Editing Calhoun County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county       = Calhoun County
 | state              = Michigan
 | ex image             = Michigan Central Depot Post Card Battle Creek MI.jpg
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = Post Card. [[Michigan Central Railroad Depot (Battle Creek, Michigan)|Michigan Central Depot]] in [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek]].
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = established 1829 <br />organized 1833<ref name="Clarke"/>
 | seat wl            = Marshall
 | largest city wl      = Battle Creek
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 718
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 706
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 12
 | area percentage      = 1.7
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 134310
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 133366 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = https://www.calhouncountymi.gov/
 | district             = 4th
 | named for            = [[John C. Calhoun]]
 | district2            = 5th }}

'''Calhoun County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]], the population was 134,310.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/calhouncountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Marshall, Michigan|Marshall]].<ref name="GR6">{{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/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county was established on October 19, 1829, and named after [[John C. Calhoun]], who was at the time [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] under [[Andrew Jackson]], making it one of Michigan's [[Cabinet counties]]. County government was first organized on March 6, 1833.<ref name="Clarke">{{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/calhoun.html|publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Calhoun County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Peirce|first=Henry B.|title=History of Calhoun county, Michigan|orig-year=1877|url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bad0868.0001.001|access-date=February 11, 2007|year=2005|publisher=University of Michigan Library|location=Ann Arbor, Mich.|page=18|chapter=Chapter VII|chapter-url=http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bad0868.0001.001;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=26}}</ref> Calhoun County comprises the [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and is included in the [[Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]]-Battle Creek-[[Portage, Michigan|Portage]] [[Kalamazoo–Portage metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|718|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|706|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|12|sqmi}} (1.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{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=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Geographic features===
* [[Kalamazoo River]]
* [[Battle Creek River]]
* [[St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)]]
* [[Goguac Lake]]
* [[Lyon Lake]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]] - north
* [[Barry County, Michigan|Barry County]] - northwest
* [[Jackson County, Michigan|Jackson County]] - east
* [[Kalamazoo County, Michigan|Kalamazoo County]] - west
* [[Hillsdale County, Michigan|Hillsdale County]] - southeast
* [[Branch County, Michigan|Branch County]] - south
* [[Saint Joseph County, Michigan|St. Joseph County]] - southwest

==History==
The [[Kalamazoo River oil spill]] occurred in July 2010 when a pipeline operated by [[Enbridge]] (Line 6B) burst and flowed into Talmadge Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River. A six-foot break in the pipeline resulted in the largest inland oil spill, and one of the costliest spills in U.S. history. The pipeline carries diluted bitumen ([[dilbit]]), a [[heavy crude oil]] from Canada's [[Athabasca oil sands]] to the United States. Following the spill, the volatile hydrocarbon diluents evaporated, leaving the heavier bitumen to sink in the water column. Thirty-five miles of the Kalamazoo River were closed for clean-up until June 2012, when portions of the river were re-opened. On March 14, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered Enbridge to return to dredge portions of the river to remove submerged oil and oil-contaminated sediment.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 10599
|1850= 19162
|1860= 29564
|1870= 36569
|1880= 38452
|1890= 43501
|1900= 49315
|1910= 56638
|1920= 72918
|1930= 87043
|1940= 94206
|1950= 120813
|1960= 138858
|1970= 141963
|1980= 141557
|1990= 135982
|2000= 137985
|2010= 136146
|2020= 134310
|estyear=2023
|estimate=133366
|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=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States 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=United States 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=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF"/>
}}

The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref name=AmFactFinder>{{cite web | url= https://www.census.gov | title=U.S. Census website | publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 11, 2012}}</ref> indicates Calhoun County had a 2010 population of 136,146. This is a decrease of -1,839 people from the [[2000 United States Census]]. Overall, the county had a -1.3% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 54,016 households and 35,220 families in the county. The [[population density]] was 192.8 per square mile (74.4 square kilometers). There were 61,042 housing units at an average density of 86.4 per square mile (33.4 square kilometers). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial and ethnic makeup]] of the county was 79.8% White, 10.7% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races.

There were 54,016 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were [[Family|husband and wife families]], 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.8% were non-families, and 28.8% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The [[American Community Survey|2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate]]<ref name=AmFactFinder/> indicates the median income for a household in the county was $42,921 and the median income for a family was $49,964. Males had a median income of $25,712 versus $18,298 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $20,661. About 11.7% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.9% of those under the age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==
{{PresHead|place=Calhoun County, Michigan|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|38,606|28,988|996|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|36,221|28,877|1,183|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|31,494|24,157|3,251|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|28,333|29,267|727|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|28,553|34,561|1,082|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|32,093|29,891|683|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|26,291|27,312|1,477|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|20,953|26,287|5,203|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|19,791|25,542|13,369|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|26,771|22,717|299|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|34,470|20,313|284|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|30,912|23,022|5,242|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|30,390|25,229|901|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|32,531|22,154|1,143|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|26,181|22,633|6,146|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|18,987|32,939|99|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|32,080|23,511|202|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|32,284|20,184|175|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|31,941|19,171|335|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|19,285|15,077|734|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|20,664|16,611|418|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|21,633|18,682|295|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|14,667|20,231|1,255|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|16,255|16,281|1,027|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|24,379|5,769|173|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|18,165|4,020|3,077|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|16,722|6,291|1,180|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|6,484|8,037|891|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|3,447|3,781|5,817|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|6,848|4,240|1,143|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|7,506|3,102|1,031|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|6,220|5,560|633|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|5,874|6,202|418|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|5,077|4,150|1,329|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|5,732|4,358|772|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|5,113|4,309|564|Michigan}}

The county government operates the [[County jail|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 commission|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.

Calhoun County is a swing county in presidential elections. Beginning in 1964, it has voted for the winner of the national election every time except in [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]] (instead backing native Michigander [[Gerald Ford]]), [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]], and [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]].

===Elected officials===
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: David E. Gilbert
* [[Sheriff]]: Steven Hinkley
* [[County Clerk]]/[[Register of Deeds]]: Kimberly A. Hinkley
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Brian Wensauer
* Water Resource Commissioner: Ron Smith

<small>(information as of October 2020)</small>

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Albion, Michigan|Albion]]
* [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek]]
* [[Marshall, Michigan|Marshall]] (county seat)
* [[Springfield, Michigan|Springfield]]

===Villages===
* [[Athens, Michigan|Athens]]
* [[Burlington, Michigan|Burlington]]
* [[Homer, Michigan|Homer]]
* [[Tekonsha, Michigan|Tekonsha]]
* [[Union City, Michigan|Union City]] (partial)

===Charter townships===
* [[Bedford Charter Township, Michigan|Bedford Charter Township]]
* [[Emmett Charter Township, Michigan|Emmett Charter Township]]
* [[Pennfield Charter Township, Michigan|Pennfield Charter Township]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Brownlee Park, Michigan|Brownlee Park]]
* [[Level Park-Oak Park, Michigan|Level Park-Oak Park]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Albion Landing, Michigan|Albion Landing]]
* [[Babcock, Michigan|Babcock]]
* [[Beadle Lake, Michigan|Beadle Lake]]
* [[Bedford, Michigan|Bedford]]
* [[Bentleys Corners, Michigan|Bentleys Corners]]
* [[Ceresco, Michigan|Ceresco]]
* [[Charlotte Landing, Michigan|Charlotte Landing]]
* [[Clarence Center, Michigan|Clarence Center]]
* [[Clarendon, Michigan|Clarendon]]
* [[Condit, Michigan|Condit]]
* [[Duck Lake, Michigan|Duck Lake]]
* [[East Leroy, Michigan|East Leroy]]
* [[Eckford, Michigan|Eckford]]
* [[Greenfield Park, Michigan|Greenfield Park]]
* [[Joppa, Michigan|Joppa]]
* [[Lee Center, Michigan|Lee Center]]
* [[Maplehurst, Michigan|Maplehurst]]
* [[Marengo, Michigan|Marengo]]
* [[Old Mill Gardens, Michigan|Old Mill Gardens]]
* [[Orchard Park, Michigan|Orchard Park]]
* [[Partello, Michigan|Partello]]
* [[Pennfield, Michigan|Pennfield]]
* [[Pine Creek, Michigan|Pine Creek]]
* [[Pine Creek Indian Reservation]]
* [[Rice Creek, Michigan|Rice Creek]]
* [[Sonoma, Michigan|Sonoma]]
* [[Springfield Place, Michigan|Springfield Place]]
* [[Stanley Corners, Michigan|Stanley Corners]]
* [[Sunrise Heights, Michigan|Sunrise Heights]] (subdivision)
* [[Verona Park, Michigan|Verona]]
* [[Walnut Point, Michigan|Walnut Point]]
* [[Wattles Park, Michigan|Wattles Park]]
* [[West Leroy, Michigan|West Leroy]]
* [[Wrights Corners, Michigan|Wrights Corners]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Albion Township, Michigan|Albion Township]]
* [[Athens Township, Michigan|Athens Township]]
* [[Burlington Township, Calhoun County, Michigan|Burlington Township]]
* [[Clarence Township, Michigan|Clarence Township]]
* [[Clarendon Township, Michigan|Clarendon Township]]
* [[Convis Township, Michigan|Convis Township]]
* [[Eckford Township, Michigan|Eckford Township]]
* [[Fredonia Township, Michigan|Fredonia Township]]
* [[Homer Township, Calhoun County, Michigan|Homer Township]]
* [[Lee Township, Calhoun County, Michigan|Lee Township]]
* [[Leroy Township, Calhoun County, Michigan|Leroy Township]]
* [[Marengo Township, Michigan|Marengo Township]]
* [[Marshall Township, Michigan|Marshall Township]]
* [[Newton Township, Calhoun County, Michigan|Newton Township]]
* [[Sheridan Township, Calhoun County, Michigan|Sheridan Township]]
* [[Tekonsha Township, Michigan|Tekonsha Township]]
{{div col end}}

==Historical markers==
There are 83 recognized Michigan historical markers in the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|title=Michigan Historical Markers|work=michmarkers.com|access-date=January 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315141338/http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|archive-date=March 15, 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Michigan county name etymologies]]
* [[List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Calhoun County, Michigan]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Calhoun County, Michigan]]
*[[List of counties in Michigan]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.calhounisd.org/ Calhoun Intermediate School District]
* {{cite web |url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/calhoun.html |publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]] |title=Bibliography on Calhoun County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070204073747/http://courts.co.calhoun.mi.us/ Calhoun County courts]
* [http://www.calhouncountymi.gov Calhoun County government]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100315141338/http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm Michigan Historical Markers including text and photographs]}}
* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ National Register of Historic Places]
* [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com National Register of Historic Places.com] - unofficial website
* [http://www.genealogytrails.com/mich/calhoun/index.html Calhoun County, Michigan History and Genealogy]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Calhoun County, Michigan
|North     = [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Jackson County, Michigan|Jackson County]]
|Southeast = [[Hillsdale County, Michigan|Hillsdale County]]
|South     = [[Branch County, Michigan|Branch County]]
|Southwest = [[St. Joseph County, Michigan|St. Joseph County]]
|West      = [[Kalamazoo County, Michigan|Kalamazoo County]]
|Northwest = [[Barry County, Michigan|Barry County]]
}}

{{Calhoun County, Michigan}}
{{West Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|42.25|-85.00|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Calhoun County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Michigan Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1833]]