Allegan County, Michigan

Allegan County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1831
Seat	Allegan
Largest city	Holland
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,833.30 sq mi (4,748 km²) 827.46 sq mi (2,143 km²) 1,005.83 sq mi (2,605 km²), 54.86%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	111,408 127/sq mi (49/km²)
Website	www.allegancounty.org

Allegan County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of 2010 census, the population was 111,408. The county seat is Allegan. The name was coined by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to sound like a Native American word.

Allegan County is primarily an agricultural area that is rapidly becoming urbanized as the population centers of Grand Rapids on the northeast and Kalamazoo to the southeast expand into Allegan County. A portion of the city of Holland lies within the northwest portion of the county, as does a larger urbanized area around it. In the southwest corner, a small portion of the city of South Haven extends into Allegan County. The Lake Michigan shoreline has long been a popular place for vacation homes, and that such development continues, especially around Saugatuck and Douglas.

The largest city wholly within the county is Allegan, the county seat.

The county has long been a regional tourist draw, particularly the Tulip Time Festival in Holland and the area along Lake Michigan. Another draw is Allegan State Game Area, a 45,000 acres (180 km²) forest attracting campers, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and hunters. Allegan County also hosts Saugatuck Dunes State Park with trails through scenic dunes and a swimming beach on Lake Michigan.

History

The boundaries of Allegan County were laid out by the legislature in 1831. At that time there were only about four families permanently settled in the area. Among the first settlers of Allegan County were Giles Scott and Turner Aldrich.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,833.30 square miles (4,748.2 km²), of which 827.46 square miles (2,143.1 km²) (or 45.14%) is land and 1,005.83 square miles (2,605.1 km²) (or 54.86%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Ottawa County (north)
• Kent County (northeast)
• Barry County (east)
• Kalamazoo County (southeast)
• Van Buren County (south)
• Lake County, Illinois (southwest)
• Kenosha County, Wisconsin (west)
• Racine County, Wisconsin (northwest)

See also: List of counties bordering eight counties

Highways

Interstates

• I-196
• I-196 Business Loop serves the city of Holland.

US highways

• US-31
• US-131

Michigan State Trunklines

• M-40
• M-89
• M-179
• M-222

Allegan County Intercounty Highways

• A-2
• A-37
• A-42
• A-45

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	38,812		—
1910	39,819		2.6%
1920	37,540		−5.7%
1930	38,974		3.8%
1940	41,839		7.4%
1950	47,493		13.5%
1960	57,729		21.6%
1970	66,575		15.3%
1980	81,555		22.5%
1990	90,509		11.0%
2000	105,665		16.7%
Est. 2009	113,449

As of the 2000 census, there were 105,665 people, 38,165 households, and 28,394 families residing in the county. The population density 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, 1.31% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 5.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.6% were of Dutch, 17.8% German, 9.6% American, 8.4% English and 7.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 93.6% spoke English and 5.2% Spanish 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 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 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 regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners 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 Attorney: Frederick Anderson
• Sheriff: Blaine Koops
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Joyce A. Watts
• County Treasurer: Sally L. Brooks
• Drain Commissioner: Becky Rininger
• County Surveyor: Kirk L. VanOrder

(information as of September 2005)

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities Allegan Douglas Fennville Holland (partial) Otsego Plainwell Saugatuck South Haven (partial) Wayland

Villages Hopkins Martin

Unincorporated communities Bradley Bravo Burnips Cheshire Chicora Dorr Dunningville East Saugatuck

Fillmore Ganges Glenn Graafschap Hamilton Hilliards Macatawa Moline

Monterey New Richmond Overisel Pearl Pullman Shelbyville Watson

Townships

Allegan Township Casco Township Cheshire Township Clyde Township Dorr Township Fillmore Township

Ganges Township Gun Plain Charter Township Heath Township Hopkins Township Laketown Township Lee Township

Leighton Township Manlius Township Martin Township Monterey Township Otsego Township Overisel Township

Salem Township Saugatuck Township Trowbridge Township Valley Township Watson Township Wayland Township

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Allegan County, Michigan

External links

• Allegan County
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Allegan County