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Barry County, Michigan
HastingsCourthouse
Barry County Courthouse
Map of Michigan highlighting Barry County
Location in the state of Michigan
Map of the U.S
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded April 29, 1829 (established)
March 15, 1839 (organized)
Named for William Taylor Barry
Seat Hastings
Largest city Hastings
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

577 sq mi (1,494 km²)
553 sq mi (1,432 km²)
24 sq mi (62 km²), 4.2%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

62,423
107/sq mi (41/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Barry County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 62,423.[1] The county seat is Hastings.[2]

History[]

Before the present era, the Michigan peninsula was long occupied by bands of the Potowatomi 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 Pottowatomi has a reservation in Allegan County, just west of Barry County.

Barry County was described and delineated by act of the Territorial legislature on April 29, 1829, carved out of previously unorganized lands in the Territory. It was named to honor William Taylor Barry, who was serving as United States Postmaster General at the time of the county's proclamation. Barry was one of US President Andrew Jackson's cabinet members who were memorialized in names of ten Michigan counties, the "cabinet counties".[3]

By 1839, the Territory had been admitted into the Union as Michigan State. In 1839, the Michigan State Legislature approved the organization of Barry County as an independent entity.

In the early years of the twentieth century, petroleum deposits of varying magnitudes were discovered and developed in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This discovery was made in Barry County in 1939; similar discoveries in adjacent counties ranged from 1937 (Allegan County) to 1972 (Eaton County). Identifiable petroleum deposits had been identified in every county adjacent to Barry by 1972.[4]

Geography[]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (4.2%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties[]

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

  • M-37 M-37 – enters NW part of county running south from Kent County. Runs S and SE to Hastings; runs south and SSE from Hastings to Calhoun County.
  • M-43 M-43 – enters from Kalamazoo. Runs north and east through Delton, Hastings and Carlton to intersection with M43, east of Woodland in NE corner of Barry County.
  • M-50 M-50 – enters NE tip of county at Woodbury. Runs west and north to Ionia County.
  • M-66 M-66 – enters SE corner of county running N from Calhoun County. Runs north and NE through eastern portion of county. Passes Nashville to NE corner of county; exits to Eaton County at Woodbury running east.
  • M-78 M-78 – runs SW across extreme southeastern tip of county, entering from Eaton County, exiting to Calhoun County.
  • M-79 M-79 – runs west from its intersection with M66 at Nashville to its intersection with M37, SE of Hastings.
  • M-89 M-89 – runs SE across the southwestern tip of county, from Allegan County to Kalamazoo County.
  • M-179 M-179 – enters west portion of county from Allegan County. Runs east to Hastings.[6]

Railroads[]

There were once several minor railroads through the county. At present there are none.[6] The only railroad left in the county is a two-mile section owned by CSX Transportation, running through the northeast corner of Woodland Township, Michigan

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1840 1,078
1850 5,072 370.5%
1860 13,858 173.2%
1870 22,199 60.2%
1880 25,317 14.0%
1890 23,783 −6.1%
1900 22,514 −5.3%
1910 22,633 0.5%
1920 21,383 −5.5%
1930 20,928 −2.1%
1940 22,613 8.1%
1950 26,183 15.8%
1960 31,738 21.2%
1970 38,166 20.3%
1980 45,781 20.0%
1990 50,057 9.3%
2000 56,755 13.4%
2010 59,173 4.3%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,173 people living in the county. 96.9% were White, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 2.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 19.8% were of German, 13.5% American, 12.1% English, 11.2% Dutch and 8.1% Irish ancestry.[11]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families living in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile (39/km2). There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.39% White, 0.24% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.8% were of German, 13.6% English, 12.5% Dutch, 12.4% American and 9.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.2% spoke only English at home.

There were 21,035 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.06.

The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,820, and the median income for a family was $51,794. Males had a median income of $38,991 versus $26,387 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,636. About 3.90% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Elections[]

Barry County has been strongly Republican from its start. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 91% of the elections (31 of 34 elections).

United States presidential election results for Barry County, Michigan[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 23,471 65.27% 11,797 32.80% 693 1.93%
2016 19,202 62.92% 9,114 29.87% 2,201 7.21%
2012 16,655 58.20% 11,491 40.15% 471 1.65%
2008 16,431 53.65% 13,449 43.91% 749 2.45%
2004 18,638 61.57% 11,312 37.37% 322 1.06%
2000 15,716 59.88% 9,769 37.22% 759 2.89%
1996 11,139 48.18% 9,467 40.95% 2,514 10.87%
1992 9,489 38.57% 8,652 35.17% 6,458 26.25%
1988 12,546 60.66% 7,983 38.60% 152 0.73%
1984 14,245 70.29% 5,898 29.10% 122 0.60%
1980 12,006 58.13% 6,857 33.20% 1,791 8.67%
1976 11,178 60.79% 6,967 37.89% 243 1.32%
1972 10,393 64.02% 5,484 33.78% 356 2.19%
1968 8,492 55.14% 5,206 33.81% 1,702 11.05%
1964 5,509 40.36% 8,102 59.36% 39 0.29%
1960 9,298 67.54% 4,406 32.00% 63 0.46%
1956 9,359 70.22% 3,907 29.31% 63 0.47%
1952 8,933 72.70% 3,230 26.29% 124 1.01%
1948 5,677 64.75% 2,726 31.09% 365 4.16%
1944 7,057 69.17% 3,010 29.50% 136 1.33%
1940 6,872 68.55% 3,091 30.83% 62 0.62%
1936 4,950 53.48% 3,880 41.92% 425 4.59%
1932 4,556 49.21% 4,416 47.70% 286 3.09%
1928 6,044 79.94% 1,459 19.30% 58 0.77%
1924 5,656 70.72% 2,046 25.58% 296 3.70%
1920 5,154 70.69% 1,874 25.70% 263 3.61%
1916 3,157 53.82% 2,491 42.47% 218 3.72%
1912 1,585 28.84% 1,800 32.75% 2,111 38.41%
1908 3,247 57.46% 2,126 37.62% 278 4.92%
1904 3,675 63.08% 1,817 31.19% 334 5.73%
1900 3,294 51.44% 2,895 45.21% 214 3.34%
1896 3,294 49.63% 3,157 47.57% 186 2.80%
1892 2,854 49.20% 1,800 31.03% 1,147 19.77%
1888 3,212 49.83% 2,676 41.51% 558 8.66%
1884 2,699 44.71% 2,937 48.65% 401 6.64%



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: Julie Nakfoor-Pratt
  • Sheriff: Dar Leaf
  • County Clerk: Pam Palmer
  • County Treasurer: Susan L. Vandecar
  • Register of Deeds: Barbara D. Hurless
  • Drain Commissioner: James Dull
  • County Surveyor: Brian Reynolds
  • County Board of Commissioners: 7 Members (7 Republicans, 0 Democrats)

(information as of December 2012)

In an October 2020 interview with Fox 17 News, Sheriff Dar Leaf stated that the individuals charged in a plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer may have been attempting to effectuate a lawful arrest on Whitmer as opposed to a kidnapping. The Sheriff had shared a stage with one of those charged at a protest of the Governor's stay-at-home order in May.[13]

Education[]

Public schools in Barry County:

  • Hastings – 7 public schools, 2 private schools, 1 community college (extension of Kellogg Community College) (see Hastings, Michigan)
  • Delton – 3 public schools, 3 private schools (see Delton, Michigan)
  • Middleville – 5 public schools (see Middleville, Michigan)

Sports[]

Barry County is the host of the annual Barry-Roubaix cycling race.

Communities[]

City[]

  • Hastings (county seat)

Villages[]

  • Freeport
  • Middleville
  • Nashville
  • Woodland

Census-Designated Places[]

  • Delton
  • Dowling
  • Hickory Corners

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Assyria
  • Banfield
  • Cloverdale
  • Coats Grove
  • Lacey
  • Maple Grove
  • Prairieville
  • Quimby
  • Schultz

Townships[]

  • Assyria Township
  • Baltimore Township
  • Barry Township
  • Carlton Township
  • Castleton Township
  • Hastings Charter Township
  • Hope Township
  • Irving Township
  • Johnstown Township
  • Maple Grove Township
  • Orangeville Township
  • Prairieville Township
  • Rutland Charter Township
  • Thornapple Township
  • Woodland Township
  • Yankee Springs Township

See also[]

  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Barry County, Michigan
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Barry County, Michigan

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/barrycountymichigan/POP010220. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Bibliography on Barry County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/barry.html. 
  4. ^ Clark Historical Library, Date of the Discovery of Oil or Gas in Michigan . . (accessed 4 September 2018)
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt. 
  6. ^ a b Google Maps, Barry County MI (accessed 4 September 2018)
  7. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt. 
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  11. ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ US Election Atlas
  13. ^ "Michigan sheriff spotted at rally with men charged in domestic terror plot to kidnap, kill governor". October 10, 2020. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/10/10/michigan-sheriff-spotted-at-rally-with-men-charged-in-scheme-to-kidnap-kill-governor/. 

External links[]

Template:Barry County, Michigan Template:West Michigan

Coordinates: 42°36′N 85°19′W / 42.60, -85.31

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Barry County, Michigan. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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