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Van Buren County, Michigan facts for kids

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Van Buren County
U.S. county
Van Buren County Courthouse
Official seal of Van Buren County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Van Buren 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 1829 (created)
1837 (organized)
Named for Martin Van Buren
Seat Paw Paw
Largest city South Haven
Area
 • Total 1,090 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land 607 sq mi (1,570 km2)
 • Water 482 sq mi (1,250 km2)  44%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 75,587
 • Density 124/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 4th

Van Buren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 75,587. The county seat is Paw Paw. The county was founded in 1829 and organized in 1837.

History

The county was named for Martin Van Buren before he became president. He was U.S. Secretary of State and later Vice President under President Andrew Jackson; thus Van Buren is one of Michigan's "Cabinet counties".

The Van Buren County Courthouse was built by Claire Allen, a prominent Southern Michigan architect; its cornerstone was laid on September 2, 1901, after a July vote to issue $35,000 in county bonds.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,090 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 607 square miles (1,570 km2) is land and 482 square miles (1,250 km2) (44%) is water.

Much of the county is farmland dotted with small towns. Areas near Kalamazoo County, specifically Antwerp Township and Almena Township, are becoming suburbanized. Many of the inland lakes are ringed with homes, either by people living year-round or cottagers, generally people who live the rest of the time in Chicago. As with other areas near Lake Michigan, tourism is a major industry.

Rivers

Adjacent counties

By land

By water

Parks, preserves, natural areas

Paw Paw River
Paw Paw River in Van Buren County
  • Dunes Parkway, an 84-acre (340,000 m2) preserve of dunes in Covert Township
  • Hamilton Township Coastal Plain Marsh Nature Sanctuary, a 79-acre (320,000 m2) preserve of coastal plain marsh in Hamilton Township owned by the Michigan Nature Association
  • Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a 49-acre (200,000 m2) preserve in Columbia Township
  • Kal-Haven Trail, a multi-use trail converted from old rail line that runs from Kalamazoo to South Haven
  • Keeler State Game Area, 400 acres (162 ha) (1.6 km2) in Keeler Township
  • North Point Park - high dunes on 17 acres (69,000 m2) on Lake Michigan, north of Van Buren State Park
  • Ross Preserve, a 1,449 acres (5.86 km2) preserve of coastal plain marsh in Covert Township owned by The Nature Conservancy
  • Van Buren State Park
  • Van Buren Trail State Park is adjacent to Kal-Haven Trail

Transportation

Highways

  • I-94
  • I-196
  • BL I-196
  • US 31
  • M-40
  • M-51
  • M-140
  • M-152
  • A-2
  • M-43

Public transportation

  • Pere Marquette (Amtrak train)
  • Van Buren Public Transit

Railroads

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 5 —
1840 1,910 38,100.0%
1850 5,800 203.7%
1860 15,224 162.5%
1870 28,829 89.4%
1880 30,807 6.9%
1890 30,541 −0.9%
1900 33,274 8.9%
1910 33,185 −0.3%
1920 30,715 −7.4%
1930 32,637 6.3%
1940 35,111 7.6%
1950 39,184 11.6%
1960 48,395 23.5%
1970 56,173 16.1%
1980 66,814 18.9%
1990 70,060 4.9%
2000 76,263 8.9%
2010 76,258 0.0%
2020 75,587 −0.9%
2023 (est.) 75,798 −0.6%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2018

The 2010 United States Census indicates Van Buren County had a 2010 population of 76,258. This decrease of -5 people from the 2000 United States Census indicated a nearly-zero population change in the decade. In 2010 there were 28,928 households and 20,434 families in the county. The population density was 125.5 per square mile (48.5 per square kilometer). There were 36,785 housing units at an average density of 60.6 per square mile (23.4 per square kilometer). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 82.7% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 10.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races.

There were 28,928 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were husband and wife families, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 25.5% under age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $44,242 and the median income for a family was $53,642. Males had a median income of $28,079 versus $18,124 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,495. About 10.0% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under the age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

SouthHavenLightSouthPier
South Haven Light, south pier

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Former townships

  • Clinch Township existed from 1837 until 1842, when it was divided into Waverly Township and Almena Township.

See also

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

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