Barry County, Michigan

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Barry County
County
HastingsCourthouse.jpg
Barry County Courthouse
Map of Michigan highlighting Barry County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan in United States.svg
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°36′N85°19′W / 42.6°N 85.31°W / 42.6; -85.31
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Michigan.svg  Michigan
FoundedApril 29, 1829 (established)
March 15, 1839 (organized)
Named for William Taylor Barry
Seat Hastings
Largest cityHastings
Area
 • Total577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water24 sq mi (60 km2)  4.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total62,423
 • Density107/sq mi (41/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website https://www.barrycounty.org/

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]

Contents

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

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 northeastern corner of Woodland Township.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 1,078—
1850 5,072370.5%
1860 13,858173.2%
1870 22,19960.2%
1880 25,31714.0%
1890 23,783−6.1%
1900 22,514−5.3%
1910 22,6330.5%
1920 21,383−5.5%
1930 20,928−2.1%
1940 22,6138.1%
1950 26,18315.8%
1960 31,73821.2%
1970 38,16620.3%
1980 45,78120.0%
1990 50,0579.3%
2000 56,75513.4%
2010 59,1734.3%
2020 62,4235.5%
2023 (est.)63,808 [7] 2.2%
US Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010-2018 [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. [12]

As of the 2000 United States Census, [13] there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families living in the county. The population density was 102 inhabitants 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 [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 23,47165.27%11,79732.80%6931.93%
2016 19,20262.92%9,11429.87%2,2017.21%
2012 16,65558.20%11,49140.15%4711.65%
2008 16,43153.65%13,44943.91%7492.45%
2004 18,63861.57%11,31237.37%3221.06%
2000 15,71659.88%9,76937.22%7592.89%
1996 11,13948.18%9,46740.95%2,51410.87%
1992 9,48938.57%8,65235.17%6,45826.25%
1988 12,54660.66%7,98338.60%1520.73%
1984 14,24570.29%5,89829.10%1220.60%
1980 12,00658.13%6,85733.20%1,7918.67%
1976 11,17860.79%6,96737.89%2431.32%
1972 10,39364.02%5,48433.78%3562.19%
1968 8,49255.14%5,20633.81%1,70211.05%
1964 5,50940.36%8,10259.36%390.29%
1960 9,29867.54%4,40632.00%630.46%
1956 9,35970.22%3,90729.31%630.47%
1952 8,93372.70%3,23026.29%1241.01%
1948 5,67764.75%2,72631.09%3654.16%
1944 7,05769.17%3,01029.50%1361.33%
1940 6,87268.55%3,09130.83%620.62%
1936 4,95053.48%3,88041.92%4254.59%
1932 4,55649.21%4,41647.70%2863.09%
1928 6,04479.94%1,45919.30%580.77%
1924 5,65670.72%2,04625.58%2963.70%
1920 5,15470.69%1,87425.70%2633.61%
1916 3,15753.82%2,49142.47%2183.72%
1912 1,58528.84%1,80032.75%2,11138.41%
1908 3,24757.46%2,12637.62%2784.92%
1904 3,67563.08%1,81731.19%3345.73%
1900 3,29451.44%2,89545.21%2143.34%
1896 3,29449.63%3,15747.57%1862.80%
1892 2,85449.20%1,80031.03%1,14719.77%
1888 3,21249.83%2,67641.51%5588.66%
1884 2,69944.71%2,93748.65%4016.64%

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

(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. [15]

Education

Public schools in Barry County:

Sports

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

Arts and culture

The annual Barry County Artists Exhibition highlights local art each summer. [16]

Communities

City

Villages

Census-Designated Places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Township, Michigan</span> Township in Michigan, United States

Barry Township is a civil township of Barry County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 3,417.

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Hastings is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Barry County, as well as the county's only city. The population was 7,514 at the 2020 census. The city borders Hastings Charter Township on the north, east, and south, and Rutland Charter Township on the west.

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References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Bibliography on Barry County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University . Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  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. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Google Maps, Barry County MI (accessed 4 September 2018)
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  8. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  12. ↑ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
  13. ↑ Statistical profile of Barry County, Michigan Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ US Election Atlas
  15. ↑ "Michigan sheriff spotted at rally with men charged in domestic terror plot to kidnap, kill governor". October 10, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Barry County Artists Exhibition | Thornapple Arts Council". November 25, 2014.

42°36′N85°19′W / 42.60°N 85.31°W / 42.60; -85.31

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