Barry County, Michigan

Barry County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 59,173.[1] The county seat is Hastings.[2]

Barry County
U.S. county
Barry County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°36′N 85°19′W
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedApril 29, 1829 (established)
March 15, 1839 (organized)
Named forWilliam Taylor Barry
SeatHastings
Largest cityHastings
Area
 • Total577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water24 sq mi (60 km2)  4.2%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
61,157
 • Density107/sq mi (41/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd

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 – 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 – 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 – enters NE tip of county at Woodbury. Runs west and north to Ionia County.
  • 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 – runs SW across extreme southeastern tip of county, entering from Eaton County, exiting to Calhoun County.
  • M-79 – runs west from its intersection with M66 at Nashville to its intersection with M37, SE of Hastings.
  • M-89 – runs SE across the southwestern tip of county, from Allegan County to Kalamazoo County.
  • 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 population
CensusPop.%±
18401,078—
18505,072370.5%
186013,858173.2%
187022,19960.2%
188025,31714.0%
189023,783−6.1%
190022,514−5.3%
191022,6330.5%
192021,383−5.5%
193020,928−2.1%
194022,6138.1%
195026,18315.8%
196031,73821.2%
197038,16620.3%
198045,78120.0%
199050,0579.3%
200056,75513.4%
201059,1734.3%
2018 (est.)61,157[7]3.4%
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 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).

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 65.3% 23,471 32.8% 11,797 1.9% 693
2016 62.9% 19,202 29.9% 9,114 7.2% 2,201
2012 58.2% 16,655 40.2% 11,491 1.7% 471
2008 53.7% 16,431 43.9% 13,449 2.5% 749
2004 61.6% 18,638 37.4% 11,312 1.1% 322
2000 59.9% 15,716 37.2% 9,769 2.9% 759
1996 48.2% 11,139 41.0% 9,467 10.9% 2,514
1992 38.6% 9,489 35.2% 8,652 26.3% 6,458
1988 60.7% 12,546 38.6% 7,983 0.7% 152
1984 70.3% 14,245 29.1% 5,898 0.6% 122
1980 58.1% 12,006 33.2% 6,857 8.7% 1,791
1976 60.8% 11,178 37.9% 6,967 1.3% 243
1972 64.0% 10,393 33.8% 5,484 2.2% 356
1968 55.1% 8,492 33.8% 5,206 11.1% 1,702
1964 40.4% 5,509 59.4% 8,102 0.3% 39
1960 67.5% 9,298 32.0% 4,406 0.5% 63
1956 70.2% 9,359 29.3% 3,907 0.5% 63
1952 72.7% 8,933 26.3% 3,230 1.0% 124
1948 64.8% 5,677 31.1% 2,726 4.2% 365
1944 69.2% 7,057 29.5% 3,010 1.3% 136
1940 68.6% 6,872 30.8% 3,091 0.6% 62
1936 53.5% 4,950 41.9% 3,880 4.6% 425
1932 49.2% 4,556 47.7% 4,416 3.1% 286
1928 79.9% 6,044 19.3% 1,459 0.8% 58
1924 70.7% 5,656 25.6% 2,046 3.7% 296
1920 70.7% 5,154 25.7% 1,874 3.6% 263
1916 53.8% 3,157 42.5% 2,491 3.7% 218
1912 28.8% 1,585 32.8% 1,800 38.4% 2,111
1908 57.5% 3,247 37.6% 2,126 4.9% 278
1904 63.1% 3,675 31.2% 1,817 5.7% 334
1900 51.4% 3,294 45.2% 2,895 3.3% 214
1896 49.6% 3,294 47.6% 3,157 2.8% 186
1892 49.2% 2,854 31.0% 1,800 19.8% 1,147
1888 49.8% 3,212 41.5% 2,676 8.7% 558
1884 44.7% 2,699 48.7% 2,937 6.6% 401

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.

Communities

City

Villages

Census-Designated Places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  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. Google Maps, Barry County MI (accessed 4 September 2018)
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  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. 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. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/10/10/michigan-sheriff-spotted-at-rally-with-men-charged-in-scheme-to-kidnap-kill-governor/

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