Allegan County, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Allegan County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	established 1831 organized 1835
Seat	Allegan
Largest city	Holland
Area
• Total	1,833 sq mi (4,750 km2)
• Land	825 sq mi (2,140 km2)
• Water	1,008 sq mi (2,610 km2)  55%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	120,502
• Estimate  (2023)	121,939
• Density	65.740/sq mi (25.382/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	http://www.allegancounty.org

Allegan County is a county in the state of Michigan. It's like a special part of the state with its own local government. In 2020, about 120,502 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Allegan.

The name "Allegan" was made up by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. He wanted it to sound like a Native American word. This county is part of a larger area that includes Holland, Michigan. It's mostly a farming area, but more and more towns are growing here. This is because big cities like Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo are expanding nearby.

Allegan County is a very popular place for tourists. Many people visit for the famous Tulip Time Festival in Holland. The beautiful shoreline along Lake Michigan is also a big draw. Lots of people have vacation homes near the lake, especially around Saugatuck and Douglas.

Another cool spot is the Allegan State Game Area. This huge forest, about 45,000 acres (182 square kilometers), is great for camping. You can also go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and hunting there. Saugatuck Dunes State Park is in Allegan County too. It has fun trails through sandy dunes and a beach for swimming in Lake Michigan. You can also visit Pier Cove Park, which has public access to Lake Michigan. Lake Allegan is another popular place to visit.

History of Allegan County

For a long time, the land that is now Allegan County was home to Native American tribes. These included the Pottawatomi and Ojibwe people. The United States government later made agreements with these tribes. They gave up their large territories in exchange for payments and smaller areas of land. Today, the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan has a special reservation here.

The borders of Allegan County were first set up in 1831. This was done by the government of the Michigan Territory. The county officially started in 1835. At that time, only about four European-American families lived in the area. Some of the very first settlers were Giles Scott and Turner Aldrich.

Geography of Allegan County

Allegan County covers a total area of about 1,833 square miles (4,747 square kilometers). A big part of this area is water! About 825 square miles (2,137 square kilometers) is land. The other 1,008 square miles (2,611 square kilometers), which is 55% of the county, is water.

Counties Nearby

By land

• Ottawa County – to the north
• Kent County – to the northeast
• Barry County – to the east
• Kalamazoo County – to the southeast
• Van Buren County – to the south

By water

• Lake County, Illinois – to the southwest
• Kenosha County, Wisconsin – to the west
• Racine County, Wisconsin – to the northwest

Transportation

Major Highways

You can get around Allegan County using several important roads:

• I-196
• BL I-196
• US 31
• 
  Bus. US 31
• US 131
• M-40
• M-89
• M-179
• M-222
• A-2
• A-37
• A-42
• A-45

Population and People

In 2010, there were 111,408 people living in Allegan County. Most people were White. There were also smaller groups of Black or African American, Asian, and Native American people. Many people in the county have Dutch, German, English, or Irish family backgrounds. Most people speak English at home, but some also speak Spanish.

The average age of people in the county was 35 years old. About 29% of the population was under 18 years old.

Religions in Allegan County

Many different religions are practiced in Allegan County. Some of the largest groups include:

• The Reformed Church in America
• The United Methodist Church
• The Christian Reformed Church
• The Catholic Church
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Arts and Culture

Allegan County is part of the yearly "Arts and Eats" tour. This event celebrates local art, delicious food, and farms in the area.

Communities in Allegan County

Allegan County has several towns and cities:

Cities

Villages

• Hopkins
• Martin

Townships

Townships are smaller local government areas within the county.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Allegan para niños