St. Joseph County, Michigan

History

This area was settled by members of the three Algonquian-speaking tribes of the Council of Three Fires: the Potawatomi, Odawa, and Chippewa (known as Ojibwa in Canada). French explorers in a party led by Father Hennepin came upriver from Lake Michigan in 1679. A Jesuit mission was established near where the French later built Fort St. Joseph, and they named the waterway as the St. Joseph River.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 521 sqmi, of which 501 sqmi is land and 20 sqmi (3.9%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Michigan by total area. The entire county lies in the Saint Joseph River watershed.

Adjacent counties

• Van Buren County – northwest
• Kalamazoo County – north
• Calhoun County – northeast
• Branch County – east
• LaGrange County, Indiana – south
• Elkhart County, Indiana – southwest
• Cass County – west

Major highways

• runs east–west across the lower portion of the county and passes White Pigeon and Sturgis.
• runs north–south through the western portion of the county and passes Three Rivers, Constantine, and White Pigeon.
• runs north–south through eastern Three Rivers.
• runs east-northeast through the upper portion of the county and passes Three Rivers, Parkville, Mendon, Leonidas.
• enters the southeastern portion of the county from Star Mill, Indiana, and runs north to an intersection with M-60, 2 mi east of Mendon.
• runs east–west through the center of the county, entering at Colon, passing Nella and Centreville to an intersection with M-60 at Three Rivers.
• enters the southwestern tip of the county and runs north 2 mi to intersection with US 12 near the western county line.
• enters the northwestern portion of the county from Marcellus and runs east to an intersection with US 131 4 mi north of Three Rivers.

Strictly speaking, the Indiana Toll Road does not enter St. Joseph County, but it has an interchanges with US 131 barely within Indiana. Although M-66 does not quite reach the Toll Road, the toll road interchange is in clear sight from M-66 before it becomes Indiana State Road 9.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 60,939. The median age was 39.7 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 84.6% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian,

36.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 23,557 households in the county, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.5% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 27,081 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.0% were owner-occupied and 25.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.

2010 census

The 2010 census indicates St. Joseph County had a 2010 population of 61,295. This decrease of -1,127 people from the 2000 United States census represents a -1.8% population change (decrease) in that decade. In 2010 there were 23,244 households and 16,275 families in the county. The population density was 122.4 /mi2. There were 27,778 housing units at an average density of 55.5 /mi2. The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 88.0% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races.

There were 23,244 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were husband and wife families, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 24.8% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 25.9% under age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $43,964 and the median income for a family was $52,600. Males had a median income of $30,517 versus $16,388 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,737. About 1.8% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under the age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

St. Joseph County has long been reliably Republican. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried 81% of the elections (29 of 36).

The county government operates the jail, 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 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

• 1st District Commissioner: Jared Hoffmaster
• 2nd District Commissioner: Rick Shaffer
• 3rd District Commissioner: Rusty Baker
• 4th District Commissioner: Luis Rosado
• 5th District Commissioner: Dennis Allen
• 6th District Commissioner: Ken Malone
• 7th District Commissioner: Terrance Conklin
• Prosecuting Attorney: Deborah Davis
• Sheriff: Chad Spence
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Gina Everson
• County Treasurer: Kathy Humphreys
• Drain Commissioner: Jeffrey Wenzel
• County Surveyor: David Mostrom
• 45th Circuit Court Judge: Paul Stutesman
• 3B District Court Judge: Robert K. Pattison
• 3B District Court Judge: Jeffrey C. Middleton
• Probate Court Judge: Kevin Kane

(Information verified with county website as of February 2025)

Communities

Cities

• Sturgis
• Three Rivers

Villages

• Burr Oak
• Centreville (county seat)
• Colon
• Constantine
• Mendon
• White Pigeon

Unincorporated communities

• Findley
• Leonidas
• Mottville
• Nottawa
• Parkville
• Wasepi

Townships

• Burr Oak Township
• Colon Township
• Constantine Township
• Fabius Township
• Fawn River Township
• Florence Township
• Flowerfield Township
• Leonidas Township
• Lockport Township
• Mendon Township
• Mottville Township
• Nottawa Township
• Park Township
• Sherman Township
• Sturgis Township
• White Pigeon Township

References

References

1. "Bibliography on St. Joseph County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "Michigan Amish".
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
6. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
14. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections".
16. . ["Government"](https://www.stjosephcountymi.org/government). *St Joseph County*.