Allegan County, Michigan | |
|---|---|
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 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
 Michigan's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:42°35′N85°54′W / 42.59°N 85.9°W /42.59; -85.9 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | established 1831 organized 1835[1] |
| Seat | Allegan |
| Largest city | Holland |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,833 sq mi (4,750 km2) |
| • Land | 825 sq mi (2,140 km2) |
| • Water | 1,008 sq mi (2,610 km2) 55% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 120,502 |
• Estimate (2024) | 122,429 |
| • Density | 146/sq mi (56.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | http://www.allegancounty.org |
Allegan County (/ˈæləɡən/AL-ə-gən) is acounty in theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 120,502.[2] Thecounty seat isAllegan.[3] The name was coined byHenry Rowe Schoolcraft to sound like a Native American word.[4][1] Allegan County comprises theHolland, MichiganMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in theGrand Rapids–Kentwood–MuskegonCombined Statistical Area. It is primarily an agricultural area that is rapidly becoming urbanized as the population centers of Grand Rapids on the northeast andKalamazoo to the southeast expand into Allegan County.
The county has long been a regional tourist draw, particularly theTulip Time Festival in Holland and the area alongLake Michigan. TheLake Michigan shoreline has long been a popular place for vacation homes, and that development continues, especially aroundSaugatuck andDouglas. Another draw isAllegan State Game Area, a 45,000 acres (180 km2) forest attracting campers, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and hunters. Allegan County containsSaugatuck Dunes State Park with trails through scenic dunes and a swimming beach on Lake Michigan. The county also contains Pier Cove Park, a public beach with Lake Michigan access.Lake Allegan is a popular destination.[5]
The Michigan peninsula was long occupied by bands of the Pottawatomi and Ojibwe of theLake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. The United States government forced the tribes to cede their extensive territories to the federal government, in exchange for annuities and small reservations. The federally recognizedMatch-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi has a reservation here.
The boundaries of Allegan County were laid out by theTerritorial legislature in 1831. The county was organized in 1835. At that time there were only about four European-American families in the area. Among the first settlers of Allegan County were Giles Scott and Turner Aldrich.[6]
According to theUS Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,833 sq mi (4,750 km2), of which 825 sq mi (2,140 km2) is land and 1,008 sq mi (2,610 km2) (55%) is water.[7]
By land
By water
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 1,783 | — | |
| 1850 | 5,125 | 187.4% | |
| 1860 | 16,087 | 213.9% | |
| 1870 | 32,105 | 99.6% | |
| 1880 | 37,815 | 17.8% | |
| 1890 | 38,961 | 3.0% | |
| 1900 | 38,812 | −0.4% | |
| 1910 | 39,819 | 2.6% | |
| 1920 | 37,540 | −5.7% | |
| 1930 | 38,974 | 3.8% | |
| 1940 | 41,839 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 47,493 | 13.5% | |
| 1960 | 57,729 | 21.6% | |
| 1970 | 66,575 | 15.3% | |
| 1980 | 81,555 | 22.5% | |
| 1990 | 90,509 | 11.0% | |
| 2000 | 105,665 | 16.7% | |
| 2010 | 111,408 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 120,502 | 8.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 122,429 | [8] | 1.6% |
| US Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2019[2] | |||
As of the2010 United States census, there were 111,408 people living in the county. 92.9% wereWhite, 1.2%Black or African American, 0.6%Asian, 0.6%Native American, 2.8% of some other race and 1.9%of two or more races. 6.7% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race). 23.0% were ofDutch, 17.5%German, 8.3%English, 7.1%Irish and 7.1%American ancestry.[13]
As of the2000 United States census,[14] there were 105,665 people, 38,165 households, and 28,394 families living in the county. The population density was 128 inhabitants per square mile (49/km2). There were 43,292 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.47%White, 1.31%Black orAfrican American, 0.55%Native American, 0.55%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 2.77% fromother races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 5.72% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 25.6% were ofDutch, 17.8%German, 9.6%American, 8.4%English and 7.2%Irish ancestry, 93.6% spoke onlyEnglish; 5.2% spokeSpanish at home.
There were 38,165 households, out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% weremarried couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 20.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.15.
The county population contained 28.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,813, and the median income for a family was $51,908. Males had a median income of $38,681 versus $26,887 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,918. About 5.00% of families and 7.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.
The county government operates thejail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, andvital records, administerspublic health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. Thecounty board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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 January 2025)
Allegan County has been strongly Republican from its start. Since 1884, the Republican nominee has carried the county in all but one presidential election. It is very Republican even by the standards of West Michigan, rejecting Democrats even in national landslides. Underlining this, it was one of the few counties in the nation whereFranklin D. Roosevelt was completely shut out in all four of his successful runs for president. FDR actually garnered fewer votes in the county in his 46-state landslide of 1936 than he did in 1932. In 1964,Lyndon Johnson became the only Democrat to carry the county since 1884, and even then only by 701 votes; it was the last time a Democrat managed even 40 percent of the county's vote untilBarack Obama received 43.63 percent of its vote in 2008. The only other time that the Republicans lost the county in the 20th century was in 1912, when the GOP was mortally divided andTheodore Roosevelt carried it on the Bull Moose ticket.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1884 | 4,080 | 48.27% | 3,445 | 40.75% | 928 | 10.98% |
| 1888 | 5,078 | 52.01% | 3,829 | 39.22% | 856 | 8.77% |
| 1892 | 4,283 | 50.96% | 3,207 | 38.16% | 915 | 10.89% |
| 1896 | 5,810 | 57.85% | 3,937 | 39.20% | 296 | 2.95% |
| 1900 | 5,590 | 61.13% | 3,275 | 35.82% | 279 | 3.05% |
| 1904 | 5,589 | 73.98% | 1,576 | 20.86% | 390 | 5.16% |
| 1908 | 5,422 | 67.32% | 2,186 | 27.14% | 446 | 5.54% |
| 1912 | 2,121 | 27.92% | 1,925 | 25.34% | 3,550 | 46.74% |
| 1916 | 4,803 | 54.81% | 3,591 | 40.98% | 369 | 4.21% |
| 1920 | 7,825 | 75.89% | 2,154 | 20.89% | 332 | 3.22% |
| 1924 | 9,417 | 79.32% | 1,562 | 13.16% | 893 | 7.52% |
| 1928 | 10,792 | 81.65% | 2,358 | 17.84% | 67 | 0.51% |
| 1932 | 8,705 | 54.13% | 7,030 | 43.71% | 347 | 2.16% |
| 1936 | 9,247 | 57.41% | 5,922 | 36.77% | 937 | 5.82% |
| 1940 | 12,347 | 69.40% | 5,385 | 30.27% | 60 | 0.34% |
| 1944 | 12,327 | 73.04% | 4,480 | 26.54% | 71 | 0.42% |
| 1948 | 10,439 | 67.68% | 4,594 | 29.78% | 391 | 2.54% |
| 1952 | 15,663 | 73.40% | 5,437 | 25.48% | 238 | 1.12% |
| 1956 | 16,509 | 74.44% | 5,617 | 25.33% | 51 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 16,660 | 70.98% | 6,752 | 28.77% | 60 | 0.26% |
| 1964 | 11,223 | 48.39% | 11,934 | 51.45% | 37 | 0.16% |
| 1968 | 14,769 | 60.32% | 7,276 | 29.72% | 2,438 | 9.96% |
| 1972 | 18,407 | 68.47% | 7,883 | 29.32% | 594 | 2.21% |
| 1976 | 19,330 | 65.59% | 9,794 | 33.23% | 347 | 1.18% |
| 1980 | 20,560 | 62.24% | 9,877 | 29.90% | 2,594 | 7.85% |
| 1984 | 23,762 | 73.48% | 8,389 | 25.94% | 187 | 0.58% |
| 1988 | 22,163 | 66.78% | 10,785 | 32.50% | 240 | 0.72% |
| 1992 | 19,077 | 46.72% | 12,823 | 31.40% | 8,935 | 21.88% |
| 1996 | 20,859 | 53.77% | 14,361 | 37.02% | 3,570 | 9.20% |
| 2000 | 28,197 | 62.81% | 15,495 | 34.52% | 1,199 | 2.67% |
| 2004 | 34,022 | 63.11% | 19,355 | 35.90% | 530 | 0.98% |
| 2008 | 30,061 | 54.28% | 24,165 | 43.63% | 1,154 | 2.08% |
| 2012 | 31,123 | 58.97% | 20,806 | 39.42% | 846 | 1.60% |
| 2016 | 34,183 | 60.91% | 18,050 | 32.16% | 3,887 | 6.93% |
| 2020 | 41,392 | 61.60% | 24,449 | 36.39% | 1,354 | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 45,206 | 62.77% | 25,637 | 35.60% | 1,181 | 1.64% |
Allegan County is part of the annual Arts and Eats tour, which highlights local art, food, and farms.[18]
Places adjacent to Allegan County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofAllegan County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| 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 | |
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