Grand Beach, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grand Beach, Michigan
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Village
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Location within Berrien County
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 Grand Beach, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Michigan | |
| County | Berrien | |
| Township | New Buffalo | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Village council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.91 sq mi (2.35 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.91 sq mi (2.35 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 620 ft (189 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 310 | |
| • Density | 341.03/sq mi (131.71/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code(s) |
49117
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| Area code(s) | 269 | |
| FIPS code | 26-33260 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0627080 | |
Grand Beach is a small village located in Berrien County, Michigan. In 2020, about 310 people lived there. This village is part of New Buffalo Township. It sits right on the shore of Lake Michigan, very close to the border with Indiana.
Contents
History of Grand Beach
Early Days as a Resort (1903-1930s)
Grand Beach was started around 1903 by the Grand Beach Company. It was planned as a place where people could go for short vacations. Visitors would travel by train on the Michigan Central Railroad to the Grand Beach station. They could rent small cottages for a day or two. There was a dining hall where they could eat. People enjoyed swimming and playing golf.
The village officially became a village in 1934. This allowed the people who owned property there to have more say in how the area was run.
Fun on the Lake and Ski Jumping
The beach along Lake Michigan has always been very important to Grand Beach. In the 1920s, a long pier was built into the lake. This pier had places for dining and dancing. The pier is gone now, but sometimes its old support posts can be seen when the lake water is low.
The Golfmore Hotel was a fancy hotel built nearby in Michiana. A small footbridge connected the hotel to the pier area. The hotel was a big part of the social life in the 1920s. It even held exciting ski jumping events in the winter! Sadly, the hotel burned down on November 19, 1939.
Golf Course and Village Life
The public golf course has been a key part of Grand Beach life since it started. It once had 27 holes, but for many years now, it has been a 9-hole course. The course runs from the clubhouse to the village gate and back. In the 1950s, the village hall moved to the new golf clubhouse. This building also serves as a community center.
Changes from Lake Levels
The water levels of Lake Michigan have affected activities in the village. When lake levels were high, there was sometimes very little beach left. The erosion, or wearing away, of beachfront properties was very noticeable in the early 1950s, early 1970s, and late 2010s.
Famous Architecture and Recent Growth
Three homes designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright were built in Grand Beach. One of them, the Ernest Vosburgh Summer House, was built in 1916. It still looks much like it did when it was first built.
In the 1950s, fewer people from Chicago visited Southwest Michigan. They started going to other resorts instead. However, starting in the 1980s, Grand Beach and nearby New Buffalo became popular again. They are now known as charming and easy-to-reach resort areas. A former camp was turned into a gated community with expensive homes. This gave the area a more upscale feel.
In recent years, Grand Beach has also been known for its connection to Chicago's Daley family.
Geography of Grand Beach
Grand Beach covers an area of about 0.91 square miles (2.35 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The village is located about 73 miles (117 kilometers) east of Chicago. It sits across Lake Michigan from the city.
Population Information
How Many People Live Here?
The table below shows how the population of Grand Beach has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 105 | — | |
| 1960 | 86 | −18.1% | |
| 1970 | 165 | 91.9% | |
| 1980 | 227 | 37.6% | |
| 1990 | 146 | −35.7% | |
| 2000 | 221 | 51.4% | |
| 2010 | 272 | 23.1% | |
| 2020 | 310 | 14.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details from 2010
According to the census in 2010, there were 272 people living in Grand Beach. These people lived in 133 households, and 84 of these were families. The village had about 299 people per square mile. There were 414 housing units in total.
Almost all of the people living in the village (100%) were White. About 1.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Out of the 133 households:
- 15.8% had children under 18 living with them.
- 57.9% were married couples living together.
- 3.8% had a female head of household with no husband.
- 1.5% had a male head of household with no wife.
- 36.8% were not families.
About 34.6% of all households were made up of single individuals. Also, 21.8% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average household had 2.05 people, and the average family had 2.58 people.
The average age of people in the village was 60.2 years.
- 15.8% of residents were under 18.
- 2.7% were between 18 and 24.
- 8% were from 25 to 44.
- 37.9% were from 45 to 64.
- 35.7% were 65 years old or older.
The population was made up of 48.2% males and 51.8% females.
See also
In Spanish: Grand Beach para niños
