Van Buren County

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; 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; its cornerstone was laid on September 2, 1901, after a July vote to issue $35,000 in county bonds.

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.

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

Paw Paw River

Black River

Adjacent counties

By land

Allegan County (north)

Kalamazoo County (east)

St. Joseph County (southeast)

Cass County (south)

Berrien County (southwest)

By water

Lake County, Illinois (west)

Parks, preserves, natural areas

Dunes Parkway, an 84-acre (340,000 m2) preserve of dunes in Covert Township

Hamilton Township Coastal Plain Marsh Nature Sanctuary, a 79-acre (320,000 m2) preserve of coastal plain marsh in Hamilton Township owned by the Michigan Nature Association

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 (162 ha) (1.6 km2) in Keeler Township

North Point Park - high dunes on 17 acres (69,000 m2) on Lake Michigan, north of Van Buren State Park

Ross Preserve, a 1,449 acres (5.86 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

Transportation

Public transportation

Pere Marquette (Amtrak train)

Van Buren Public Transit

Railroads

Amtrak

CSX Transportation

Norfolk Southern, through Amtrak owned Michigan Line

West Michigan Railroad

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 75,587. The median age was 42.1 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 81.2% White, 3.2% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.8% from some other race, and 8.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.9% of the population.

21.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 78.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 29,510 households in the county, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.5% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 36,948 housing units, of which 20.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.8% were owner-occupied and 22.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, 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. 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.

2010 American Community Survey

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate 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

Cities

Bangor

Gobles

Hartford

South Haven (partial)

Former townships

Clinch Township existed from 1837 until 1842, when it was divided into Waverly Township and Almena Township.

Government

Van Buren County has usually voted Republican in national elections. Since 1884, the county's voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 81% (29 of 36) of the national elections through 2024. 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 2024 with two exceptions: 1976, when the county backed native Michigander Gerald Ford who narrowly lost his bid for a full term, and 2020, when Van Buren County stayed with Donald Trump, a popular candidate in this county and other rural bellwethers.

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

(information correct in May 2023)