Allegan County, Michigan

History

The Michigan peninsula was long occupied by bands of the Pottawatomi and Ojibwe of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. The United States government forced the tribes to cede their extensive territories to the federal government, in exchange for annuities and small reservations. The federally recognized Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi has a reservation here.

The boundaries of Allegan County were laid out by the Territorial legislature in 1831. The county was organized in 1835. At that time there were only about four European-American families in the area. Among the first settlers of Allegan County were Giles Scott and Turner Aldrich.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1833 sqmi, of which 825 sqmi is land and 1008 sqmi (55%) is water.

Adjacent counties

By land

• Ottawa County – north
• Kent County – northeast
• Barry County – east
• Kalamazoo County – southeast
• Van Buren County – south By water
• Lake County, Illinois – southwest
• Kenosha County, Wisconsin – west
• Racine County, Wisconsin – northwest

Transportation

Major highways

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2019

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 120,502. The median age was 40.3 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 87.6% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian,

32.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 67.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 45,545 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.9% were married-couple households, 16.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 51,789 housing units, of which 12.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.5% were owner-occupied and 17.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 111,408 people living in the county. 92.9% were White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% Native American, 2.8% of some other race and 1.9% of two or more races. 6.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 23.0% were of Dutch, 17.5% German, 8.3% English, 7.1% Irish and 7.1% American ancestry.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 105,665 people, 38,165 households, and 28,394 families living in the county. The population density was 128 PD/sqmi. There were 43,292 housing units at an average density of 52 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.47% White, 1.31% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 5.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.6% were of Dutch, 17.8% German, 9.6% American, 8.4% English and 7.2% Irish ancestry, 93.6% spoke only English; 5.2% spoke Spanish at home.

There were 38,165 households, out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 20.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.15.

The county population contained 28.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,813, and the median income for a family was $51,908. Males had a median income of $38,681 versus $26,887 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,918. About 5.00% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

• The Reformed Church in America was the largest Protestant denomination with 4,500 members in 11 churches.
• The United Methodist Church was second, with 3,600 congregants in 20 churches.
• The Christian Reformed Church was third, with 10 churches and 2,600 members.
• The Catholic Church has 10,000 members .
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has one meetinghouse.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions—police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc.—are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Michael Villar
• Sheriff: Frank L. Baker
• Chief 48th Circuit Court Judge: Hon. Michael Antkoviak
• 48th Circuit Court Judge: Hon. Margaret Bakker
• 57th District Court Judge: Hon. Joseph Skocelas
• 57th District Court Judge: Hon. William Baillargeon
• Family Court Judge: Hon. Jolene Clearwater
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Bob Genetski
• County Treasurer: Sally L. Brooks
• Drain Commissioner: Chris Machiela
• County Surveyor: Kevin D. Miedema (Information as of January 2025)

Politics

Allegan County has been strongly Republican from its start. Since 1884, the Republican nominee has carried the county in all but one presidential election. It is very Republican even by the standards of West Michigan, rejecting Democrats even in national landslides. Underlining this, it was one of the few counties in the nation where Franklin D. Roosevelt was completely shut out in all four of his successful runs for president. FDR actually garnered fewer votes in the county in his 46-state landslide of 1936 than he did in 1932. In 1964, Lyndon Johnson became the only Democrat to carry the county since 1884, and even then only by 701 votes; it was the last time a Democrat managed even 40 percent of the county's vote until Barack Obama received 43.63 percent of its vote in 2008. The only other time that the Republicans lost the county in the 20th century was in 1912, when the GOP was mortally divided and Theodore Roosevelt carried it on the Bull Moose ticket.

Arts and Culture

Allegan County is part of the annual Arts and Eats tour, which highlights local art, food, and farms.

Communities

Cities

• Allegan (county seat)
• Douglas
• Fennville
• Holland (partial)
• Otsego
• Plainwell
• Saugatuck
• South Haven (partial)
• Wayland

Villages

• Hopkins
• Martin

Census-designated place

• Dorr

Unincorporated communities

• Argenta
• Bakersville
• Beachmont
• Bentheim
• Belknap
• Bradley
• Bravo
• Boyd
• Burnips
• Castle Park
• Cedar Bluff
• Cheshire
• Chicora
• Corning
• Diamond Springs
• Dunningville
• East Saugatuck
• East Martin
• Fillmore
• Ganges
• Glenn
• Glenn Haven Shores
• Glenn Shores
• Graafschap
• Grange Corners
• Green Lake
• Hamilton
• Hawkhead
• Hilliards
• Hooper
• Hopkinsburg
• Kibbie
• Lacota
• Lee
• Leisure
• Macatawa
• Macks Landing
• Merson
• Miami Park
• Millgrove
• Moline
• Monteith Station
• Monterey
• Monterey Center
• Mount Pleasant
• Neeley
• New Salem
• New Richmond
• Old Saugatuck
• Old Squaw Skin Landing
• Overisel
• Oxbow
• Pearl
• Pier Cove
• Plummerville
• Pullman
• Sandy Pines
• Shelbyville
• Sherman Park
• Shorecrest
• Shorewood
• South Haven Highlands
• South Monterey
• Spring Grove
• Sulphur Springs
• Watson

Townships

• Allegan Township
• Casco Township
• Cheshire Township
• Clyde Township
• Dorr Township
• Fillmore Township
• Ganges Township
• Gun Plain Charter Township
• Heath Township
• Hopkins Township
• Laketown Township
• Lee Township
• Leighton Township
• Manlius Township
• Martin Township
• Monterey Township
• Otsego Township
• Overisel Township
• Salem Township
• Saugatuck Township
• Trowbridge Township
• Valley Township
• Watson Township
• Wayland Township

Education

K-12 school districts include:

• Allegan Public Schools
• Bloomingdale Public School District
• Caledonia Community Schools
• Delton-Kellogg School District
• Fennville Public Schools
• Gobles Public School District
• Hamilton Community Schools
• Holland City School District
• Hopkins Public Schools
• Hudsonville Public School District;
• Martin Public Schools
• Otsego Public Schools
• Plainwell Community Schools
• Saugatuck Public Schools
• South Haven Public Schools
• Thornapple Kellogg School District
• Wayland Union Schools
• Zeeland Public Schools

There is one elementary-only school district: Ganges School District 4.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Bingham, Emily. (2017-02-28). "How each county in Michigan got its name".
4. "Bibliography on Allegan County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
5. "Exploring Lake Allegan".
6. Thomas, Henry F. (Ed.) (1907). [https://books.google.com/books?id=tBgVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA4 ''A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Michigan''], pp. 4–6. The Lewis Publishing Co.
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau.
9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
17. [http://censtats.census.gov/data/MI/05026005.pdf Statistical profile of Allegan County, Michigan] {{webarchive. link. (April 10, 2008)
18. (2010). "The Association of Religion Data Archives – Maps & Reports".
19. [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses/@42.531837,-85.854828,14s&cid=HP16FDM&lang=eng&id=Allegan:Allegan+County:Michigan:49010:United+States:42.512967,-85.868270,42.550702,-85.813062 LDS.org ''Locator Map'' (accessed 3 September 2018)]
20. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]
21. (October 15, 2022). "Arts and Eats tour kicks off this weekend for its 11th year".
22. Geography Division. (January 28, 2021). "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Allegan County, MI". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].