# Berrien County, Michigan

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. The county seat is St. Joseph. 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. The county was founded in 1829, and was organized in 1831, before Michigan was accepted into the Union as a state.
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. 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.
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:
* Berrien Township – consisted of present-day townships of Berrien, Oronoko, Baroda and Lake plus a two-mile strip north of that territory
* St. Joseph Township – consisted of the area north of Berrien Township
* Niles Township – consisted of the area south of Berrien Township.
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.

## Politics

Berrien County has favored a Republican Party candidate in all but five elections since 1884.
United States presidential election results for Berrien County, Michigan :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 44,975 | 53.12% | 38,323 | 45.26% | 1,370 | 1.62% |
| 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
* Sheriff: Chuck Heit
* County Clerk: Stacy Loar-Porter
* County Treasurer: Shelly Weich
* Register of Deeds: Lora Freehling
* Drain Commissioner: Christopher J. Quattrin
* County Surveyor: John G. Kamer
* 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)
(information as of March 2024)

## Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,581 square miles (4,090 km$^2$), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km$^2$) is land and 1,014 square miles (2,630 km$^2$) (64%) is water.
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 joins I-94 then I-196 before leaving the county.
* 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
* Van Buren County – north and northeast
* Cass County – east
* St. Joseph County, Indiana – southeast
* LaPorte County, Indiana – south
By water
* Porter County, Indiana – southwest
* Cook County, Illinois – west
* Lake County, Illinois – northwest

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census 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.
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 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

* Grand Mere State Park
* Warren Dunes State Park
* Warren Woods State Park

### County parks

* Galien River County Park Preserve
* Love Creek County Park
* Madeline Bertrand County Park
* Paw Paw River County Park
* Rocky Gap County Park
* Silver Beach County Park

### Other parks

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

### Resorts and beaches

* Hagar Park – Hagar Township
* Jean Klock Park - Benton Harbor
* Lion's Park Beach – St. Joseph
* New Buffalo Beach Park – New Buffalo
* Paw Paw Lake
* Rocky Gap Beach Park - Benton Harbor
* Silver Beach - St. Joseph
* Tiscornia Park
* Weko Beach - Bridgman

### 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

## Communities
### Cities

* Benton Harbor
* Bridgman
* Buchanan
* Coloma
* New Buffalo
* Niles
* St. Joseph (county seat)
* Watervliet

### Villages

* Baroda
* Berrien Springs
* Eau Claire
* Galien
* Grand Beach
* Michiana
* Shoreham
* Stevensville
* Three Oaks

### Charter townships

* Benton Charter Township
* Coloma Charter Township
* Lake Charter Township
* Lincoln Charter Township
* Niles Charter Township
* Oronoko Charter Township
* St. Joseph Charter Township
* Watervliet Charter Township

### Civil townships

* Bainbridge Township
* Baroda Township
* Berrien Township
* Bertrand Township
* Buchanan Township
* Chikaming Township
* Galien Township
* Hagar Township
* New Buffalo Township
* Pipestone Township
* Royalton Township
* Sodus Township
* Three Oaks Township
* Weesaw Township

### Census-designated places

* Benton Heights
* Fair Plain
* Lake Michigan Beach
* Millburg
* New Troy
* Paw Paw Lake
* Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert

### Other unincorporated communities

* Berrien Center
* Bethany Beach
* Birchwood
* Dayton
* Glendora
* Harbert
* Hazelhurst
* Hinchman
* Lakeside
* Millburg
* Riverside
* Sawyer
* Scottdale
* Shorewood Hills
* Tower Hill Shorelands
* Union Pier

### Indian reservation

* The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has a reservation occupying a portion of the southeastern corner of Berrien County. The tribe also occupies areas in Allegan, Cass, and Van Buren counties, as well as extending south into the state of Indiana. The reservation headquarters are located in neighboring Cass County in the city of Dowagiac. The Berrien County reservation surrounds the entire portion of the city of Niles that lies within the county, as well as portions of Bertrand Township and Niles Charter Township along the St. Joseph River.