Three Oaks, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Three Oaks, Michigan
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Village
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Looking north along N. Elm Street
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Location within Berrien County
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 Three Oaks, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Michigan | |
| County | Berrien | |
| Township | Three Oaks | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Village council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 692 ft (211 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,370 | |
| • Density | 1,253.43/sq mi (484.10/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code(s) |
49128
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| Area code(s) | 269 | |
| FIPS code | 26-79720 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1614822 | |
Three Oaks is a village in Three Oaks Township, Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, its population was 1,370 people.
The village of Three Oaks is located in the southwest part of Michigan. It is only 5 miles from the shores of Lake Michigan. It is also within 2 miles of the Indiana border, along US 12.
Contents
History of Three Oaks
Three Oaks was first settled in 1850 by Henry Chamberlain. It became a village in 1867. The village was first called Chamberlain's Siding. Its name was changed to Three Oaks because three large oak trees served as a guide for train engineers. These original oak trees are no longer standing. The last one was cut down in the early 1900s.
Village Celebrations and Events
Three Oaks shows its community spirit during its annual Flag Day Celebration in June. This celebration includes a parade, which is the largest Flag Day parade in the entire country.
The "Apple Cider Century" is a popular bicycle ride that starts and ends in Three Oaks. It offers different routes, from 15 to 100 miles long. The Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Club started this event in 1974. More than 6,000 riders participate every year. It takes place on the last Sunday of September.
The Dewey Cannon Story
Three Oaks celebrated 100 years of having the Dewey Cannon during its Flag Day Festival in June 2000. This cannon was captured during the Spanish–American War by Admiral Dewey. It was given to Three Oaks because its citizens raised a lot of money for a memorial to the men of the battleship Maine. Three Oaks gave more money per person than any other community in the nation.
A local newspaper proudly said, "Three Oaks Against the World." This park was officially opened on October 17, 1899, by President William McKinley. The cannon was presented on June 28, 1900. A special guest was Helen Miller Gould. She was known for her kindness during the Spanish–American War. Thousands of people attended these events. The Dewey Cannon is still on display in the park. It has the engraved symbol of Queen Isabella II of Spain.
Three Oaks in Movies
The Christmas movie Prancer, released in 1989, was mostly filmed in Three Oaks. Some scenes were also filmed in nearby LaPorte, Indiana. A sequel, Prancer Returns, was made in 2001. In this movie, a boy comes to Three Oaks to learn about the "Prancer incident."
The Warren Featherbone Factory
Three Oaks is also home to the Warren Featherbone Factory. Edward Kirk Warren built this factory over a century ago. He found a way to use turkey feathers to make "stiffeners" for women's clothes, like corsets. This was a new material that replaced "whalebone" in the late 1800s. The factory building is still standing today. It now houses the Journeyman Distillery, Acorn Theater, and Featherbone Factory.
Village Financial Challenges
In 2008, Three Oaks faced financial difficulties. The village had a large debt after a street project and other expenses. The village president, clerk, and a councilman resigned. New village councilors were elected in November 2008. The State of Michigan had to step in to help manage the village's money. An Emergency Financial Manager was appointed to help the village create a plan to fix its finances. The village was able to recover and hired its first Village Manager in 2010.
Geography
The United States Census Bureau states that the village covers about 0.99 square miles (2.83 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 499 | — | |
| 1880 | 474 | −5.0% | |
| 1890 | 885 | 86.7% | |
| 1900 | 994 | 12.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,175 | 18.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,362 | 15.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,336 | −1.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,351 | 1.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,572 | 16.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,763 | 12.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,750 | −0.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,774 | 1.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,786 | 0.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,829 | 2.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,622 | −11.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,370 | −15.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
What Was the Population in 2010?
In 2010, there were 1,622 people living in Three Oaks. There were 678 households and 422 families. The village had about 1638.4 people per square mile. There were 797 housing units.
Most of the people living in the village were White (93.2%). There were also African American (1.1%), Native American (1.4%), and Asian (0.6%) residents. About 1.7% were from other races, and 1.8% were from two or more races. About 4.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 31.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 43.5% were married couples. About 14.2% had a female head of household with no husband present. About 4.6% had a male head of household with no wife present. About 37.8% were not families.
About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals. About 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average household size was 2.39 people. The average family size was 3.01 people.
The average age in the village was 39.3 years. About 24.4% of residents were under 18. About 8.1% were between 18 and 24. About 25.6% were from 25 to 44. About 28.5% were from 45 to 64. About 13.4% were 65 years or older. The population was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.
Media and Entertainment
Three Oaks was the fictional setting for the soap opera Young Doctor Malone. This show was on radio and television from 1939 to 1960. As mentioned before, the 1989 film Prancer also used Three Oaks as its setting. Many town scenes and outdoor shots were filmed there.
Notable People from Three Oaks
- Al Benson, a radio DJ
- Henry Chamberlain, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives
- Frederic G. Donner, a former Chairman and CEO of General Motors
- Robert Hellenga, a novelist and short story writer
- Ron Jelinek, a member of the Michigan Legislature
- Carlos T. Mock, a doctor, activist, and journalist
- Elton Rynearson, an athlete and coach
- Joe Savoldi, a professional wrestler, football player, and spy
- Edward Kirk Warren, an industrialist and inventor
- Donald S. Whitehead, who served twice as the lieutenant governor of Idaho
Images for kids
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Looking north along N. Elm Street
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Three Oaks Village Logo
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Location within Berrien County
See also
In Spanish: Three Oaks (Míchigan) para niños
