Allegan County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Interstates
I-196Interstate 196Interstate 196 is a long freeway spur route in the US state of Michigan linking Grand Rapids, Holland, South Haven, and Benton Harbor. I-196 is known as the Gerald R. Ford Freeway, or simply the Ford Freeway, in Kent, Ottawa, and Allegan Counties, after the 38th President of the United States,...
I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.
US highways
US-31U.S. Route 31U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
US-131U.S. Route 131US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...
Michigan State Trunklines
M-40M-40 (Michigan highway)M-40 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from US Highway 12 near the Indiana state line in Porter Township north through Paw Paw and Allegan to end in the outskirts of Holland...
M-89M-89 (Michigan highway)M-89 is an east–west state highway in the US state of Michigan. It runs from near Ganges Township to Battle Creek. M-89 passes through Allegan County, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and Calhoun County. It also briefly crosses the southwest corner of Barry County.-Route description:M-89 begins...
M-179M-179 (Michigan highway)M-179 is a state trunkline highway in the western potion of the US state of Michigan. It runs from US Highway 131 at exit 61 outside of Bradley to M-43 just west of Hastings in the Lower Peninsula. The highway crosses through forest land and provides access to state recreational areas...
M-222M-222 (Michigan highway)M-222 is the current designation of a state trunkline route in the US state of Michigan. The route was formerly signed as M-118 and connects the city of Allegan with the US 131 freeway near Martin.-Route description:...
Allegan County Intercounty Highways
-
A-2 -
A-37 -
A-42 -
A-45
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 105,665 people, 38,165 households, and 28,394 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 128 people per square mile (49/km²). There were 43,292 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.47% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.31% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.55% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.55% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.32% from two or more races. 5.72% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 25.6% were of Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
, 17.8% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 9.6% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 8.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 7.2% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 93.6% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 5.2% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as their first language.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
In the county the population was spread out with 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts,keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and
participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county
board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
controls the budget but has only 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.
Allegan County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: Frederick Anderson - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Blaine Koops - County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Joyce A. Watts
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Sally L. Brooks - Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: Becky Rininger - County SurveyorCounty surveyor1. A county surveyor is a public official in many counties of the USA. At the bottom of this page are working "External Links" as at 4 November 2011 to websites of a selection of such County Surveyor's departments. Most of these officials are elected on the partisan ballot to four-year terms...
: Kirk L. VanOrder
(information as of September 2005)
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities- AlleganAllegan, MichiganAllegan is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,838. It is the county seat of Allegan County. The city lies within Allegan Township, but is administratively autonomous....
- DouglasDouglas, MichiganDouglas is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,214 at the 2000 census...
- FennvilleFennville, MichiganFennville is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,459 at the 2000 census.The city is situated on M-89 on the boundary between Manlius Township on the north and Clyde Township on the south...
- HollandHolland, MichiganHolland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
(partial) - OtsegoOtsego, MichiganOtsego is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,934 at the 2000 census. The city is within Otsego Township, but is administratively autonomous....
- PlainwellPlainwell, MichiganPlainwell is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,933 at the 2000 census.Plainwell is located on M-89 just east of its junction with U.S. 131. The city of Otsego is about three miles to the west. Kalamazoo is about ten miles to the south and Grand Rapids...
- SaugatuckSaugatuck, MichiganSaugatuck is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 925 at the 2010 census. The city is within Saugatuck Township, but is administratively autonomous....
- South HavenSouth Haven, MichiganSouth Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
(partial) - WaylandWayland, MichiganWayland is a city in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,939 at the 2000 census.The city is located at the northwest corner of Wayland Township, but is politically independent. The city has also incorporated a portion of land in the south of adjacent Leighton...
Villages
- HopkinsHopkins, MichiganHopkins is a village in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 592 at the 2000 census. The village is within Hopkins Township...
- MartinMartin, MichiganMartin is a village in Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 435 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
Unincorporated communities
- Bradley
- Bravo
- Burnips
- Cheshire
- Chicora
- Dorr
- Dunningville
- East Saugatuck
- Fillmore
- Ganges
- Glenn
- Graafschap
- Hamilton
- Hilliards
- Macatawa
- Moline
- Monterey
- New Richmond
- Overisel
- Pearl
- PullmanPullman, MichiganPullman is an unincorporated community in Lee Township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in a predominantly rural area of Western Michigan, about 150 miles east of Chicago. It is centered on the junction of 109th Avenue and 56th Street between sections eight and nine of Lee...
- Shelbyville
- Watson
Townships
- Allegan TownshipAllegan Township, MichiganAllegan Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 4,050.The City of Allegan is within the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
- Casco TownshipCasco Township, Allegan County, MichiganCasco Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,019 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- Cheshire TownshipCheshire Township, MichiganCheshire Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,335 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Clyde TownshipClyde Township, Allegan County, MichiganClyde Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,104 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Dorr TownshipDorr Township, MichiganDorr Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,579 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Fillmore TownshipFillmore Township, MichiganFillmore Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,756 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population was at 2,838.The City of Holland is at the northwest corner of the township.-Geography:...
- Ganges TownshipGanges Township, MichiganGanges Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,524 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Gun Plain Charter TownshipGun Plain Township, MichiganGun Plain Charter Township is a charter township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,637.The city of Plainwell lies within the township, but is administratively autonomous...
- Heath TownshipHeath Township, MichiganHeath Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,100.-Communities:...
- Hopkins TownshipHopkins Township, MichiganHopkins Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,671 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*The village of Hopkins is in the southwest of the township on Bear Creek....
- Laketown TownshipLaketown Township, MichiganLaketown Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,561 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population was at 5,994.-Communities:...
- Lee TownshipLee Township, Allegan County, MichiganLee Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,114 at the 2000 census.The township is rural with the population living mostly around the lakes and the unincorporated town of Pullman. A small portion of the Allegan State Game Area is in the...
- Leighton TownshipLeighton Township, MichiganLeighton Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,652 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Manlius TownshipManlius Township, MichiganManlius Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census.-Communities:* The city of Fennville is at the southwest corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous....
- Martin TownshipMartin Township, MichiganMartin Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,514 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* The village of Martin is within the township...
- Monterey TownshipMonterey Township, MichiganMonterey Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,065 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Otsego TownshipOtsego Township, MichiganOtsego Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,854 at the 2000 census. The City of Otsego is located within the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
- Overisel TownshipOverisel Township, MichiganOverisel Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,594 at the 2000 census.Overisel was named after the Dutch province of Overijssel...
- Salem TownshipSalem Township, Allegan County, MichiganSalem Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,486 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Saugatuck TownshipSaugatuck Township, MichiganSaugatuck Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,590 at the 2000 census. The 2008 population estimate is 3,065...
- Trowbridge TownshipTrowbridge Township, MichiganTrowbridge Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,519 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Valley TownshipValley Township, MichiganValley Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,831 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census...
- Watson TownshipWatson Township, MichiganWatson Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,086 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-History:On April 14, 1871, a...
- Wayland TownshipWayland Township, MichiganWayland Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,013 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...