Van Buren County, Michigan

Van Buren County, Michigan
Seal
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1829
Seat	Paw Paw
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,090.19 sq mi (2,824 km²) 610.86 sq mi (1,582 km²) 479.33 sq mi (1,241 km²), 43.97%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	76,263 124/sq mi (48/km²)
Website	www.vbco.org

Van Buren County Courthouse

Van Buren County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2000 census, the population was 76,263. It is part of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the village of Paw Paw.

History

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

The Van Buren County Courthouse was built by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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.

Van Buren County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Juris Kaps
• Sheriff: Dale R. Gribler
• County Clerk: Tina Leary
• County Treasurer: Karen Makay
• Register of Deeds: Mark A. Smith
• Drain Commissioner: Joe Parman
• County Surveyor: Donald Gilchrist

(information correct in October 2006)

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,090.19 square miles (2,823.6 km²), of which 610.86 square miles (1,582.1 km²) (or 56.03%) is land and 479.33 square miles (1,241.5 km²) (or 43.97%) is water. The county seat is Paw Paw.

Much of the county is farmland dotted with small towns. Areas near Kalamazoo County 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.

Geographic features

• Paw Paw River
• Black River

Cities, villages and townships

South Haven Light, south pier

Cities Bangor Gobles Hartford South Haven

Villages Bloomingdale Breedsville Decatur Lawrence Lawton Mattawan Paw Paw

Townships

Almena Township Antwerp Township Arlington Township Bangor Township Bloomingdale Township Columbia Township

Covert Township Decatur Township Geneva Township Hamilton Township Hartford Township Keeler Township

Lawrence Township Paw Paw Township Pine Grove Township Porter Township South Haven Charter Township Waverly Township

Transportation

Interstates

• I-94
• I-196
• I-196 Business Loop

US Highways

• US 31

Michigan State Trunklines

• M-40
• M-51
• M-140
• M-152

Van Buren County Highways

• A-2

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

• Dunes Parkway, an 84 acre (340,000 m²) preserve of dunes in Covert Township
• Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49 acre (200,000 m²) preserve in Columbia Township
• Kal-Haven Trail, a multi-use trail converted from old rail line that runs from Kalamazoo to South Haven
• Keeler State Game Area, 400 acres (1.6 km²) in Keeler Township
• Northpoint land - high dunes on 17 acres (69,000 m²) on Lake Michigan, north of Van Buren State Park
• Ross Preserve, a 1,449 acre (5.9 km²) preserve of coastal plain marsh in Covert Township owned by The Nature Conservancy
• Van Buren State Park
• Van Buren Trail State Park is adjacent to Kal-Haven Trail

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	33,274		—
1910	33,185		−0.3%
1920	30,715		−7.4%
1930	32,637		6.3%
1940	35,111		7.6%
1950	39,184		11.6%
1960	48,395		23.5%
1970	56,173		16.1%
1980	66,814		18.9%
1990	70,060		4.9%
2000	76,263		8.9%
Est. 2009	78,227		2.6%

At the 2000 census, there were 76,263 people, 27,982 households and 20,314 families residing in the county. The population density was 125 per square mile (48/km²). There were 33,975 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile (21/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.92% White, 5.25% Black or African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.43% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. 7.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.0% were of German, 10.0% American, 9.2% Irish, 9.0% English, 7.8% Dutch and 5.4% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 91.5% spoke English and 7.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 27,982 households of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.10.

Age distribution was 28.10% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median household income was $39,365, and the median family income was $45,824. Males had a median income of $35,317 versus $25,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,878. About 7.80% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

See also

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

External links

• Van Buren County Government Information
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on VanBuren County