Editing Barry County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Barry County
 | state                = Michigan
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = April 29, 1829 (established)<br/>March 15, 1839 (organized)
 | seat wl              = Hastings
 | largest city wl      = Hastings
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 577
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 553
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 24
 | area percentage      = 4.2%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 62423
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 63808 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = HastingsCourthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Barry County Courthouse
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[William Taylor Barry]]
 | website              = https://www.barrycounty.org/ }}

'''Barry County''' is a [[Counties of the United States|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 62,423.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/barrycountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Hastings, Michigan|Hastings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704084002/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=July 4, 2012}}</ref>

==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 Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan|Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band]] of Pottowatomi has a reservation in [[Allegan County, Michigan|Allegan County]], just west of Barry County.

Barry County was described and delineated by act of the [[Michigan Territory|Territorial legislature]] on April 29, 1829, carved out of previously unorganized lands in the Territory. It was named to honor [[William T. Barry|William Taylor Barry]], who was serving as [[United States Postmaster General]] at the time of the county's proclamation. Barry was one of [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Andrew Jackson]]'s cabinet members who were memorialized in names of ten Michigan counties, the "[[cabinet counties]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/barry.html|publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Barry County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref>[https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/ResearchResources/Michigan_Material_Statewide/Michigan_Oil_and_Gas_Industry/Appendices/Pages/Appendix-1.aspx Clark Historical Library, ''Date of the Discovery of Oil or Gas in Michigan . .'' (accessed 4 September 2018)]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|577|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|553|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|24|sqmi}} (4.2%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2013|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Ionia County, Michigan|Ionia County]] – northeast
* [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]] – east
* [[Calhoun County, Michigan|Calhoun County]] – southeast
* [[Kalamazoo County, Michigan|Kalamazoo County]] – southwest
* [[Allegan County, Michigan|Allegan County]] – west
* [[Kent County, Michigan|Kent County]] – northwest
{{div col end}}

==Transportation==
===Major highways===
* {{jct|state=MI|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.
* {{jct|state=MI|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.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|50}} – enters NE tip of county at Woodbury. Runs west and north to Ionia County.
* {{jct|state=MI|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.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|78}} – runs SW across extreme southeastern tip of county, entering from Eaton County, exiting to Calhoun County.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|79}} – runs west from its intersection with M66 at Nashville to its intersection with M37, SE of Hastings.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|89}} – runs SE across the southwestern tip of county, from Allegan County to Kalamazoo County.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|179}} – enters west portion of county from Allegan County. Runs east to Hastings.<ref name=GMAP>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barry+County,+MI/@42.6237362,-85.5862317,11.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x881824b3d24d1e11:0xf7f26abb17535cc7!8m2!3d42.5354321!4d-85.354965 Google Maps, ''Barry County MI'' (accessed 4 September 2018)]</ref>

===Railroads===
There were once several minor railroads through the county; at present, there are none.<ref name=GMAP/> The only railroad left in the county is a two-mile section owned by [[CSX Transportation]], running through the northeastern corner of [[Woodland Township, Michigan|Woodland Township]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 1078
|1850= 5072
|1860= 13858
|1870= 22199
|1880= 25317
|1890= 23783
|1900= 22514
|1910= 22633
|1920= 21383
|1930= 20928
|1940= 22613
|1950= 26183
|1960= 31738
|1970= 38166
|1980= 45781
|1990= 50057
|2000= 56755
|2010= 59173
|2020= 62423
|estyear=2023
|estimate=63808
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name=QF/>
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Barry County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition''' ''(NH = Non-Hispanic)''

!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12010.P9?t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&g=050XX00US26015&y=2010 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P9?t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&g=050XX00US26015 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|56,487
|56,779
|95.46%
|90.96%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|205
|295
|0.35%
|0.47%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|251
|221
|0.42%
|0.35%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|212
|245
|0.36%
|0.39%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|5
|15
|0.01%
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|25
|198
|0.04%
|0.32%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|652
|2,528
|1.10%
|4.05%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|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 American|White]], 0.5% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.4% [[African American|Black or African American]], 0.4% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.6% of some other race and 1.3% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 2.3% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race). 19.8% were of [[German American|German]], 13.5% [[American ethnicity|American]], 12.1% [[English American|English]], 11.2% [[Dutch American|Dutch]] and 8.1% [[Irish American|Irish]] ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|author=Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS)|work=census.gov}}</ref>

As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/MI/05026015.pdf Statistical profile of Barry County, Michigan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410053831/http://censtats.census.gov/data/MI/05026015.pdf|date=April 10, 2008}}</ref> there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|102|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of {{convert|43|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.39% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.24% [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.46% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.50% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 21.8% were of [[germans|German]], 13.6% [[English people|English]], 12.5% [[Dutch people|Dutch]], 12.4% [[United States|American]] and 9.6% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. 98.2% spoke only [[English language|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 [[Marriage|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 92% of the elections (33 of 36 elections).
{{PresHead|place=Barry County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|25,650|12,391|642|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|23,471|11,797|693|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|19,202|9,114|2,201|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|16,655|11,491|471|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|16,431|13,449|749|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|18,638|11,312|322|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|15,716|9,769|759|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|11,139|9,467|2,514|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,489|8,652|6,458|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,546|7,983|152|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,245|5,898|122|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,006|6,857|1,791|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|11,178|6,967|243|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,393|5,484|356|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|8,492|5,206|1,702|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,509|8,102|39|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|9,298|4,406|63|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,359|3,907|63|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,933|3,230|124|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|5,677|2,726|365|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|7,057|3,010|136|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|6,872|3,091|62|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,950|3,880|425|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|4,556|4,416|286|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,044|1,459|58|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,656|2,046|296|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,154|1,874|263|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,157|2,491|218|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|1,585|1,800|2,111|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,247|2,126|278|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,675|1,817|334|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,294|2,895|214|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,294|3,157|186|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,854|1,800|1,147|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|3,212|2,676|558|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Democratic|2,699|2,937|401|Michigan}}

The county government operates the [[County jail|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 commission|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===
{{div col}}
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: Julie Nakfoor-Pratt
* [[Sheriff]]: Dar Leaf
* [[County Clerk]]: Pam Palmer
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Susan L. Vandecar
* [[Register of Deeds]]: Barbara D. Hurless
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: James Dull
* [[County Surveyor]]: Brian Reynolds
* County Board of Commissioners: 7 Members (7 Republicans, 0 Democrats)

{{div col end}}

<small>(information {{as of|2012|December|lc=y}})</small>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/10/10/michigan-sheriff-spotted-at-rally-with-men-charged-in-scheme-to-kidnap-kill-governor/|title=Michigan sheriff spotted at rally with men charged in domestic terror plot to kidnap, kill governor|date=October 10, 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
Public schools in Barry County:
* Hastings – 7 public schools, 2 private schools, 1 community college (extension of Kellogg Community College) (see [[Hastings, Michigan#Education|Hastings, Michigan]])
* Delton – 3 public schools, 3 private schools (see [[Delton, Michigan#Schools|Delton, Michigan]])
* Middleville – 5 public schools (see [[Middleville, Michigan#Education|Middleville, Michigan]])

==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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thornapplearts.org/bcae/ | title=Barry County Artists Exhibition &#124; Thornapple Arts Council | date=November 25, 2014 }}</ref>

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Hastings, Michigan|Hastings]] (county seat)

===Villages===
* [[Freeport, Michigan|Freeport]]
* [[Middleville, Michigan|Middleville]]
* [[Nashville, Michigan|Nashville]]
* [[Woodland, Michigan|Woodland]]

===Census-Designated Places===
* [[Delton, Michigan|Delton]]
* [[Dowling, Michigan|Dowling]]
* [[Hickory Corners, Michigan|Hickory Corners]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Assyria, Michigan|Assyria]]
* [[Banfield, Michigan|Banfield]]
* [[Cedar Creek, Barry County, Michigan|Cedar Creek]]
* [[Cloverdale, Michigan|Cloverdale]]
* [[Coats Grove, Michigan|Coats Grove]]
* [[Irving, Michigan|Irving]]
* [[Lacey, Michigan|Lacey]]
* [[Maple Grove, Michigan|Maple Grove]]
* [[Orangeville, Michigan|Orangeville]]
* [[Prairieville, Michigan|Prairieville]]
* [[Quimby, Michigan|Quimby]]
* [[Schultz, Michigan|Schultz]]{{div col end}}

===Townships===
* [[Assyria Township, Michigan|Assyria Township]]
* [[Baltimore Township, Michigan|Baltimore Township]]
* [[Barry Township, Michigan|Barry Township]]
* [[Carlton Township, Michigan|Carlton Township]]
* [[Castleton Township, Michigan|Castleton Township]]
* [[Hastings Charter Township, Michigan|Hastings Charter Township]]
* [[Hope Township, Barry County, Michigan|Hope Township]]
* [[Irving Township, Michigan|Irving Township]]
* [[Johnstown Township, Michigan|Johnstown Township]]
* [[Maple Grove Township, Barry County, Michigan|Maple Grove Township]]
* [[Orangeville Township, Michigan|Orangeville Township]]
* [[Prairieville Township, Michigan|Prairieville Township]]
* [[Rutland Charter Township, Michigan|Rutland Charter Township]]
* [[Thornapple Township, Michigan|Thornapple Township]]
* [[Woodland Township, Michigan|Woodland Township]]
* [[Yankee Springs Township, Michigan|Yankee Springs Township]]

==See also==
* [[List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Barry County, Michigan]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Michigan#Barry County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Barry County, Michigan]]
*[[List of counties in Michigan]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.barrycounty.org/ Official Website of Barry County, Michigan]
* {{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/barry.html|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Barry County}}
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mibarry/ Barry County, MI GenWeb. Many history and genealogy pages]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Barry County, Michigan
|Northeast = [[Ionia County, Michigan|Ionia County]]
|East      = [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]]
|Southeast = [[Calhoun County, Michigan|Calhoun County]]
|Southwest = [[Kalamazoo County, Michigan|Kalamazoo County]]
|West      = [[Allegan County, Michigan|Allegan County]]
|Northwest = [[Kent County, Michigan|Kent County]]
}}

{{Barry County, Michigan}}
{{West Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|42.60|-85.31|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Barry County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:Grand Rapids metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]