Berrien County, Michigan
According to countryaah.com, Berrien County, Michigan is located in the southwestern region of the state and is home to an estimated population of 156,000 people. The county is comprised of several cities and towns including Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Niles, Buchanan, and Bridgman.
The racial demographics of Berrien County are diverse with White (78%), Black or African American (11%), Hispanic or Latino (7%), Asian (2%), and other ethnicities making up the remaining 2%. The majority of residents in Berrien County are 25 years old or older and about 90% have graduated high school while over 32% have earned at least a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The median household income for Berrien County is around $53,000 per year with about 17% living below poverty line according to recent census data. As far as employment goes, the largest industries in Berrien County include healthcare services with about 17% employed in this sector followed by retail trade at 13%, manufacturing at 11%, educational services at 7%, finance & insurance at 7%, professional services at 6%, accommodation & food services at 5%. The unemployment rate for Berrien County is currently 4%.
Berrien County offers a wide range of opportunities for its diverse population with plenty to explore both culturally and economically throughout its various cities and towns that make up this vibrant community in Michigan’s Southwestern region.
History of Berrien County, Michigan
Berrien County, Michigan has a long history that dates back to the early 1800s. The county was originally part of the Northwest Territory and became part of Michigan in 1805. In 1829, Berrien County was established and included the present-day counties of Cass, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph.
The area quickly became an agricultural powerhouse with farmers producing grains, fruits, vegetables, and livestock that were sold throughout the region. The county’s first settlers were mostly from New England and Ohio who were looking for work in the lumber industry. By mid-1800s Berrien County had developed into a thriving community with many small towns popping up along its rivers and lakes.
In the early 1900s Berrien County began to experience rapid growth as tourism increased and manufacturing jobs became more available in the area. This growth was further bolstered by World War II when thousands of workers came to work in local factories to support the war effort. After the war ended, many of these workers stayed in Berrien County resulting in a population boom that continues today.
Berrien County is now home to several cities and towns including Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Niles, Buchanan, Bridgman, New Buffalo Township and Watervliet Township among others. The area is known for its beautiful beaches along Lake Michigan as well as its vibrant cultural scene with plenty of music festivals throughout the year.
Today, Berrien County is a vibrant community with plenty of opportunities for residents both culturally and economically throughout its various cities and towns that make up this vibrant community in Michigan’s Southwestern region.
Major cities and towns in Berrien County, Michigan
Berrien County, Michigan is home to several cities and towns that offer residents plenty of things to do and see. The major cities in the county are Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Niles, Buchanan, Bridgman, New Buffalo Township and Watervliet Township.
Benton Harbor is located on the banks of the St. Joseph River and is the largest city in Berrien County. It was founded in 1831 and is known for its beautiful beaches along Lake Michigan as well as its vibrant cultural scene with plenty of music festivals throughout the year. Benton Harbor also has a strong industrial base with many factories producing automotive parts and other goods that are shipped all over the world.
St. Joseph is another popular city in Berrien County that was established in 1834 by early settlers from New England who were looking for work in the lumber industry. Today, it is a thriving community known for its scenic views of Lake Michigan as well as its lively downtown area which features shops, restaurants, galleries, and other attractions.
Niles is located just south of St. Joseph along the banks of the St. Joseph River and was originally settled by Native Americans before becoming part of Berrien County in 1829. Today, it has grown into a bustling city with plenty to do including an annual carnival called “Circus Week” which draws visitors from all over the region each year.
Buchanan is a small town located on the southwest corner of Berrien County that was established in 1836 by early settlers from Ohio who were looking for work in the lumber industry. It has since grown into a vibrant community with plenty to explore including its historic downtown area which features unique shops, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, museums and more.
Bridgman is another small town located on Lake Michigan near Niles that was first settled by Native Americans before becoming part of Berrien County in 1829. It has since become known for its scenic views as well as its many wineries which draw visitors from all over the region each year to sample their wines made from locally-grown grapes and fruits from nearby farms.
New Buffalo Township is a rural township located along Lake Michigan near Buchanan that was established in 1837 by early settlers from Ohio who were looking for work in the lumber industry. Today, it remains largely rural but still offers plenty to explore including many parks perfect for hiking or camping trips as well as several wineries where you can sample locally-made wine crafted from local grapes.
Finally, Watervliet Township is a small township located just north of St Joseph near Lake Michigan that was established in 1830 by early settlers from Ohio who were looking for work in the lumber industry. This area has since grown into a vibrant community with plenty to explore including numerous parks perfect for hiking or camping trips, several beaches perfect for swimming or sunbathing, and even an old-fashioned drive-in movie theater where you can watch classic films while snacking on popcorn.
Population in Berrien County, Michigan
According to Act-Test-Centers, Berrien County, Michigan is located in the southwestern corner of the state and borders Lake Michigan to the west. The population of Berrien County is estimated to be around 161,913 people according to the 2019 United States Census Bureau. This population makes up 3.1% of Michigan’s total population and is ranked as the 32nd most populous county in Michigan.
The majority of Berrien County’s population is concentrated in its two major cities: St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. St. Joseph has a population of 8,365 and makes up 5% of Berrien County’s total population while Benton Harbor has a population of 10,038 and makes up 6%. The remaining 89% of Berrien County’s population is spread out across several other smaller cities and townships including Niles, Buchanan, Bridgman, New Buffalo Township, Watervliet Township, and many more.
In terms of racial demographics, Berrien County is quite diverse with a variety of different ethnicities represented among its residents. According to the 2019 United States Census Bureau estimates, 78% (125,921) are White non-Hispanic; 12% (19,716) are African American; 2% (3,535) are Asian; 1% (1 737) are Native American; 2% (3 045) are from two or more races; 0.2% (344) are Pacific Islander; 0.5 % (847) are some other race; and 4 % (6 609) are Hispanic or Latino origin any race.
In terms of educational attainment levels for adults aged 25 years or older living in Berrien County in 2018 according to U S Census Bureau estimates: 80 % had at least a high school diploma or equivalent; 28 % had at least an associate degree; 13 % had at least a bachelor’s degree; 7 % had at least a graduate or professional degree; 8 % were not high school graduates.
Berrien County also has an active youth population with an estimated 22 percent under the age 18 as per 2019 census bureau estimates. The majority (88%) were born in the US while 12 percent were born abroad with Mexico being the most common country outside US. In terms of language spoken at home by those 5 years old or more, English was spoken by 93 percent, Spanish was spoken by 4 percent, other Indo-European languages were spoken by 1 percent, Asian & Pacific Island languages were spoken by 1 percent, other languages were spoken by less than 1 percent. These statistics indicate that Berrien County has both diverse ethnic backgrounds as well as diverse language backgrounds which can be seen both on its streets as well as within its schools.
