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Barry County, Michigan facts for kids

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Barry County
U.S. county
Barry County Courthouse
Barry County Courthouse
Map of Michigan highlighting Barry County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Michigan
Founded April 29, 1829 (established)
March 15, 1839 (organized)
Named for William Taylor Barry
Seat Hastings
Largest city Hastings
Area
 • Total 577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land 553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water 24 sq mi (60 km2)  4.2%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 62,423
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 63,808 Increase
 • Density 108.19/sq mi (41.77/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website https://www.barrycounty.org/

Barry County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 62,423. The county seat is Hastings.

History

Before the present era, the Michigan peninsula was long occupied by bands of the Potowatomi and Ojibwe of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. The United States government forced the tribes to cede their extensive territories to the federal government, in exchange for annuities and small reservations. The federally recognized Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottowatomi has a reservation in Allegan County, just west of Barry County.

Barry County was described and delineated by act of the Territorial legislature on April 29, 1829, carved out of previously unorganized lands in the Territory. It was named to honor William Taylor Barry, who was serving as United States Postmaster General at the time of the county's proclamation. Barry was one of US President Andrew Jackson's cabinet members who were memorialized in names of ten Michigan counties, the "cabinet counties".

By 1839, the Territory had been admitted into the Union as Michigan State. In 1839, the Michigan State Legislature approved the organization of Barry County as an independent entity.

In the early years of the twentieth century, petroleum deposits of varying magnitudes were discovered and developed in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This discovery was made in Barry County in 1939; similar discoveries in adjacent counties ranged from 1937 (Allegan County) to 1972 (Eaton County). Identifiable petroleum deposits had been identified in every county adjacent to Barry by 1972.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (4.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

  • M-37 – enters NW part of county running south from Kent County. Runs S and SE to Hastings; runs south and SSE from Hastings to Calhoun County.
  • M-43 – enters from Kalamazoo. Runs north and east through Delton, Hastings and Carlton to intersection with M43, east of Woodland in NE corner of Barry County.
  • M-50 – enters NE tip of county at Woodbury. Runs west and north to Ionia County.
  • M-66 – enters SE corner of county running N from Calhoun County. Runs north and NE through eastern portion of county. Passes Nashville to NE corner of county; exits to Eaton County at Woodbury running east.
  • M-78 – runs SW across extreme southeastern tip of county, entering from Eaton County, exiting to Calhoun County.
  • M-79 – runs west from its intersection with M66 at Nashville to its intersection with M37, SE of Hastings.
  • M-89 – runs SE across the southwestern tip of county, from Allegan County to Kalamazoo County.
  • M-179 – enters west portion of county from Allegan County. Runs east to Hastings.

Railroads

There were once several minor railroads through the county; at present, there are none. The only railroad left in the county is a two-mile section owned by CSX Transportation, running through the northeastern corner of Woodland Township.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 1,078 —
1850 5,072 370.5%
1860 13,858 173.2%
1870 22,199 60.2%
1880 25,317 14.0%
1890 23,783 −6.1%
1900 22,514 −5.3%
1910 22,633 0.5%
1920 21,383 −5.5%
1930 20,928 −2.1%
1940 22,613 8.1%
1950 26,183 15.8%
1960 31,738 21.2%
1970 38,166 20.3%
1980 45,781 20.0%
1990 50,057 9.3%
2000 56,755 13.4%
2010 59,173 4.3%
2020 62,423 5.5%
2023 (est.) 63,808 7.8%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2018
Barry County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition (NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 56,487 56,779 95.46% 90.96%
Black or African American alone (NH) 205 295 0.35% 0.47%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 251 221 0.42% 0.35%
Asian alone (NH) 212 245 0.36% 0.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 5 15 0.01% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 25 198 0.04% 0.32%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 652 2,528 1.10% 4.05%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,336 2,142 2.26% 3.43%
Total 59,173 62,423 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,173 people living in the county. 96.9% were White, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 2.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 19.8% were of German, 13.5% American, 12.1% English, 11.2% Dutch and 8.1% Irish ancestry.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families living in the county. The population density was 102 inhabitants per square mile (39/km2). There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.39% White, 0.24% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.8% were of German, 13.6% English, 12.5% Dutch, 12.4% American and 9.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.2% spoke only English at home.

There were 21,035 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.06.

The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,820, and the median income for a family was $51,794. Males had a median income of $38,991 versus $26,387 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,636. About 3.90% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in Barry County:

Sports

Barry County is the host of the annual Barry-Roubaix cycling race.

Arts and culture

The annual Barry County Artists Exhibition highlights local art each summer.

Communities

City

Villages

Census-Designated Places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Barry (Míchigan) para niños

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