Editing Cass County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county          = Cass County
 | state              = Michigan
 | ex image             = Cass Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Cass County Courthouse in Cassopolis
 | seal          = Cass seal.PNG
 | founded year         = 1829<ref name="Clarke"/>
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl          = Cassopolis
 | largest city wl    = Dowagiac
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 508
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 490
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 18
 | area percentage      = 3.6%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 51,589
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 51,642 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web    = www.casscountymi.org
 | district             = 5th
 | named for            = [[Lewis Cass]] }}

'''Cass 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 51,589.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/casscountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Cassopolis, Michigan|Cassopolis]].<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> Cass County is included in the [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]]–[[Mishawaka, Indiana|Mishawaka]], [[Indiana|IN]]-MI, [[South Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]] which has a total population of 316,663 and is considered part of the [[Michiana]] region.

==History==
The county is named for [[Lewis Cass]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n70 71]}}</ref> the Michigan Territorial Governor at the time the county was created in 1829. Cass later served as the [[United States Secretary of War]] under [[U.S. President|President]] [[Andrew Jackson]], thus making a case for including Cass County as one of Michigan's "[[cabinet counties]]".<ref name="Clarke">{{cite web |url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/cass.html |publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]] |title=Bibliography on Cass County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref>

Cass County was not as heavily forested and had more fertile prairie land than other nearby areas of Michigan. During early settlement, it attracted numerous settlers who wanted to farm and grew more rapidly in population.

The county quickly developed industry as well. As early as 1830, a carding mill was started in the county on Dowagiac Creek, a branch of the [[St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)|St. Joseph River]]. Although the [[Sauk Trail]] ([[Chicago Road]]) passed through the southern part of the county, early settlement did not come primarily from eastern Michigan. Instead, settlers from [[Ohio]] and [[Indiana]] migrated who had learned of available prairie lands, reaching the [[Michigan Territory]] via a branch of the Chicago Road leading from [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]]. The population of Cass County was more than 3,000 by 1834.<ref>Fuller, George Newman (1916). [https://archive.org/details/economicsocialbe01full <!-- quote=george newman fuller. --> ''Economic and Social Beginnings of Michigan: A Study of the Settlement of the Lower Peninsula During the Territorial Period, 1805-1837''], pp. 244-51.</ref>

Among the most prominent early settlers of Cass County were Baldwin Jenkins and Uzziel Putnam, who both came from Ohio by way of the [[Carey Mission]] in [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]]. Jenkins had been born at Fort Jenkins in Green County, [[Pennsylvania]], and had migrated to [[Tennessee]]. He left that state as he was opposed to the institution of slavery. Putnam, who had lived in Massachusetts and New York, migrated to Cass from [[Erie County, Ohio]], by way of Fort Wayne. These settlers, and their families, established the nucleus of the [[Pokagon Township, Michigan|village of Pokagon]] on Pokagon Prairie in 1825. The next year, a settlement was made on Beardsley's Prairie, where the village of [[Edwardsburg, Michigan|Edwardsburg]] was laid out in 1831.<ref>Fuller (1916), pp. 261-62, 274.</ref>

The village of [[Cassopolis]] was platted in 1831 and intended as the county seat, because it was the geographical center of the county. It had no settlers at the time.<ref>Fuller (1916), p. 275.</ref>

===Black settlers===
After 1840, the black population of Cass County grew rapidly as families were attracted by white defiance of discriminatory laws, including the [[Fugitive Slave Law]]. Numerous highly supportive Quakers helped blacks settle in the area, and the land was low-priced. Free and refugee blacks found Cass County to be a haven, some with mixed Native ancestry, especially Saponi, Lumbee, and Pamunkey. Their development of a thriving community attracted the attention of southern slaveholders.

In 1847 and 1849, planters from [[Bourbon County, Kentucky|Bourbon]] and [[Boone County, Kentucky|Boone]] counties in [[Northern Kentucky]] led [[Kentucky raid in Cass County (1847)|raids into Cass County]] to recapture escaped slaves. They were "surrounded by crowds of angry farmers armed with clubs, scythes, and other farm implements", resisting their attempt.<ref>McGinnis, Carol (2005). ''Michigan Genealogy: Sources & Resources'' (2nd ed.), pp. 199-200. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. {{ISBN|0-8063-1755-8}}.</ref>

The raids failed to accomplish their objective but strengthened Southern demands for passage of the [[Fugitive Slave Act of 1850]], which required residents and law enforcement even in free states to support capture of refugee slaves, and increased penalties for failure to do so. Biased toward slaveholders and slavecatchers, it required little documentation and put free blacks at risk for capture and sale into slavery. Many in the North resisted the law, especially in abolitionist strongholds, and it increased tensions contributing to the Civil War.<ref>Benjamin C. Wilson, "Kentucky Kidnappers, Fugitives, and Abolitionists in Antebellum Cass County Michigan," ''Michigan History,'' July 1976, Vol. 60#4 pp. 339-358.</ref>

Cass County became known early on for the anti-slavery attitudes of its population. Pennsylvania [[Quaker]]s made a settlement in [[Penn Township, Michigan|Penn Township]] in 1829. This community later became a prominent station on the [[Underground Railroad]].<ref>Fuller (1916), p. 302.</ref> One established Underground Railroad route ran from [[Niles, Michigan|Niles]] through Cassopolis, [[Schoolcraft, Michigan|Schoolcraft]], [[Climax, Michigan|Climax]], and [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek]], and thence along the old [[Territorial Road (Michigan)|Territorial Road]].

===Historical markers===

Some 26 historical sites in Cass County have been listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and designated by state historical markers as of December 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/advancematch.asp?ctype=any&cname=&cnty=Cass |title=Center for Geographic Information - Department of Information Technology |access-date=2009-12-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606153016/http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/advancematch.asp?ctype=any&cname=&cnty=Cass |archive-date=2011-06-06 }}. Retrieved December 24, 2009.</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col" | Name of Site
!scope="col" | City Location
!scope="col" | Date Listed
!scope="col" | Marker erected
|-
|scope="row" | [[Cass County Courthouse (Michigan)|Cass County Courthouse]]
| [[Cassopolis]]
| 12/14/1976
| 08/17/1977
|-
|scope="row" | [[Masonic Temple (Cassopolis, Michigan)|Cass County Office Building / Masonic Temple]]
| [[Cassopolis]]
| 07/23/1985
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Centennial Hall Building]]
| [[Marcellus, Michigan]]
| 03/19/1980
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Chain Lake Baptist Church Cemetery]]
| [[Calvin Township, Michigan]]
| 12/05/1986
| 04/07/1992
|-
|scope="row" | [[First Methodist Episcopal Church (Dowagiac, Michigan)|First Methodist Episcopal Church]]
| [[Dowagiac]]
| 07/18/1996
| 10/12/1999
|-
|scope="row" | [[First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon]]
| [[Pokagon Township]]
| 04/01/2002
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[First Universalist Church of Dowagiac]]
| [[Dowagiac]]
| 05/30/1984
| 09/08/1982
|-
|scope="row" | [[Jarius Hitchcox House]]
| [[Porter Township, Cass County, Michigan#Union|Union]]
| 12/10/1971
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Indian Lake Cemetery]]
| [[Silver Creek Township, Cass County, Michigan|Silver Creek Township]]
| 03/15/1990
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Carroll Sherman Jones House]]
| [[Marcellus, Michigan]]
| 03/15/1990
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[George Washington Jones House (Marcellus, Michigan)|George Washington Jones House]]
| [[Marcellus, Michigan]]
| 12/09/1994
| 01/17/1986
|-
|scope="row" | [[Joseph Webster Lee House]]
| [[Ontwa Township]]
| 03/19/1987
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Mason District Number 5 Schoolhouse]]
| [[Mason Township, Cass County, Michigan|Mason Township]]
| 06/10/1980
| 10/06/1981
|-
|scope="row" | [[Methodist Episcopal Church]]
| [[Dowagiac]]
| 01/20/2000
| 02/02/2000
|-
|scope="row" | [[Michigan Central Railroad Dowagiac Depot]]
| [[Dowagiac]]
| N/A
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[George Newton House]]
| [[Volinia Township]]
| 11/14/1974
| 10/07/1977
|-
|scope="row" | [[Poe's Corners]]
| [[Newberg Township]]
| 03/21/1991
| 06/25/1991
|-
|scope="row" | [[Presbyterian Church of Edwardsburg]]
| [[Edwardsburg]]
| 04/20/2000
| 06/09/2000
|-
|scope="row" | [[Sylvador T. Read House]]
| [[Cassopolis]]
| 06/10/1980
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church]]
| [[Silver Creek Township, Cass County, Michigan|Silver Creek Township]]
| 01/16/1976
| 07/19/1977
|-
|scope="row" | [[Smith's Chapel and Cemetery]]
| [[Milton Township, Cass County, Michigan|Milton Township]]
| 04/24/1979
| 04/07/1981
|-
|scope="row" | [[Sumnerville Cemetery]]
| [[Niles, Michigan]]
| 01/20/2000
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Sumnerville Mounds]]
| [[Dowagiac, Michigan]]
| 01/20/2000
| 2000
|-
|scope="row" | [[Thompson Road/Air Line Railroad Bridge]]
| [[Howard Township, Michigan|Howard Township]]
| N/A
| N/A
|-
|scope="row" | [[Vandalia, Michigan#History|Underground Railroad Informational Designation]]
| [[Vandalia, Michigan]]
| 01/19/1957
| 04/12/1957
|-
|scope="row" | [[Wayne Township School District No. 7 School]]
| [[Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan|Wayne Township]]
| 04/19/1990
| N/A
|}

==Geography==
[[File:Dowagiac Depot.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Dowagiac station|Dowagiac Depot]]]]
[[Image:Jones 07-04-2008 01;58;19PM.JPG|thumb|250px|Lake Driskel in Jones, an [[unincorporated community]] in Cass County]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|508|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|490|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|18|sqmi}} (3.6%) 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> It is the smallest county in Michigan by total area.

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* {{jct|state=MI|US|12}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|40}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|51}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|60}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M-Bus|60|dab1=Niles}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|62}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|152}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|216}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|217}}
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Van Buren County, Michigan|Van Buren County]] (north)
* [[St. Joseph County, Michigan|St. Joseph County]] (east)
* [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]] (west)
* [[Elkhart County, Indiana]] (southeast)
* [[St. Joseph County, Indiana]] (southwest)

==Government==
{{PresHead|place=Cass 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|18,505|9,050|360|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|16,699|9,130|413|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|14,243|7,270|1,082|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|12,659|9,591|240|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|11,114|12,083|379|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,964|9,537|196|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|10,545|8,808|472|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|7,373|8,207|2,400|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|7,391|8,047|4,845|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,229|7,444|83|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,647|6,634|113|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|11,206|7,058|1,471|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|9,893|7,843|203|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,398|4,982|301|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|6,996|5,616|2,294|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,925|8,789|28|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|8,585|6,468|64|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|8,899|4,842|47|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,479|4,500|93|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|5,615|3,201|216|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|6,566|3,417|68|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|6,868|4,340|60|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,525|5,114|706|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,994|5,349|293|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,720|2,346|77|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,545|2,328|711|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,498|1,286|274|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,518|2,666|211|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,462|2,076|1,849|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,082|2,466|298|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,150|1,937|381|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,217|2,825|167|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,034|3,012|139|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,731|2,424|569|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,929|2,564|293|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|2,764|2,744|221|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 elected [[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.

===Elected officials===
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: Victor Fitz
* [[Sheriff]]: Richard J. Behnke
* [[County Clerk]]/[[Register of Deeds]]: Monica McMichael
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Hope Anderson
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Jeff VanBelle

<small>(information as of July 2019)</small>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 919
|1840= 5710
|1850= 10907
|1860= 17721
|1870= 21094
|1880= 22009
|1890= 20953
|1900= 20876
|1910= 20624
|1920= 20395
|1930= 20888
|1940= 21910
|1950= 28185
|1960= 36932
|1970= 43312
|1980= 49499
|1990= 49477
|2000= 51104
|2010= 52293
|2020= 51589
|estyear=2023
|estimate=51642
|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=2010-03-27 |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> 2010-2018<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 52,293 people living in the county. 88.9% were [[White American|White]], 5.4% [[African American|Black or African American]], 1.0% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian American|Asian]], 1.1% of some other race and 3.0% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 3.0% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race). 25.9% were of [[German American|German]], 10.0% [[English American|English]], 9.6% [[Irish American|Irish]], 8.1% [[American ethnicity|American]] and 5.7% [[Polish American|Polish]] 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 [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]],<ref>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/MI/05026027.pdf Statistical profile of Cass County, Michigan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410054242/http://censtats.census.gov/data/MI/05026027.pdf |date=April 10, 2008 }}, United States Census Bureau, Census 2000</ref> there were 51,104 people, 19,676 households, and 14,304 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|104|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 23,884 housing units at an average density of {{convert|48|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 89.19% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 6.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.82% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.54% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.17% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.15% from two or more races. 2.41% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 26.6% were of [[germans|German]], 11.1% [[United States|American]], 10.3% [[Irish people|Irish]], 10.1% [[English people|English]] and 5.0% [[Polish people|Polish]] ancestry, 96.4% spoke only [[English language|English]], while 2.0% spoke [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at home.

There were 19,676 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were not family units. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, 25.50% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.40% was from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,264, and the median income for a family was $46,901. Males had a median income of $35,546 versus $24,526 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,474. About 6.80% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

===Higher Education===
Cass County is home to [[Southwestern Michigan College]]. The college is a public two-year institution of higher education, the college is part of the Michigan [[community college]] system. The college is the largest employer in Cass County.

===Libraries===
Cass County has several library system which operate in the county. The [[Cass District Library]] is the largest library in the county, have branch located in 4 cities around the county. Cass District Library is the [[library]] system which services [[Calvin Township, Michigan|Calvin]], [[Howard Township, Michigan|Howard]], [[Jefferson Township, Cass County, Michigan|Jefferson]], [[LaGrange Township, Michigan|LaGrange]], [[Mason Township, Cass County, Michigan|Mason]], [[Milton Township, Cass County, Michigan|Milton]], [[Newberg Township, Michigan|Newberg]], [[Ontwa Township, Michigan|Ontwa]], [[Penn Township, Michigan|Penn]], [[Pokagon Township, Michigan|Pokagon]], [[Porter Township, Cass County, Michigan|Porter]] and [[Volinia Township, Michigan|Volinia]] Townships.

The [http://www.dowagiacdl.org Dowagiac District Library] serves the City of Dowagiac, Wayne Township, and portions of Silver Creek, Keeler, and Bainbridge townships. [[Marcellus Township, Michigan|Marcellus Township]] also operates their own library apart from the Cass District library to service the residence of the village of Marcellus and the Township of Marcellus.

[[Southwestern Michigan College]] operates the Fred Mathews Library on its Campus in Dowagiac.

==Communities==
[[File:Cass County, MI census map.png|thumb|right|400px|[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] data map showing local municipal boundaries within Cass County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]
[[File:Pokagon_Band_of_Potawatomi_Indians_(Cass_County),_MI_location.png|thumb|250px|right|The [[Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians]] reservation within Cass County with underlying local municipal boundaries]]

===Cities===
* [[Dowagiac, Michigan|Dowagiac]]
* [[Niles, Michigan|Niles]] (part)

===Villages===
* [[Cassopolis, Michigan|Cassopolis]] (county seat)
* [[Edwardsburg, Michigan|Edwardsburg]]
* [[Marcellus, Michigan|Marcellus]]
* [[Vandalia, Michigan|Vandalia]]

===Civil townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Calvin Township, Michigan|Calvin Township]]
* [[Howard Township, Michigan|Howard Township]]
* [[Jefferson Township, Cass County, Michigan|Jefferson Township]]
* [[LaGrange Township, Michigan|LaGrange Township]]
* [[Marcellus Township, Michigan|Marcellus Township]]
* [[Mason Township, Cass County, Michigan|Mason Township]]
* [[Milton Township, Cass County, Michigan|Milton Township]]
* [[Newberg Township, Michigan|Newberg Township]]
* [[Ontwa Township, Michigan|Ontwa Township]]
* [[Penn Township, Michigan|Penn Township]]
* [[Pokagon Township, Michigan|Pokagon Township]]
* [[Porter Township, Cass County, Michigan|Porter Township]]
* [[Silver Creek Township, Michigan|Silver Creek Township]]
* [[Volinia Township, Michigan|Volinia Township]]
* [[Wayne Township, Michigan|Wayne Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Adamsville, Michigan|Adamsville]]
* [[Calvin Center, Michigan|Calvin Center]]
* [[Charleston, Cass County, Michigan|Charleston]]
* [[Corey, Michigan|Corey]]
* [[Glenwood, Michigan|Glenwood]]
* [[Jones, Michigan|Jones]]
* [[La Grange, Michigan|La Grange]]
* [[Penn, Michigan|Penn]]
* [[Pokagon, Michigan|Pokagon]]
* [[Sumnerville, Michigan|Sumnerville]]
* [[Union, Michigan|Union]]
* [[Wakelee, Michigan|Wakelee]]
{{div col end}}

=== Indian reservation ===
* Cass County contains a large reservation of the [[Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians]], which also contains territories in [[Allegan County, Michigan|Allegan]], [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien]], and [[Van Buren County, Michigan|Van Buren]] counties, as well as extending south into the state of [[Indiana]]. The reservation headquarters are located in the county in the city of [[Dowagiac, Michigan|Dowagiac]] and also extends into the townships of [[Pokagon Township, Michigan|Pokagon]], [[LaGrange Township, Michigan|LaGrange]], [[Silver Creek Township, Michigan|Silver Creek]], [[Volinia Township, Michigan|Volinia]], and [[Wayne Township, Michigan|Wayne]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Michigan}}
* [[List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Cass County, Michigan]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Michigan]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/cass.html |publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]] |title=Bibliography on Cass County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}

==External links==
* [http://www.casscountymi.org Cass County government]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Cass County, Michigan
|North     = [[Van Buren County, Michigan|Van Buren County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[St. Joseph County, Michigan|St. Joseph County]]
|Southeast = [[Elkhart County, Indiana]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[St. Joseph County, Indiana]]
|West      = [[Berrien County, Michigan|Berrien County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Cass County, Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}

{{coord|41.91|-85.99|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cass County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:South Bend – Mishawaka metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1829 establishments in Michigan Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1829]]