Van Buren County, Michigan

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Van Buren County
U.S. county
Van Buren County Courthouse
Van Buren County Courthouse
Official seal of Van Buren County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Van Buren County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°16′N 86°19′W / 42.27°N 86.31°W / 42.27; -86.31
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1829 (created)
1837 (organized)[1]
Named forMartin Van Buren
SeatPaw Paw
Largest citySouth Haven
Area
 • Total1,090 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land607 sq mi (1,570 km2)
 • Water482 sq mi (1,250 km2)  44%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
75,448
 • Density124/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.vbco.org

Van Buren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 76,258.[2] The county seat is Paw Paw.[3] The county was founded in 1829 and organized in 1837.[1]

History[]

The county was named for Martin Van Buren before he became president. He was US Secretary of State and later Vice President under President Andrew Jackson, and thus Van Buren is one of Michigan's "Cabinet counties".[1]

The Van Buren County Courthouse was built by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect; its cornerstone was laid on September 2, 1901, after a July vote to issue $35,000 in county bonds.[4]

Government[]

Van Buren County has usually voted Republican in national elections. Since 1884, the county's voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 79% (27 of 34) of the national elections through 2016. However, the county has become a swing county as well as a bellwether in recent years, voting for the overall winner in every presidential election from 1980 to 2016. It stayed with Donald Trump, a popular candidate in this county and other rural bellwethers, in the 2020 race.

Presidential election results

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

Elected officials[]

  • Prosecuting Attorney: Susan Zuiderveen (R)
  • Sheriff: Dan Abbott (R)
  • County Clerk: Suzie Roehm (R)
  • County Treasurer: Trisha Nesbitt (R)
  • Register of Deeds: Paul W. DeYoung (R)
  • Drain Commissioner: Joe Parman (R)
  • County Surveyor: Charles Lossie (R)

Board of Commissioners[]

7 members, elected from districts (1 Democrat, 6 Republicans)

District Commissioner Party District's Area
1 Gail Patterson-Gladney Democrat City of South Haven and Townships of Covert and South Haven
2 Kurt Doroh Republican City of Bangor and Townships of Arlington, Columbia, and Geneva
3 Dick Godfrey (Chairman) Republican City of Gobles and Townships of Almena, Bloomingdale, and Pine Grove
4 Mike Chappell (Vice-chairman) Republican City of Hartford and Townships of Bangor, Hartford, and Keeler
5 Randall Peat Republican Townships of Antwerp (part), Paw Paw, and Waverly
6 Donald Hanson Republican Townships of Decatur, Hamilton, Lawrence, and Porter
7 Paul Schincariol Republican Township of Antwerp (part)

[6]

(information correct in March 2021)

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,090 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 607 square miles (1,570 km2) is land and 482 square miles (1,250 km2) (44%) is water.[7]

Much of the county is farmland dotted with small towns. Areas near Kalamazoo County, specifically Antwerp Township and Almena Township, are becoming suburbanized. Many of the inland lakes are ringed with homes, either by people living year-round or cottagers, generally people who live the rest of the time in Chicago. Tourism is a major industry in the areas near Lake Michigan.

Rivers[]

Adjacent counties[]

  • Allegan County - north
  • Kalamazoo County - east
  • St. Joseph County - southeast
  • Cass County - south
  • Berrien County - southwest
  • Lake County, Illinois - west

Parks, preserves, natural areas[]

Paw Paw River in Van Buren County

Transportation[]

Highways[]

  • I-94
  • I-196
  • BL I-196
  • US 31
  • M-40
  • M-51
  • M-140
  • M-152
  • A-2
  • M-43

Public transportation[]

Railroads[]

  • Amtrak
  • CSX Transportation
  • Norfolk Southern, through Amtrak owned Michigan Line
  • West Michigan Railroad

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18305—
18401,91038,100.0%
18505,800203.7%
186015,224162.5%
187028,82989.4%
188030,8076.9%
189030,541−0.9%
190033,2748.9%
191033,185−0.3%
192030,715−7.4%
193032,6376.3%
194035,1117.6%
195039,18411.6%
196048,39523.5%
197056,17316.1%
198066,81418.9%
199070,0604.9%
200076,2638.9%
201076,2580.0%
2018 (est.)75,448[9]−1.1%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census[14] indicates Van Buren County had a 2010 population of 76,258. This decrease of -5 people from the 2000 United States Census indicated a nearly-zero population change in the decade. In 2010 there were 28,928 households and 20,434 families in the county. The population density was 125.5 per square mile (48.5 square kilometers). There were 36,785 housing units at an average density of 60.6 per square mile (23.4 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 82.7% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 10.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races.

There were 28,928 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were husband and wife families, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 25.5% under age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate[14] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $44,242 and the median income for a family was $53,642. Males had a median income of $28,079 versus $18,124 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,495. About 10.0% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under the age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[]

South Haven Light, south pier

Cities[]

Villages[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Townships[]

See also[]

  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Van Buren County, Michigan
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Van Buren County, Michigan

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Clarke, accessed January 29, 2013
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ O. W. Rowland, A History of Van Buren County, Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912.
  5. ^ US Election Atlas
  6. ^ "Board of County Commissioners". Van Buren County.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  8. ^ Van Buren Public Transit website
  9. ^ "American FactFinder". Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.

External links[]

Coordinates: 42°16′N 86°19′W / 42.27°N 86.31°W / 42.27; -86.31

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