Berrien Springs, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berrien Springs, Michigan
Village
Seal
Location within Berrien County
Berrien Springs, Michigan Location in Michigan
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Berrien
Township	Oronoko
Area
• Total	1.00 sq mi (2.59 km2)
• Land	0.92 sq mi (2.38 km2)
• Water	0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation	673 ft (205 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,910
• Density	2,080.61/sq mi (803.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49103, 49104
Area code(s)	269
FIPS code	26-07860
GNIS feature ID	2398105

Aerial view of Berrien Springs, Michigan

Berrien Springs is a village located in Berrien County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 1,910 people lived here. The village is part of Oronoko Charter Township. It's a small community with a rich history.

The Story of Berrien Springs

Berrien Springs, like Berrien County, is named after John M. Berrien. He was a famous American lawyer and politician. The "Springs" part was added to the name because natural mineral springs were found in the area.

Early Days: Wolf's Prairie

Before European settlers arrived, this area was known as "Wolf's Prairie." It was a large, open grassland. This name came from a Potawatomi chief named Wolf. His village was located right where Berrien Springs is today.

The first permanent European-American settlers, John Pike and his family, came to the area in 1829.

Founding the Village

Francis B. Murdoch helped start the village of Berrien Springs. He was also the first lawyer in Berrien County. In 1831, he built a two-story log house. This house is still standing today and is the oldest of its kind in Michigan. In 1973, it was moved to the courthouse square to become part of a historic area.

Murdoch was known for helping people who were enslaved. He represented them in court cases called "freedom suits." Michigan was a free territory and state. This meant that if slaveholders brought enslaved people into Michigan, those people were considered free.

The village of Berrien was officially planned out in 1831. The post office opened in 1832 with the name "Berrien." It was changed to "Berrien Springs" in 1836.

Berrien Springs was the main government center, or county seat, for Berrien County from 1837 until 1894. After that, St. Joseph became the new county seat.

The Old Courthouse

The Berrien Springs courthouse was finished in 1839. It was designed by Gilbert B. Avery. This makes it the oldest courthouse in Michigan. It was built in the Greek Revival style. This style looks like ancient Greek buildings, with big columns and a triangular roof section.

After the county seat moved in 1894, the building was used for different things. It was even empty for a short time. In 1967, people started working to save and fix up the courthouse. The restoration was finished in 1975.

Today, the courthouse square is a county museum and archive. It shows what a county government complex looked like in the mid-1800s. The courthouse is now the main office for the Berrien County Historical Association. Its original buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. The property helps preserve Berrien County's history through exhibits, programs, and events.

The Christmas Pickle Festival

Berrien Springs was once known as the "Christmas pickle capital of the world!" A fun festival was created by local groups. It included parades, games, activities, and a contest to choose a Pickle Prince and Princess. The festival ran until the mid-2000s. In 2021, the Pickle Festival was brought back by the village, the Berrien County Historical Association, and the Berrien Springs Community Library.

Where is Berrien Springs?

Berrien Springs is located in southwestern Michigan. It has a total area of about 1.02 square miles (2.64 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water. The village is right on the St. Joseph River.

People of Berrien Springs

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,800 people living in Berrien Springs. There were 756 households, which are groups of people living together. The average household had about 2.35 people. The average age of people in the village was 34.6 years old.

Schools in Berrien Springs

Berrien Springs has several schools for students of all ages.

Elementary Schools

• Mars Elementary – public school for grades K-2
• Sylvester Elementary – public school for grades 3–5
• Trinity Lutheran School – private, religious (Lutheran) school for grades preK–8
• Ruth Murdoch Elementary – private, religious (Seventh-day Adventist) school for grades K-8
• Village SDA Elementary – private, religious (Seventh-day Adventist) school for grades K-8

Middle and High Schools

• Berrien Springs Middle School – public school for grades 6–8
• Andrews Academy – private, religious (Seventh-day Adventist) school for grades 9–12
• Berrien Springs High School – public school for grades 9–12. Their team name is the Shamrocks, and their colors are green and white.
• Blossomland Learning Center – run by Berrien County RESA, this school serves students from preschool through age 26.

Higher Education

• Andrews University is a university located just outside the village in Oronoko Charter Township. It is served by the Berrien Springs post office.

Famous People from Berrien Springs

Some well-known people have connections to Berrien Springs:

• Muhammad Ali – a famous professional boxer, considered one of the greatest heavyweights ever. He owned a home in the Berrien Springs area.
• Francis B. Murdoch – an attorney who helped found Berrien Springs.
• Regan Upshaw – a defensive lineman who played for five NFL teams. He was born in Berrien Springs in 1975.

See also

In Spanish: Berrien Springs para niños