Cass County | |
|---|---|
 Cass County Courthouse in Cassopolis | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
 Michigan's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:41°55′N85°59′W / 41.91°N 85.99°W /41.91; -85.99 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | 1829[1] |
| Named after | Lewis Cass |
| Seat | Cassopolis |
| Largest city | Dowagiac |
| Area | |
• Total | 508 sq mi (1,320 km2) |
| • Land | 490 sq mi (1,300 km2) |
| • Water | 18 sq mi (50 km2) 3.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 51,589 |
• Estimate (2023) | 51,642 |
| • Density | 100/sq mi (39/km2) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Cass County is acounty in theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 Census, the population was 51,589.[2] Itscounty seat isCassopolis.[3] Cass County is included in theSouth Bend–Mishawaka,IN-MI,Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a total population of 316,663 and is considered part of theMichiana region.
The county is named forLewis Cass,[4] the Michigan Territorial Governor at the time the county was created in 1829. Cass later served as theUnited States Secretary of War underPresidentAndrew Jackson, thus making a case for including Cass County as one of Michigan's "cabinet counties".[1]
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 theSt. Joseph River. Although theSauk Trail (Chicago Road) passed through the southern part of the county, early settlement did not come primarily from eastern Michigan. Instead, settlers fromOhio andIndiana migrated who had learned of available prairie lands, reaching theMichigan Territory via a branch of the Chicago Road leading fromFort Wayne, Indiana. The population of Cass County was more than 3,000 by 1834.[5]
Among the most prominent early settlers of Cass County were Baldwin Jenkins and Uzziel Putnam, who both came from Ohio by way of theCarey Mission inBerrien County. Jenkins had been born at Fort Jenkins in Green County,Pennsylvania, and had migrated toTennessee. 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 fromErie County, Ohio, by way of Fort Wayne. These settlers, and their families, established the nucleus of thevillage of Pokagon on Pokagon Prairie in 1825. The next year, a settlement was made on Beardsley's Prairie, where the village ofEdwardsburg was laid out in 1831.[6]
The village ofCassopolis 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.[7]
After 1840, the black population of Cass County grew rapidly as families were attracted by white defiance of discriminatory laws, including theFugitive 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 fromBourbon andBoone counties inNorthern Kentucky ledraids 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.[8]
The raids failed to accomplish their objective but strengthened Southern demands for passage of theFugitive 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.[9]
Cass County became known early on for the anti-slavery attitudes of its population. PennsylvaniaQuakers made a settlement inPenn Township in 1829. This community later became a prominent station on theUnderground Railroad.[10] One established Underground Railroad route ran fromNiles through Cassopolis,Schoolcraft,Climax, andBattle Creek, and thence along the oldTerritorial Road.
Some 26 historical sites in Cass County have been listed on theNational Register of Historic Places and designated by state historical markers as of December 2009.[11]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 508 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 490 square miles (1,300 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (3.6%) is water.[12] It is the smallest county in Michigan by total area.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 18,505 | 66.29% | 9,050 | 32.42% | 360 | 1.29% |
| 2020 | 16,699 | 63.63% | 9,130 | 34.79% | 413 | 1.57% |
| 2016 | 14,243 | 63.04% | 7,270 | 32.18% | 1,082 | 4.79% |
| 2012 | 12,659 | 56.29% | 9,591 | 42.65% | 240 | 1.07% |
| 2008 | 11,114 | 47.14% | 12,083 | 51.25% | 379 | 1.61% |
| 2004 | 12,964 | 57.12% | 9,537 | 42.02% | 196 | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 10,545 | 53.19% | 8,808 | 44.43% | 472 | 2.38% |
| 1996 | 7,373 | 41.01% | 8,207 | 45.65% | 2,400 | 13.35% |
| 1992 | 7,391 | 36.44% | 8,047 | 39.67% | 4,845 | 23.89% |
| 1988 | 10,229 | 57.61% | 7,444 | 41.92% | 83 | 0.47% |
| 1984 | 11,647 | 63.32% | 6,634 | 36.07% | 113 | 0.61% |
| 1980 | 11,206 | 56.78% | 7,058 | 35.76% | 1,471 | 7.45% |
| 1976 | 9,893 | 55.15% | 7,843 | 43.72% | 203 | 1.13% |
| 1972 | 10,398 | 66.31% | 4,982 | 31.77% | 301 | 1.92% |
| 1968 | 6,996 | 46.93% | 5,616 | 37.68% | 2,294 | 15.39% |
| 1964 | 5,925 | 40.19% | 8,789 | 59.62% | 28 | 0.19% |
| 1960 | 8,585 | 56.79% | 6,468 | 42.79% | 64 | 0.42% |
| 1956 | 8,899 | 64.54% | 4,842 | 35.12% | 47 | 0.34% |
| 1952 | 8,479 | 64.86% | 4,500 | 34.42% | 93 | 0.71% |
| 1948 | 5,615 | 62.17% | 3,201 | 35.44% | 216 | 2.39% |
| 1944 | 6,566 | 65.33% | 3,417 | 34.00% | 68 | 0.68% |
| 1940 | 6,868 | 60.95% | 4,340 | 38.52% | 60 | 0.53% |
| 1936 | 4,525 | 43.74% | 5,114 | 49.43% | 706 | 6.82% |
| 1932 | 3,994 | 41.45% | 5,349 | 55.51% | 293 | 3.04% |
| 1928 | 5,720 | 70.24% | 2,346 | 28.81% | 77 | 0.95% |
| 1924 | 4,545 | 59.93% | 2,328 | 30.70% | 711 | 9.38% |
| 1920 | 4,498 | 74.25% | 1,286 | 21.23% | 274 | 4.52% |
| 1916 | 2,518 | 46.67% | 2,666 | 49.42% | 211 | 3.91% |
| 1912 | 1,462 | 27.14% | 2,076 | 38.54% | 1,849 | 34.32% |
| 1908 | 3,082 | 52.72% | 2,466 | 42.18% | 298 | 5.10% |
| 1904 | 3,150 | 57.61% | 1,937 | 35.42% | 381 | 6.97% |
| 1900 | 3,217 | 51.81% | 2,825 | 45.50% | 167 | 2.69% |
| 1896 | 3,034 | 49.05% | 3,012 | 48.70% | 139 | 2.25% |
| 1892 | 2,731 | 47.71% | 2,424 | 42.35% | 569 | 9.94% |
| 1888 | 2,929 | 50.62% | 2,564 | 44.31% | 293 | 5.06% |
| 1884 | 2,764 | 48.25% | 2,744 | 47.90% | 221 | 3.86% |
The county government operates thejail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintainsvital records, administerspublic health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The electedcounty 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.
(information as of July 2019)
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 919 | — | |
| 1840 | 5,710 | 521.3% | |
| 1850 | 10,907 | 91.0% | |
| 1860 | 17,721 | 62.5% | |
| 1870 | 21,094 | 19.0% | |
| 1880 | 22,009 | 4.3% | |
| 1890 | 20,953 | −4.8% | |
| 1900 | 20,876 | −0.4% | |
| 1910 | 20,624 | −1.2% | |
| 1920 | 20,395 | −1.1% | |
| 1930 | 20,888 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 21,910 | 4.9% | |
| 1950 | 28,185 | 28.6% | |
| 1960 | 36,932 | 31.0% | |
| 1970 | 43,312 | 17.3% | |
| 1980 | 49,499 | 14.3% | |
| 1990 | 49,477 | 0.0% | |
| 2000 | 51,104 | 3.3% | |
| 2010 | 52,293 | 2.3% | |
| 2020 | 51,589 | −1.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 51,642 | [14] | 0.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17] 1990-2000[18] 2010-2018[2] | |||
As of the2010 United States Census, there were 52,293 people living in the county. 88.9% wereWhite, 5.4%Black or African American, 1.0%Native American, 0.6%Asian, 1.1% of some other race and 3.0%of two or more races. 3.0% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race). 25.9% were ofGerman, 10.0%English, 9.6%Irish, 8.1%American and 5.7%Polish ancestry.[19]
As of the2000 census,[20] there were 51,104 people, 19,676 households, and 14,304 families living in the county. The population density was 104 inhabitants per square mile (40/km2). There were 23,884 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.19%White, 6.12%Black orAfrican American, 0.82%Native American, 0.54%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.17% fromother races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 2.41% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 26.6% were ofGerman, 11.1%American, 10.3%Irish, 10.1%English and 5.0%Polish ancestry, 96.4% spoke onlyEnglish, while 2.0% spokeSpanish at home.
There were 19,676 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $19,474. About 6.80% of families and 9.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
Cass County is home toSouthwestern Michigan College. The college is a public two-year institution of higher education, the college is part of the Michigancommunity college system. The college is the largest employer in Cass County.
Cass County has several library system which operate in the county. TheCass District Library is the largest library in the county, have branch located in 4 cities around the county. Cass District Library is thelibrary system which servicesCalvin,Howard,Jefferson,LaGrange,Mason,Milton,Newberg,Ontwa,Penn,Pokagon,Porter andVolinia Townships.
TheDowagiac District Library serves the City of Dowagiac, Wayne Township, and portions of Silver Creek, Keeler, and Bainbridge townships.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.
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Places adjacent to Cass County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofCass County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Civil townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
41°55′N85°59′W / 41.91°N 85.99°W /41.91; -85.99
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