Editing Berrien Springs, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Berrien Springs, Michigan
| settlement_type                 = [[Village (United States)|Village]]
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline                   = 
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = 
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = Berrien Springs Seal.png

<!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map                     = Michigan
| pushpin_label_position          = top<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_label                   = Berrien Springs
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location within the state of Michigan
| pushpin_mapsize                 = 
| image_map                       = Berrien Springs, MI location.png
| mapsize                         = 250
| map_caption                     = Location within [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]]
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Michigan]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien]]
| subdivision_type3               = [[Charter township|Township]]
| subdivision_name3               = [[Oronoko Charter Township, Michigan|Oronoko]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = 
| leader_name                     = 
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = 
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = <!-- Area -->
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 2.59
| area_land_km2                   = 2.38
| area_water_km2                  = 0.21
| area_total_sq_mi                = 1.00
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 0.92
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.08
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 1910
| population_density_km2          = 803.43
| population_density_sq_mi        = 2080.61
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                        = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 205
| elevation_ft                    = 673
| coordinates                     = {{coord|41|56|51|N|86|20|25|W|type:city_region:US-MI_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code|ZIP code(s)]]
| postal_code                     = 49103, 49104
| area_code                       = [[Area code 269|269]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 26-07860<ref name="GR2"/>
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 2398105<ref>{{gnis|2398105}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|https://www.villageofberriensprings.com/}}
| footnotes                       = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
}}
[[Image:berrien springs mi.jpg|300 px|thumb|right|Aerial view of Berrien Springs]]
'''Berrien Springs''' is a village in [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The population was 1,910 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=Berrien Springs village, Michigan - Census Bureau Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Berrien_Springs_village,_Michigan?g=160XX00US2607860 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref> The village is located within [[Oronoko Charter Township, Michigan|Oronoko Charter Township]].

==History==

Berrien Springs, like Berrien County, is named for [[John M. Berrien]]. "Springs" was added after mineral [[Spring (hydrosphere)|springs]] were discovered in the area.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bcgensoc.com/facts.php?sid=3 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313101635/https://bcgensoc.com/facts.php?sid=3 | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 13, 2018 | title=Origins – Old Place Names | publisher=Berrien County Genealogical Society | access-date=March 13, 2018}}</ref>

The village is the site of the earliest European-American settlement in Oronoko Township. It was first known as "Wolf's Prairie" in reference to the 1,000-acre [[prairie]] in which it was situated. The site had been a village under the leadership of a [[Potawatomi people|Potawatomi]] chief named Wolf.{{sfn|Romig|1986|page=58}}

The first permanent settlers (according to European-American terms), John Pike and his family, did not arrive until 1829.<ref name=coolidge>Coolidge, Orville W. (1906). [https://archive.org/details/twentiethcentury00cool/page/198 ''A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County, Michigan''], pp. 198–99. The Lewis Publishing Company.</ref>

[[Francis B. Murdoch]] was a co-founder of the village and the first lawyer in the county. (His surname was spelled as 'Murdock' in some records.)<ref name="Murdock"/><ref name="Berrien"/> In 1831 he built a two-story log house, which is the oldest surviving example of its kind in Michigan. In 1973 this house was moved near courthouse square, to be part of that historic complex.<ref name="Murdock">{{Cite book |last=Hyde |first=Charles K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7WRRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA277 |title=The Lower Peninsula of Michigan: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites |date=1976 |publisher=Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation, Historic American Engineering Record |pages=277}}</ref>

Murdoch was known in the [[Antebellum South|Antebellum]]  period for representing  enslaved African Americans in [[freedom suits]], in which they tried to gain freedom. Michigan was established as a free territory and later state. It went by the principle of "once free, always free". If slaveholders brought enslaved people to the state, the latter were judged to be free.<ref name="Berrien">{{Cite web |title=Murdock Log Cabin |url=http://berrienhistory.org/murdock-log-cabin/ |access-date=February 1, 2022 |website=Berrien County Historical Association |language=en-US}}</ref>

The village of Berrien was [[plat]]ted in 1831.<ref name=coolidge/> The Berrien Springs post office opened with the name "Berrien" on December 4, 1832; this was changed to Berrien Springs on April 18, 1836.<ref>{{gnis|2377599|Berrien Springs Post Office}}</ref>

Berrien Springs served as the [[county seat]] from 1837 until 1894, when [[St. Joseph, Michigan|St. Joseph]] was designated as the county seat.<ref>[http://www.berriencounty.org/econdev/pdfs/berrien_springs_village.pdf Community Profile, Village of Berrien Springs] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820182716/http://www.berriencounty.org/econdev/pdfs/berrien_springs_village.pdf |date=August 20, 2008 }} – [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]] official site</ref>

===1839 courthouse===
{{main|Berrien Springs Courthouse}}

Berrien Springs courthouse, designed by local architect Gilbert B. Avery, was completed in 1839, making it the oldest courthouse in the state. The [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]]-style courthouse emulated the architecture of ancient Greece with its large columns, triangular [[pediment]] and white paint. After the county seat was moved in 1894, the building was put to various uses and briefly was vacant. In 1967, efforts to preserve and restore the courthouse were started. Such restoration was completed by 1975.<ref>Fedynsky, John (2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=ogrel7yYnvQC&pg=PA24 ''Michigan's County Courthouses''], pp. 24–25. The University of Michigan Press.</ref>

The restored courthouse square also features the Midwest's most complete surviving mid-nineteenth century county government complex. Today the square houses a county museum and archives. The courthouse serves as headquarters for the Berrien County Historical Association. Its original buildings are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The property is dedicated to the preservation of Berrien County's history and does this through permanent and temporary exhibits, programs, events, and community outreach.

===Christmas pickle capital of the world===
Berrien Springs was once known as the [[Christmas pickle]] capital of the world. A festival was established by the Berrien Springs-[[Eau Claire, Michigan|Eau Claire]] Chamber of Commerce, the [[Berrien County Historical Association]] (BCHA), and the village. They featured parades, games, activities, and a Pickle Prince and Princess contest. The event ran until the mid-2000s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=KATE COLE / H.-P.|title=Annual pickle festival in Berrien Springs a tribute to heritage|url=https://www.heraldpalladium.com/annual-pickle-festival-in-berrien-springs-a-tribute-to-heritage/article_042238f4-c34a-5e8b-860a-19aa8fefd880.html|access-date=February 6, 2022|website=The Herald Palladium|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=November 16, 2020|title=The History of the Christmas Pickle, a Zany Holiday Tradition|language=en-US|work=Good Housekeeping|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/a34646119/christmas-pickle-ornament-tradition/|access-date=February 6, 2022}}</ref> In 2021, the Pickle Festival was revived by the Village, the BCHA, and the Berrien Springs Community Library.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pickle Festival Coming Back To Berrien Springs {{!}} News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM|url=https://www.wsjm.com/2021/06/07/pickle-festival-coming-back-to-berrien-springs/|access-date=February 6, 2022|website=www.wsjm.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|1.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.94|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.08|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 }}</ref> The village is situated on the [[St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)|St. Joseph River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 662
|1880= 758
|1890= 745
|1900= 808
|1910= 880
|1920= 918
|1930= 1413
|1940= 1510
|1950= 1761
|1960= 1953
|1970= 1951
|1980= 2042
|1990= 1927
|2000= 1862
|2010= 1800
|2020= 1910
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,800 people, 756 households, and 463 families living in the village. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1914.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 837 housing units at an average density of {{convert|890.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the village was 72.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 12.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 5.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 12.9% of the population.

There were 756 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the village was 34.6 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,862 people, 732 households, and 475 families living in the village. The population density was {{convert|2,059.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 787 housing units at an average density of {{convert|870.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the village was 77.12% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 11.06% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.43% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.03% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.16% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.30% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 8.92% of the population.

There were 732 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the village, 23.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.9% was from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $32,396, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $31,467 versus $21,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $16,093. About 12.4% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Schools==

===Elementary===
*Mars Elementary – public, grades K-2
*Sylvester Elementary – public, grades 3–5
*Berrien Springs Middle School – public, grades 6–8
*Trinity Lutheran School – private, religious ([[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod|Lutheran]]), grades preK – 8
*Ruth Murdoch Elementary – private, religious ([[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]]), grades K-8
*Village SDA Elementary – private, religious (Seventh-day Adventist), grades K-8

===Secondary===
*[[Andrews Academy]] – private, religious (Seventh-day Adventist), grades 9–12
*[[Berrien Springs High School]] – public, grades 9–12; team name: Shamrocks; team colors: green and white
* Blossomland Learning Center, run by Berrien County RESA – preschool through age 26

===Post-secondary===
*[[Andrews University]] is located outside of town, but still in Oronoko Charter Township. It is served by the Berrien Springs post office.

==Notable people==
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· The article must mention how they are associated with Berrien Springs, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
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* [[Muhammad Ali]], professional boxer, considered among the greatest heavyweights in the sport's history; owned a home in the Berrien Springs area<ref>{{cite news |first=Leanne |last=Tokars |title=Muhammad Ali: Still missed in Michigan |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/southbendtribune/access/1199079901.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725070027/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/southbendtribune/access/1199079901.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 25, 2012 |work=[[South Bend Tribune]] |date=January 18, 2007 |access-date=July 30, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Lou |last=Mumford |title=Ali's move could sting |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/southbendtribune/access/1200871091.html?FMT=ABS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725102336/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/southbendtribune/access/1200871091.html?FMT=ABS |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 25, 2012 |work=[[South Bend Tribune]] |date=January 21, 2007 |access-date=July 30, 2008 }}</ref>
* [[Francis B. Murdoch]], attorney and co-founder of Berrien Springs<ref name="Berrien"/>
* [[Regan Upshaw]], defensive lineman for five [[NFL]] teams; born in Berrien Springs (1975)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regan Upshaw Biography |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/954/regan-upshaw |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref>

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

===Sources===
*{{cite book |first1=Walter |last1=Romig |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |series=Great Lakes Books Series |type=Paperback  |orig-year= 1973 |date=October 1, 1986 |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |isbn = 0-8143-1838-X |location=Detroit, Michigan }}

{{Berrien County, Michigan}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1831 establishments in Michigan Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1831]]
[[Category:Villages in Berrien County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Villages in Michigan]]