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Barry County, Michigan

Coordinates: 42°36′N 85°19′W / 42.60°N 85.31°W / 42.60; -85.31
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Barry County
County
Barry County Courthouse
Barry County Courthouse
Map of Michigan highlighting Barry County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°36′N 85°19′W / 42.6°N 85.31°W / 42.6; -85.31
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
 (2020)
 • Total62,423
 • Estimate 
(2023)
63,808 Increase
 • Density110/sq mi (42/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitehttps://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]

History

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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

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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

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Transportation

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Major highways

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  • 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

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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

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202062,4235.5%
2023 (est.)63,808[7]2.2%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[1]
Barry County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition (NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 56,487 56,779 95.46% 90.96%
Black or African American alone (NH) 205 295 0.35% 0.47%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 251 221 0.42% 0.35%
Asian alone (NH) 212 245 0.36% 0.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 5 15 0.01% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 25 198 0.04% 0.32%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 652 2,528 1.10% 4.05%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,336 2,142 2.26% 3.43%
Total 59,173 62,423 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.


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.[14]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] 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

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Elections

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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[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
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

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(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.[17]

Education

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Public schools in Barry County:

Sports

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

Arts and culture

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The annual Barry County Artists Exhibition highlights local art each summer.[18]

Communities

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City

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Villages

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Census-Designated Places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
  15. ^ Statistical profile of Barry County, Michigan Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ US Election Atlas
  17. ^ "Michigan sheriff spotted at rally with men charged in domestic terror plot to kidnap, kill governor". October 10, 2020.
  18. ^ "Barry County Artists Exhibition | Thornapple Arts Council". November 25, 2014.
[edit]

42°36′N 85°19′W / 42.60°N 85.31°W / 42.60; -85.31

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