Berrien County
County
Lighthouse at St. Joseph
Lighthouse at St. Joseph
Official seal of Berrien County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Berrien County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°56′N 86°35′W / 41.94°N 86.59°W / 41.94; -86.59
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedOctober 29, 1829 (created)
1831 (organized)[1]
Named forJohn M. Berrien
SeatSt. Joseph
Largest cityNiles
Area
 • Total1,581 sq mi (4,090 km2)
 • Land568 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water1,014 sq mi (2,630 km2)  64%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total154,316
 • Density272/sq mi (105/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts4th, 5th
Websitewww.berriencounty.org

Berrien County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located at the southwest corner of the state's Lower Peninsula, located on the shore of Lake Michigan and sharing a land border with Indiana. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 154,316.[2] The county seat is St. Joseph.[3]

Berrien County is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka, IN-MI Combined Statistical Area. The county is part of the Michiana region.

History

As one of the Cabinet counties, Berrien County was named for John M. Berrien of Georgia, US Attorney General (1829–1831) under US President Andrew Jackson.[1] The county was founded in 1829, and was organized in 1831, before Michigan was accepted into the Union as a state.[4]

When Michigan Territory was established in 1805, the area of present Berrien County was included in the boundary of Wayne County.

About 1780, New Jersey resident William Burnett established a trading post at the mouth of the St. Joseph River (present-day site of St. Joseph) to serve indigenous peoples and French Canadian residents. Also during that time, Joseph Bertrand established a trading post on the river, in present–day Niles Charter Township.[5] In December 1822, missionary Isaac McCoy moved his family and 18 Indian students from Indiana to the St. Joseph River near present-day Niles, Michigan, to open a religious mission (the Carey Mission) to the Potawatomi Indians, 160 km from the nearest White settlement.[6]

In 1827 St. Joseph Township was organized as part of Wayne County, It included all lands acquired from the Native Americans by the 1821 Treaty of Chicago.

The boundary of Berrien County was delineated by the Michigan Territory Legislature on October 29, 1829, with its present limits. For purposes of revenue, taxation and judicial matters, it was attached to Cass County, and was designated as Niles Township. This assignation was terminated in 1831 when Berrien County's government was organized and initiated.

Berrien County began with three townships:

In recent times, Berrien County, especially the coastal cities of New Buffalo and Lakeside, has received notice as a vacation destination for Chicago area residents and other Midwesterners. It has earned multiple nicknames in this capacity, including "Harbor Country" and "the Hamptons of the Midwest", with the latter recognized by the Wall Street Journal.[8][9]

Politics

Berrien County has favored a Republican Party candidate in all but six elections since 1884.

United States presidential election results for Berrien County, Michigan[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 43,519 52.71% 37,438 45.34% 1,608 1.95%
2016 38,647 53.65% 29,495 40.95% 3,889 5.40%
2012 38,209 52.51% 33,465 45.99% 1,088 1.50%
2008 36,130 46.42% 40,381 51.88% 1,323 1.70%
2004 41,076 55.01% 32,846 43.99% 749 1.00%
2000 35,689 54.70% 28,152 43.15% 1,400 2.15%
1996 28,254 47.65% 24,614 41.51% 6,427 10.84%
1992 29,252 42.02% 25,840 37.12% 14,523 20.86%
1988 37,799 62.81% 21,948 36.47% 436 0.72%
1984 43,160 66.58% 21,228 32.75% 436 0.67%
1980 41,458 60.99% 22,152 32.59% 4,368 6.43%
1976 40,835 61.13% 25,163 37.67% 800 1.20%
1972 43,047 68.26% 18,597 29.49% 1,416 2.25%
1968 32,136 51.08% 21,266 33.80% 9,514 15.12%
1964 26,387 43.86% 33,653 55.94% 122 0.20%
1960 37,425 60.85% 23,837 38.76% 244 0.40%
1956 35,397 65.50% 18,454 34.15% 194 0.36%
1952 32,932 62.94% 19,088 36.48% 300 0.57%
1948 22,003 58.89% 14,516 38.85% 842 2.25%
1944 24,832 60.66% 15,886 38.81% 216 0.53%
1940 22,778 57.02% 16,961 42.46% 208 0.52%
1936 15,321 41.27% 20,822 56.09% 982 2.65%
1932 14,123 42.46% 18,447 55.46% 694 2.09%
1928 19,064 68.60% 8,555 30.78% 172 0.62%
1924 15,612 63.73% 4,445 18.15% 4,440 18.12%
1920 15,748 74.06% 4,855 22.83% 662 3.11%
1916 7,511 53.68% 6,054 43.27% 426 3.04%
1912 2,752 23.06% 4,225 35.40% 4,958 41.54%
1908 7,260 58.07% 4,598 36.78% 645 5.16%
1904 7,309 62.99% 3,819 32.91% 476 4.10%
1900 6,595 55.47% 4,960 41.72% 334 2.81%
1896 6,672 56.12% 4,792 40.31% 424 3.57%
1892 4,979 48.55% 4,716 45.98% 561 5.47%
1888 5,128 49.72% 4,689 45.46% 497 4.82%
1884 4,445 48.06% 4,458 48.21% 345 3.73%

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages and vital records, oversees public health, and participates with the state in welfare and social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws and ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police, fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

  • Prosecuting Attorney: Steve Pierangeli[11]
  • Sheriff: L. Paul Bailey[12]
  • County Clerk: Sharon Tyler [13]
  • County Treasurer: Shelly Weich [14]
  • Register of Deeds: Lora Freehling[15]
  • Drain Commissioner: Christopher J. Quattrin[16]
  • County Surveyor: John G. Kamer[17]
  • 1st District County Commissioner: David Vollrath (R-Coloma)
  • 2nd District County Commissioner: Jon Hinkelman (R-Watervliet)
  • 3rd District County Commissioner: Chokwe Pitchford (D-Benton Harbor)
  • 4th District County Commissioner: Mamie Yarbrough (D-Benton Harbor)
  • 5th District County Commissioner: Rayonte Bell (D-St. Joseph)
  • 6th District County Commissioner: Julie Wuerfel (R-St. Joseph)
  • 7th District County Commissioner: Bob Harrison (R-Stevensville)
  • 8th District County Commissioner: Teri Freehling (R-Baroda)
  • 9th District County Commissioner: Alex Ott (R-Sawyer)
  • 10th District County Commissioner: Mac Elliot (R-Buchanan)
  • 11th District County Commissioner: Jim Curran (R-Niles)
  • 12th District County Commissioner: Michael Majerek (R-Niles)[18]

(information as of February 2023)

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,581 square miles (4,090 km2), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 1,014 square miles (2,630 km2) (64%) is water.[19]

The county borders the state of Indiana to the South and includes a portion of Lake Michigan to the West.

The St. Joseph River is a major geographical feature, flowing mostly north and west through the county from Niles to its mouth on Lake Michigan at St. Joseph. The southwest of the county is drained by the Galien River and its tributaries. Paw Paw Lake is in the north of the county, along with the Paw Paw River, which flows into the St. Joseph River just before it enters Lake Michigan. A tiny portion along the Indiana state line is drained by small tributaries of the Kankakee River, which ultimately flows into the Mississippi River. This is one of two areas of Michigan drained by the Mississippi River, the other being an area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula near the Wisconsin border.

Major highways

  • I-94 – runs north along the western edge of the county near Lake Michigan. Turns inland to skirt the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor urban area. Runs east to Kalamazoo. Business Loop 94 passes through downtown Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
  • BL I-94 – runs through St. Joseph and Benton Harbor.
  • I-196 – from its intersection with I-94 east of Benton Harbor, runs north to Holland, then east to Grand Rapids.
  • US 12 – runs east–west through the southern portion of the county from south of Niles through Three Oaks to New Buffalo and Michiana, Michigan. From Berrien County it connects with Michigan City, Indiana.
  • US 31 – running north from South Bend, Indiana, enters the southeast county as the St. Joseph Valley Parkway, near Niles, and continues north and west. A segment of the freeway was completed in August 2003, running from Berrien Springs north to Napier Avenue east of Benton Harbor. US 31 follows Napier Avenue west to I-94 before branching off with I-196. A final segment is planned to continue the freeway from Napier Avenue north to the junction with I-94 and BL I-94 with a full cloverleaf interchange. The former route of US 31 between Berrien Springs and St. Joseph was redesignated as M-139.
  • M-51 – enters from Indiana as a continuation of State Road 933. Runs north through Niles, then northeast toward Dowagiac, Michigan.
  • M-60 – runs east from Niles to I-94 at Jackson.
  • M-62 – from its intersection with M-140, runs east toward Dowagiac, Michigan.
  • M-63 – from its intersection with M-139 (formerly US 31) in Scottdale, runs northwest into St. Joseph, then northeast to intersection with US 31/I-196 near the county line.
  • M-139 – from its intersection with US 12 southwest of Niles, runs northeasterly into downtown Niles, then follows the former route of US 31 US 33 northwesterly through Berrien Springs to Scottdale, then north near St. Joseph and Benton Harbor to an intersection with Business Loop I-94.
  • M-140 – from Niles, runs north through the eastern part of the county toward South Haven, Michigan.
  • M-239 – its 1.1 miles (1.8 km) length links I-94 at Exit 1 near New Buffalo to State Road 39 north of LaPorte, Indiana.
  • A-2 – Berrien County's only signed county highway. Begins in Hagar Shores at M-63 and I-196. It follows the Lake Michigan shoreline and continues to South Haven, Michigan.

Adjacent counties

By land

By water

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830325—
18405,0111,441.8%
185011,417127.8%
186022,37896.0%
187035,10456.9%
188036,7854.8%
189041,28512.2%
190049,16519.1%
191053,6229.1%
192062,65316.8%
193081,06629.4%
194089,1179.9%
1950115,70229.8%
1960149,86529.5%
1970163,8759.3%
1980171,2764.5%
1990161,378−5.8%
2000162,4530.7%
2010156,813−3.5%
2020154,316−1.6%
US Decennial Census[20]
1790-1960[21] 1900-1990[22]
1990-2000[23] 2010-2019[2]

The 2010 United States Census[24] indicates Berrien County had a 2010 population of 156,813. This is a decrease of 5,640 people from the 2000 United States Census, or a 3.5% population decrease. In 2010 there were 63,054 households and 41,585 families in the county. The population density was 276.2 per square mile (106.6 square kilometers). There were 76,922 housing units at an average density of 135.5 per square mile (52.3 square kilometers). 78.3% of the population were White, 15.3% Black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% of some other race and 2.4% of two or more races. 4.5% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 29.0% were of German, 7.4% Irish, 6.8% English and 5.5% American ancestry.[25]

There were 63,054 households, 29.6% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were husband and wife families, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.0% were non-families, and 28.7% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 23.4% under age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate[26] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $40,329 and the median income for a family was $51,305. Males had a median income of $26,745 versus $16,289 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,337. About 12.1% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under the age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

State parks

County parks

Other parks

  • Expo Arena – at Berrien County Fairgrounds
  • Kiwanis Park – St. Joseph
  • Riverview Park – St. Joseph

Resorts and beaches

Golf courses

  • The Golf Club at Harbor Shores - Benton Harbor
  • Blossom Trails Golf Club – Benton Harbor
  • Brookwood Golf Course - Buchanan
  • Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club - Benton Harbor
  • Lost Dunes Golf Club - Bridgman
  • Milan Creek Golf Club - Baroda
  • Orchard Hills Country Club - Buchanan
  • Paw Paw Lake Golf Club - Coloma/Watervliet
  • Pebblewood Country Club - Bridgman
  • Pipestone Creek Golf Course - Eau Claire
  • Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club - Benton Harbor

Wineries

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Berrien County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities

Villages

Charter townships

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Indian reservation

The Pokagon reservation with underlying local municipal boundaries

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Bibliography on Berrien County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "The History of Berrien County, Michigan". Southwest Michigan Business & Tourism Directory. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  5. ↑ Coolidge, Orville W. (1906). A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County Michigan, pp. 19-20. The Lewis Publishing Company.
  6. ↑ ”Rev. Isaac McCoy” "Rev. Isaac McCoy - First Baptist Missionary to the Indians, by Carl C. Rister". Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2011., accessed February 19, 2011
  7. ↑ Coolidge (1906), p. 24.
  8. ↑ De Zutter, Hank; Little De Zutter, Pamela (October 6, 1988). "Invasion of the FIPs: boom time in southwestern Michigan". Chicago Reader. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ Jones, Al (April 6, 2013). "Report: The Wall Street Journal calls the Southwest Michigan shoreline the Hamptons of the Midwest". mlive. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Prosecuting Attorney | Berrien County, MI". www.berriencounty.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  12. ↑ "About Us | Berrien County, MI". www.berriencounty.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  13. ↑ "County Clerk | Berrien County, MI". www.berriencounty.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Treasurer | Berrien County, MI". www.berriencounty.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Register of Deeds | Berrien County, MI". www.berriencounty.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  16. ↑ "County of Berrien State of Michigan | BERRIEN COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER". Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  17. ↑ "County Surveyor | Berrien County, MI". www.berriencounty.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Meet Your Commissioners | Berrien County, MI". www.berriencounty.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  19. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  20. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  24. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  25. ↑ Bureau, US Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  26. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  27. ↑ Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians (2019). "Pokégnek Bodéwadmik (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi)". Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  28. ↑ United States Census Bureau (2000). "Michigan County Subdivision Outline Map" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2018.

41°56′N 86°35′W / 41.94°N 86.59°W / 41.94; -86.59

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