28-648: Berrien Springs is a village in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan . The population was 1,910 at the time of the 2020 census . The village is located within Oronoko Charter Township . Berrien Springs, like Berrien County, is named for John M. Berrien . "Springs" was added after mineral springs were discovered in the area. The village is the site of the earliest European-American settlement in Oronoko Township. It
56-432: A female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age in the village was 34.6 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.1% were between
84-414: A female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05. In the village, 23.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.9% was from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3%
112-448: A free territory and later state. It went by the principle of "once free, always free". If slaveholders brought enslaved people to the state, the latter were judged to be free. The village of Berrien was platted in 1831. The Berrien Springs post office opened with the name "Berrien" on December 4, 1832; this was changed to Berrien Springs on April 18, 1836. Berrien Springs served as the county seat from 1837 until 1894, when St. Joseph
140-636: 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
168-742: 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
196-449: Is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km) is water. The village is situated on the St. Joseph River . As of the census of 2010, there were 1,800 people, 756 households, and 463 families living in the village. The population density was 1,914.9 inhabitants per square mile (739.3/km). There were 837 housing units at an average density of 890.4 per square mile (343.8/km). The racial makeup of
224-745: The National Register of Historic Places . The property is dedicated to the preservation of Berrien County's history and does this through permanent and temporary exhibits, programs, events, and community outreach. Berrien Springs was once known as the Christmas pickle capital of the world. A festival was established by the Berrien Springs- Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, the Berrien County Historical Association (BCHA), and
252-659: 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: In recent times, Berrien County, especially
280-443: 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
308-721: 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. By land By water The 2010 United States Census indicates Berrien County had a 2010 population of 156,813. This
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#1732773329709336-605: 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
364-444: 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
392-476: The ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.9% male and 52.1% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,862 people, 732 households, and 475 families living in the village. The population density was 2,059.6 inhabitants per square mile (795.2/km). There were 787 housing units at an average density of 870.5 per square mile (336.1/km). The racial makeup of
420-635: 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. Berrien County has favored a Republican Party candidate in all but five elections since 1884. The county government operates
448-709: 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. 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
476-399: The population were below the poverty line , including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over. 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 ,
504-526: The responsibility of individual cities and townships. (information as of March 2024) According to the US Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,581 square miles (4,090 km ), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km ) is land and 1,014 square miles (2,630 km ) (64%) is water. The county borders the state of Indiana to the South and includes a portion of Lake Michigan to
532-400: The village was 72.7% White , 12.9% African American , 0.4% Native American , 5.1% Asian , 0.4% Pacific Islander , 3.8% from other races , and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.9% of the population. There were 756 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 16.0% had
560-411: The village was 77.12% White , 11.06% African American , 0.43% Native American , 4.03% Asian , 0.16% Pacific Islander , 4.30% from other races , and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.92% of the population. There were 732 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had
588-739: The village. They featured parades, games, activities, and a Pickle Prince and Princess contest. The event ran until the mid-2000s. In 2021, the Pickle Festival was revived by the Village, the BCHA, and the Berrien Springs Community Library. According to the United States Census Bureau , the village has a total area of 1.02 square miles (2.64 km), of which 0.94 square miles (2.43 km)
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#1732773329709616-448: 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
644-433: Was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males. The median income for a household in the village was $ 32,396, and the median income for a family was $ 41,250. Males had a median income of $ 31,467 versus $ 21,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $ 16,093. About 12.4% of families and 17.5% of
672-414: Was designated as the county seat. Berrien Springs courthouse, designed by local architect Gilbert B. Avery, was completed in 1839, making it the oldest courthouse in the state. The Greek Revival -style courthouse emulated the architecture of ancient Greece with its large columns, triangular pediment and white paint. After the county seat was moved in 1894, the building was put to various uses and briefly
700-417: Was first known as "Wolf's Prairie" in reference to the 1,000-acre prairie in which it was situated. The site had been a village under the leadership of a Potawatomi chief named Wolf. The first permanent settlers (according to European-American terms), John Pike and his family, did not arrive until 1829. Francis B. Murdoch was a co-founder of the village and the first lawyer in the county. (His surname
728-553: 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
756-466: Was spelled as 'Murdock' in some records.) In 1831 he built a two-story log house, which is the oldest surviving example of its kind in Michigan. In 1973 this house was moved near courthouse square, to be part of that historic complex. Murdoch was known in the antebellum period for representing enslaved African Americans in freedom suits , in which they tried to gain freedom. Michigan was established as
784-527: Was vacant. In 1967, efforts to preserve and restore the courthouse were started. Such restoration was completed by 1975. The restored courthouse square also features the Midwest's most complete surviving mid-nineteenth century county government complex. Today the square houses a county museum and archives. The courthouse serves as headquarters for the Berrien County Historical Association. Its original buildings are listed on
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