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Van Buren County, Michigan

Coordinates: 42°16′N 86°19′W / 42.27°N 86.31°W / 42.27; -86.31
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Van Buren County
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
 (2020)
 • Total75,587
 • Density124/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.vanburencountymi.gov

Van Buren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 75,587.[2] The county seat is Paw Paw.[3] The county was founded in 1829 and organized in 1837.[1]

History

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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; 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]

Geography

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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.[5]

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. As with other areas near Lake Michigan, tourism is a major industry.

Rivers

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Adjacent counties

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By land

By water

Parks, preserves, natural areas

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Paw Paw River in Van Buren County

Transportation

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Highways

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Public transportation

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Railroads

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202075,587−0.9%
2023 (est.)75,798[7]0.3%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census[12] 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 per square kilometer). There were 36,785 housing units at an average density of 60.6 per square mile (23.4 per square kilometer). 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[12] 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

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South Haven Light, south pier

Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Former townships

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Government

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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 decades, voting for the overall winner in every presidential election from 1964 to 2016 with the exception of 1976, when the county backed native Michigander Gerald Ford who narrowly lost his bid for a full term. Van Buren County stayed with Donald Trump, a popular candidate in this county and other rural bellwethers, in the 2020 race.

United States presidential election results for Van Buren County, Michigan[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 21,591 55.16% 16,803 42.92% 752 1.92%
2016 17,890 53.77% 13,258 39.84% 2,126 6.39%
2012 16,141 49.15% 16,290 49.61% 406 1.24%
2008 15,534 44.68% 18,588 53.47% 644 1.85%
2004 17,634 51.60% 16,151 47.26% 389 1.14%
2000 14,792 50.17% 13,796 46.79% 894 3.03%
1996 11,347 40.56% 13,355 47.74% 3,273 11.70%
1992 10,357 34.25% 12,466 41.23% 7,414 24.52%
1988 14,522 57.17% 10,668 42.00% 210 0.83%
1984 16,426 64.55% 8,853 34.79% 166 0.65%
1980 14,451 55.96% 9,248 35.81% 2,125 8.23%
1976 13,615 56.02% 10,366 42.65% 321 1.32%
1972 13,903 64.57% 7,159 33.25% 469 2.18%
1968 10,676 51.81% 7,304 35.44% 2,627 12.75%
1964 8,120 41.63% 11,336 58.12% 48 0.25%
1960 12,903 64.21% 7,082 35.24% 111 0.55%
1956 13,291 69.72% 5,678 29.79% 94 0.49%
1952 13,231 70.91% 5,309 28.45% 119 0.64%
1948 9,511 67.92% 4,082 29.15% 411 2.93%
1944 10,951 68.29% 5,002 31.19% 84 0.52%
1940 11,571 66.90% 5,625 32.52% 101 0.58%
1936 9,110 54.70% 6,720 40.35% 825 4.95%
1932 6,954 47.50% 7,223 49.33% 464 3.17%
1928 9,325 77.39% 2,643 21.93% 82 0.68%
1924 7,384 71.55% 1,646 15.95% 1,290 12.50%
1920 6,904 75.11% 1,988 21.63% 300 3.26%
1916 4,302 55.32% 3,225 41.47% 249 3.20%
1912 2,101 29.01% 1,994 27.53% 3,147 43.45%
1908 4,531 62.80% 2,313 32.06% 371 5.14%
1904 5,254 72.67% 1,634 22.60% 342 4.73%
1900 4,892 58.72% 3,235 38.83% 204 2.45%
1896 4,510 51.95% 3,982 45.87% 190 2.19%
1892 3,788 54.05% 2,182 31.14% 1,038 14.81%
1888 4,783 58.05% 2,986 36.24% 471 5.72%
1884 4,219 56.11% 2,933 39.01% 367 4.88%

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

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Four-year terms ending 2024-12-31

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Board of Commissioners: 7 members, elected from districts

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Two-year terms ending 2024-12-31 (changing to four-year terms starting 2025-01-01)

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Current partisan breakdown: 1 Democrat, 6 Republicans

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

[15](information correct in May 2023)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Clarke, accessed January 29, 2013
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  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. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  6. ^ Van Buren Public Transit website
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  13. ^ Walter Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 121.
  14. ^ US Election Atlas
  15. ^ "Board of County Commissioners". Van Buren County.
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42°16′N 86°19′W / 42.27°N 86.31°W / 42.27; -86.31

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