South Haven, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Haven, Michigan
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South Haven Lighthouse, seen in winter
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Michigan | |
| Counties | Van Buren, Allegan | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.50 sq mi (9.05 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.40 sq mi (8.82 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2) | |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,964 | |
| • Density | 1,164.51/sq mi (449.61/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
49090
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| Area code(s) | 269 | |
| FIPS code | 26-74980 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0638363 | |
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, but a small part is in Allegan County. In 2020, about 3,964 people lived there.
South Haven is located on Lake Michigan, where the Black River meets the lake. This spot has always made it an important port city. Long ago, big ships carried both people and goods to and from South Haven. In the early 1900s, it became a popular vacation spot, sometimes called "The Catskills of the Midwest." Today, many tourists visit South Haven for its fun harbor and beaches. It's also the end point of the Kal-Haven Trail, which is great for biking and snowmobiling. Nearby, you can find Van Buren State Park and the Van Buren Trail State Park.
A famous plant expert named Liberty Hyde Bailey was born in South Haven. His childhood home is now a museum that you can visit.
Contents
History of South Haven
Before white settlers arrived, the area was home to Potawatomi and Iroquois native people at different times. In 1833, the U.S. government gave Jay R. Monroe a special paper (a land patent) for 65 acres of land near Lake Michigan. The first permanent settlers came in the 1850s. Early in that decade, the first steam-powered sawmills were built on the Black River. Around this time, South Haven got its first shop owner, doctor, lawyer, and minister. The first schoolhouse was also built. The first bank opened in 1867. South Haven officially became a village in 1869 and a city in 1902. It was named South Haven because it was near Grand Haven.
In 1853, the first hotel in South Haven, called the Forest House, was built. It was later moved and changed, but it still stands today, though it's not a hotel anymore.
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The timber (wood) from South Haven's forests was sent to Chicago and Milwaukee by steamboats and schooners (types of boats). After the trees were cleared, farmers used the land to grow fruits like peaches, blueberries, and apples. This farming work created many jobs, and the city grew quickly. In the early 1900s, theaters, a casino, an opera house, an amusement park, and many resorts made the city even more popular.
Because it was a resort city, its economy depended on the seasons. To make the economy more stable, the city's business leaders worked to bring different industries to the area.
In 1925, the first goods from other countries arrived by ship. This continued until the mid-1960s. The last passenger steamboat left South Haven for Chicago in 1941. However, fun boating grew steadily. In the 1950s and 1960s, new factories opened in the area. Even though some resorts struggled, the ones that stayed became stronger.
In 1970, South Haven celebrated its "Centennial Celebration and Blueberry Festival." The city's new 64-slip marina (a place for boats) was also opened. Today, the Blueberry Festival still brings many visitors to the city. Other events like the Ice Breaker Festival, Harborfest, art shows, and Fourth of July fireworks are also very popular. The beaches, boating, and relaxing atmosphere keep South Haven a favorite warm-weather spot. The South Pier Lighthouse, built in 1903, still works and you can visit it from a public beach.
South Haven has a public school district, plus Roman Catholic and Lutheran private elementary schools. Western Michigan University and Lake Michigan College (a junior college) also have campuses in the city. The city has grown to include parts of South Haven Township and a small part of Casco Township.
Geography and Climate
The city of South Haven covers about 3.50 square miles (9.05 square kilometers). Most of this is land (3.40 sq mi or 8.82 sq km), and a small part is water (0.10 sq mi or 0.24 sq km). The area around the city is called South Haven Charter Township, and it is not yet a city itself.
South Haven's Climate
South Haven has a special climate because it's near Lake Michigan. The lake helps to make the weather milder. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are generally mild and cold, often with warmer periods.
| Climate data for South Haven, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–2019) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
71 (22) |
81 (27) |
89 (32) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
99 (37) |
97 (36) |
90 (32) |
78 (26) |
71 (22) |
100 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.5 (0.8) |
35.8 (2.1) |
44.8 (7.1) |
56.1 (13.4) |
67.7 (19.8) |
75.9 (24.4) |
80.0 (26.7) |
79.1 (26.2) |
73.7 (23.2) |
62.2 (16.8) |
49.2 (9.6) |
38.6 (3.7) |
58.1 (14.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.8 (−2.3) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
37.4 (3.0) |
47.7 (8.7) |
58.5 (14.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
72.8 (22.7) |
71.6 (22.0) |
65.5 (18.6) |
54.9 (12.7) |
42.7 (5.9) |
33.3 (0.7) |
50.8 (10.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.1 (−5.5) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
39.3 (4.1) |
49.4 (9.7) |
59.6 (15.3) |
65.6 (18.7) |
64.0 (17.8) |
57.2 (14.0) |
47.5 (8.6) |
36.2 (2.3) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
43.5 (6.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) |
−22 (−30) |
−4 (−20) |
7 (−14) |
24 (−4) |
35 (2) |
39 (4) |
37 (3) |
26 (−3) |
15 (−9) |
−10 (−23) |
−12 (−24) |
−22 (−30) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.71 (69) |
2.04 (52) |
2.25 (57) |
3.58 (91) |
3.91 (99) |
3.73 (95) |
3.16 (80) |
3.70 (94) |
3.19 (81) |
3.89 (99) |
2.68 (68) |
2.38 (60) |
37.22 (945) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 29.7 (75) |
14.4 (37) |
6.6 (17) |
1.5 (3.8) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
8.6 (22) |
24.6 (62) |
85.9 (218) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.3 | 5.1 | 7.7 | 10.4 | 11.2 | 8.6 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 11.3 | 10.1 | 7.8 | 105.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.9 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 6.7 | 21.5 |
| Source: NOAA (precipitation days, snowfall, snow days 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
Buildings and Architecture
The Scott Club building on Phoenix Street was designed by a South Haven architect named John Cornelius Randall and built in 1891. It has two big stained glass windows that show famous writers, Sir Walter Scott and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The South Haven Center for the Arts is located in the old Carnegie Library, built in 1906, also on Phoenix Street. This building has a classic style.
The Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum is in the house where Liberty Hyde Bailey Jr. was born. This old farmhouse is one of the oldest homes in South Haven.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 308 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,576 | 411.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,442 | −8.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,924 | 33.4% | |
| 1900 | 4,009 | 108.4% | |
| 1910 | 3,577 | −10.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,829 | 7.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,804 | 25.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,745 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 5,629 | 18.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,149 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,471 | 5.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,943 | −8.2% | |
| 1990 | 5,563 | −6.4% | |
| 2000 | 5,021 | −9.7% | |
| 2010 | 4,403 | −12.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,964 | −10.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
South Haven's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 4,403 people living in South Haven. These people lived in 1,959 households, with 1,126 of them being families. The city had about 1,295 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in South Haven were White (81.7%), and a good number were African American (13.3%). There were also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 3.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 47.7 years old. About 20% of the people were under 18, and 22.5% were 65 or older. More females lived in the city (55.1%) than males (44.9%).
Fun Places to Visit
South Haven has many interesting places to explore. The Michigan Maritime Museum is one of the most famous. It's home to a large old sailing ship called the Friends Good Will. The museum also has a smaller, electric boat called the Lindy Lou. These types of boats were used long ago to take people up the Black River to different resorts and parks. You can buy tickets to ride either boat – the Lindy Lou stays on the river, while the Friends Good Will goes out onto Lake Michigan.
The Historical Association of South Haven works to collect and share the city's rich history. They are located in the old Hartman School building.
At the Michigan Flywheelers Museum, you can see what life was like for early farmers in the area. They have old flywheel engines and tractors, an old town area with a jail, a farm machinery shop, and a building full of farm history exhibits.
During the winter, the city's ice rink is open for skating. You can pay a daily fee to get in and rent skates, or buy a season pass.
A popular restaurant in South Haven is Clementine's. The building used to be a bank, but it has been changed into a restaurant.
Famous People from South Haven
- Liberty Hyde Bailey, a co-founder of the American Society for Horticultural Science and known as the "Father of Modern Horticulture"
- Nate Barnes, a country music singer
- Pamela Carter, who was the Indiana Attorney General from 1993 to 1997
- Dave Gumpert, a professional baseball player
- Wendy Anderson Halperin, a children's book illustrator and author
- Cindy Hill, who won the 1974 U.S. Women's Amateur golf tournament and won twice on the LPGA Tour
- Becky Johnston, a screenwriter who was nominated for an Academy Award for The Prince of Tides
- Drakkar Klose, a fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Mark Lenard, an actor from Star Trek who played Spock's father
- Daniel K. Ludwig, a very rich shipping owner who was #1 on the first Forbes list of 400 Richest Americans in 1982
- James McCloughan, a Vietnam veteran who received the Medal of Honor
- Kennedy McIntosh, a professional basketball player
- Audrey Niffenegger, the author of The Time Traveler's Wife
- Joseph P. Overton, a political scientist who created the idea of the Overton window
- Jeffrey R. Riemer, a retired United States Air Force major general
- Art Walker, a professional football player
- Kaliesha West, a professional boxer
- D'arcy Wretzky, the former bass player for the band The Smashing Pumpkins
- J.C. Hartsfield, a co-founder of the band Heartsfield
See also
In Spanish: South Haven (Míchigan) para niños
