Fennville, Michigan | |
|---|---|
   Top to bottom, left to right: Main Street/M-89 facing West, historic grain silos, the Kingsley House | |
 Location of Fennville, Michigan | |
| Coordinates:42°35′40.98″N86°6′18.75″W / 42.5947167°N 86.1052083°W /42.5947167; -86.1052083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Allegan |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.10 sq mi (2.85 km2) |
| • Land | 1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 666 ft (203 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,745 |
| • Density | 1,599.45/sq mi (617.30/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 49408 |
| Area code | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-27740[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626274[3] |
| Website | www |
Fennville is a city inAllegan County in theU.S. state ofMichigan. The population was 1,745 at the2020 census.
Located onM-89 on the boundary betweenManlius Township to the north andClyde Township to the south, Fennville is located about 11 miles (18 km) southeast of the city ofSaugatuck and about 13 miles (21 km) west-northwest of the city ofAllegan. It is about 13 miles (21 km) south ofHolland, about 16 miles (26 km) northeast ofSouth Haven and roughly 40 miles (64 km) miles southwest ofGrand Rapids.
The "official" and widely accepted account of how the city came to be known as Fennville, is that an early white settler by the name of Elam Atwater Fenn[4] built a saw mill in the immediate vicinity of the current community. This led to people referring to the settlement as "Fenn's Mill" which became the name associated with the post office there. Some early documents pluralized "Mill" to render "Fenn's Mills." The first road through what was to be Fennville was built by Harrison Hutchins and James McCormick in 1837.[5][6]
A fire (possibly related to theGreat Chicago Fire orGreat Michigan Fire) destroyed the village in October 1871. About that time, the paperwork (timetables and such) for the recently completedChicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad arrived which identified the community's station as "Fennville." This was thought by some at the time (including Hutchins) to have been the result of clerical error. However, Fenn himself recorded that the change in name had been suggested by and mutually agreed upon among certain leaders of the community in conjunction with the establishment of the new railroad station. The post office name was then changed to "Fennville" to match the station's name. The community was officially incorporated as the village of Fennville on February 20, 1889.[7]
A United States atlas from 1895 indicates the town name was in some cases broken into two words, as in "Fenn Ville." Yet another documented variation was "Fennsville," as found in a plat book from 1873.[8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.11 square miles (2.87 km2), of which 1.10 square miles (2.85 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 360 | — | |
| 1900 | 454 | 26.1% | |
| 1910 | 533 | 17.4% | |
| 1920 | 547 | 2.6% | |
| 1930 | 622 | 13.7% | |
| 1940 | 643 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 639 | −0.6% | |
| 1960 | 705 | 10.3% | |
| 1970 | 811 | 15.0% | |
| 1980 | 934 | 15.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,023 | 9.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,459 | 42.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,398 | −4.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,745 | 24.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
As of thecensus[11] of 2010, there were 1,398 people, 505 households, and 346 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,270.9 inhabitants per square mile (490.7/km2). There were 588 housing units at an average density of 534.5 per square mile (206.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 72.6%White, 1.9%African American, 0.5%Native American, 0.1%Asian, 20.7% fromother races, and 4.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 39.1% of the population.
There were 505 households, of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% weremarried couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.36.
The median age in the city was 28.7 years. 34.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.4% were from 25 to 44; 20.7% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
As of thecensus[2] of 2000, there were 1,459 people, 484 households, and 349 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,378.4 inhabitants per square mile (532.2/km2). There were 552 housing units at an average density of 521.5 per square mile (201.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.27%White, 3.15%African American, 0.75%Native American, 0.34%Asian, 19.81% fromother races, and 2.67% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 32.63% of the population.
There were 484 households, out of which 48.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% weremarried couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.53.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 38.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,013, and the median income for a family was $40,875. Males had a median income of $32,833 versus $25,556 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $16,127. About 9.7% of families and 12.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those aged 65 or over.
TheFennville Public Schools district includes:[12]
The Discovery Elementary School, achartered public school academy located in Fennville,[13] closed at the end of the 2009 school year.[14]
Each October since 1984, Fennville has held an annual local event known as the Goose Festival.[15] Fennville's Goose Festival promotes the abundance of area game and wildlife, with a special emphasis on thousands of Canada geese as they pass through the nearby Todd Farm Unit of theAllegan State Game Area during their seasonal migration.[16][17] One impetus for creating the festival was to encourage passenger train visitation viaAmtrak on the railway that runs through Fennville.[18] Tens of thousands of people flock to the small town each year to enjoy the various activities and attractions planned and managed by the volunteer-based Goose Festival organization that operates the Goose Festival.[19][20]
Also playing a role in Fennville's appeal as a tourist destination, the city and surrounding region is anAmerican Viticultural Area, theFennville AVA, known for the production ofMichigan wine.
Municipalities and communities ofAllegan County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Charter township | ||
| General law townships | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
42°35′40.98″N86°06′18.75″W / 42.5947167°N 86.1052083°W /42.5947167; -86.1052083
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