeb. Accessed 19 April 2026. with Milford Township beginning separate supervision from Lyon Township in 1835.History of Lyon Township. MIGenWeb. Accessed 19 April 2026.

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.). & GNIS in Google 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.). & GNIS in Google Oakley Park is located on (; Elevation: 932 ft./284 m.). & GNIS in Google 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 +United States House of RepresentativesDistrictRepresentativePartySince11thHaley StevensDemocratic2019 +Michigan SenateDistrictSenatorPartySince13thRosemary BayerDemocratic202323rdJim RunestadRepublican2019 +Michigan House of RepresentativesDistrictRepresentativePartySince20thNoah ArbitDemocratic202349thAnn BollinRepublican202351stMatt MaddockRepublican2023 +Oakland County Board of CommissionersDistrictCommissionerPartySince12Christine LongRepublican200314Ajay RamanDemocratic2023

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,764 people, 12,379 households, and 9,754 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 12,924 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 96.73% White, 0.50% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.

There were 12,379 households, out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $72,702, and the median income for a family was $79,976. Males had a median income of $61,087 versus $36,125 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,104. About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education The two school districts within the boundaries of Commerce Township are Walled Lake Consolidated Schools and Huron Valley Schools."Map of Entire District ." () Walled Lake Consolidated Schools. Retrieved on November 8, 2012. "Map of Entire District." Huron Valley Schools. 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.

Notable people David Hahn, 17-year-old Eagle Scout, constructed a makeshift nuclear reactor in his backyard in Commerce Township Connor Hellebuyck, ice hockey goaltender and Olympic gold medalist Alina Morse, inventor, entrepreneur, CEO and founder of Zollicandy William John McConnell, third governor of Idaho, senator in the Idaho State Senate Connor Rutz, forward for Detroit City FC in the USL Championship Callie Shanahan, professional ice hockey goaltender in the PWHL Anna Segedi, professional ice hockey player in the PWHL

Footnotes

References Notes

Sources

External links

Charter Township of Commerce