Barry County, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Barry County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
| Coordinates:42°36′N85°19′W / 42.6°N 85.31°W /42.6; -85.31 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | April 29, 1829 (established) March 15, 1839 (organized) |
| Named after | William Taylor Barry |
| Seat | Hastings |
| Largest city | Hastings |
| Area | |
• Total | 577 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Land | 553 sq mi (1,430 km2) |
| • Water | 24 sq mi (62 km2) 4.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 62,423 |
• Estimate (2024) | 64,025 |
| • Density | 113/sq mi (43.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | https://www.barrycounty.org/ |
Barry County is acounty in theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 62,423.[1] Thecounty seat isHastings.[2]
Before the present era, the Michigan peninsula was long occupied by bands of the Potowatomi 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 Pottowatomi has a reservation inAllegan County, just west of Barry County.
Barry County was described and delineated by act of theTerritorial legislature on April 29, 1829, carved out of previously unorganized lands in the Territory. It was named to honorWilliam Taylor Barry, who was serving asUnited States Postmaster General at the time of the county's proclamation. Barry was one ofUS PresidentAndrew Jackson's cabinet members who were memorialized in names of ten Michigan counties, the "cabinet counties".[3]
By 1839, the Territory had been admitted into the Union as Michigan State. In 1839, the Michigan State Legislature approved the organization of Barry County as an independent entity.
In the early years of the twentieth century, petroleum deposits of varying magnitudes were discovered and developed in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This discovery was made in Barry County in 1939; similar discoveries in adjacent counties ranged from 1937 (Allegan County) to 1972 (Eaton County). Identifiable petroleum deposits had been identified in every county adjacent to Barry by 1972.[4]
According to theUS Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (4.2%) is water.[5]
M-37 – enters NW part of county running south from Kent County. Runs S and SE to Hastings; runs south and SSE from Hastings to Calhoun County.
M-43 – enters from Kalamazoo. Runs north and east through Delton, Hastings and Carlton to intersection with M43, east of Woodland in NE corner of Barry County.
M-50 – enters NE tip of county at Woodbury. Runs west and north to Ionia County.
M-66 – enters SE corner of county running N from Calhoun County. Runs north and NE through eastern portion of county. Passes Nashville to NE corner of county; exits to Eaton County at Woodbury running east.
M-78 – runs SW across extreme southeastern tip of county, entering from Eaton County, exiting to Calhoun County.
M-79 – runs west from its intersection with M66 at Nashville to its intersection with M37, SE of Hastings.
M-89 – runs SE across the southwestern tip of county, from Allegan County to Kalamazoo County.
M-179 – enters west portion of county from Allegan County. Runs east to Hastings.[6]There were once several minor railroads through the county; at present, there are none.[6] The only railroad left in the county is a two-mile section owned byCSX Transportation, running through the northeastern corner ofWoodland Township.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 1,078 | — | |
| 1850 | 5,072 | 370.5% | |
| 1860 | 13,858 | 173.2% | |
| 1870 | 22,199 | 60.2% | |
| 1880 | 25,317 | 14.0% | |
| 1890 | 23,783 | −6.1% | |
| 1900 | 22,514 | −5.3% | |
| 1910 | 22,633 | 0.5% | |
| 1920 | 21,383 | −5.5% | |
| 1930 | 20,928 | −2.1% | |
| 1940 | 22,613 | 8.1% | |
| 1950 | 26,183 | 15.8% | |
| 1960 | 31,738 | 21.2% | |
| 1970 | 38,166 | 20.3% | |
| 1980 | 45,781 | 20.0% | |
| 1990 | 50,057 | 9.3% | |
| 2000 | 56,755 | 13.4% | |
| 2010 | 59,173 | 4.3% | |
| 2020 | 62,423 | 5.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 64,025 | [7] | 2.6% |
| US Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[1] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 56,487 | 56,779 | 95.46% | 90.96% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 205 | 295 | 0.35% | 0.47% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 251 | 221 | 0.42% | 0.35% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 212 | 245 | 0.36% | 0.39% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 5 | 15 | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 25 | 198 | 0.04% | 0.32% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 652 | 2,528 | 1.10% | 4.05% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,336 | 2,142 | 2.26% | 3.43% |
| Total | 59,173 | 62,423 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 62,423. The median age was 42.5 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.9 males age 18 and over.[14][15]
The racial makeup of the county was 92.1%White, 0.5%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 5.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population.[15]
12.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 87.1% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 24,076 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.0% were married-couple households, 16.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 27,351 housing units, of which 12.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.4% were owner-occupied and 16.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.[14]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 59,173 people living in the county. 96.9% wereWhite, 0.5%Native American, 0.4%Black or African American, 0.4%Asian, 0.6% of some other race and 1.3%of two or more races. 2.3% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race). 19.8% were ofGerman, 13.5%American, 12.1%English, 11.2%Dutch and 8.1%Irish ancestry.[17]
As of the2000 United States census,[18] there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families living in the county. The population density was 102 inhabitants per square mile (39/km2). There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.39%White, 0.24%African American, 0.46%Native American, 0.27%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.50% fromother races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 21.8% were ofGerman, 13.6%English, 12.5%Dutch, 12.4%American and 9.6%Irish ancestry according toCensus 2000. 98.2% spoke onlyEnglish at home.
There were 21,035 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% weremarried couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.06.
The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,820, and the median income for a family was $51,794. Males had a median income of $38,991 versus $26,387 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $20,636. About 3.90% of families and 5.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.
Barry County has been strongly Republican from its start. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 92% of the elections (33 of 36 elections).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1884 | 2,699 | 44.71% | 2,937 | 48.65% | 401 | 6.64% |
| 1888 | 3,212 | 49.83% | 2,676 | 41.51% | 558 | 8.66% |
| 1892 | 2,854 | 49.20% | 1,800 | 31.03% | 1,147 | 19.77% |
| 1896 | 3,294 | 49.63% | 3,157 | 47.57% | 186 | 2.80% |
| 1900 | 3,294 | 51.44% | 2,895 | 45.21% | 214 | 3.34% |
| 1904 | 3,675 | 63.08% | 1,817 | 31.19% | 334 | 5.73% |
| 1908 | 3,247 | 57.46% | 2,126 | 37.62% | 278 | 4.92% |
| 1912 | 1,585 | 28.84% | 1,800 | 32.75% | 2,111 | 38.41% |
| 1916 | 3,157 | 53.82% | 2,491 | 42.47% | 218 | 3.72% |
| 1920 | 5,154 | 70.69% | 1,874 | 25.70% | 263 | 3.61% |
| 1924 | 5,656 | 70.72% | 2,046 | 25.58% | 296 | 3.70% |
| 1928 | 6,044 | 79.94% | 1,459 | 19.30% | 58 | 0.77% |
| 1932 | 4,556 | 49.21% | 4,416 | 47.70% | 286 | 3.09% |
| 1936 | 4,950 | 53.48% | 3,880 | 41.92% | 425 | 4.59% |
| 1940 | 6,872 | 68.55% | 3,091 | 30.83% | 62 | 0.62% |
| 1944 | 7,057 | 69.17% | 3,010 | 29.50% | 136 | 1.33% |
| 1948 | 5,677 | 64.75% | 2,726 | 31.09% | 365 | 4.16% |
| 1952 | 8,933 | 72.70% | 3,230 | 26.29% | 124 | 1.01% |
| 1956 | 9,359 | 70.22% | 3,907 | 29.31% | 63 | 0.47% |
| 1960 | 9,298 | 67.54% | 4,406 | 32.00% | 63 | 0.46% |
| 1964 | 5,509 | 40.36% | 8,102 | 59.36% | 39 | 0.29% |
| 1968 | 8,492 | 55.14% | 5,206 | 33.81% | 1,702 | 11.05% |
| 1972 | 10,393 | 64.02% | 5,484 | 33.78% | 356 | 2.19% |
| 1976 | 11,178 | 60.79% | 6,967 | 37.89% | 243 | 1.32% |
| 1980 | 12,006 | 58.13% | 6,857 | 33.20% | 1,791 | 8.67% |
| 1984 | 14,245 | 70.29% | 5,898 | 29.10% | 122 | 0.60% |
| 1988 | 12,546 | 60.66% | 7,983 | 38.60% | 152 | 0.73% |
| 1992 | 9,489 | 38.57% | 8,652 | 35.17% | 6,458 | 26.25% |
| 1996 | 11,139 | 48.18% | 9,467 | 40.95% | 2,514 | 10.87% |
| 2000 | 15,716 | 59.88% | 9,769 | 37.22% | 759 | 2.89% |
| 2004 | 18,638 | 61.57% | 11,312 | 37.37% | 322 | 1.06% |
| 2008 | 16,431 | 53.65% | 13,449 | 43.91% | 749 | 2.45% |
| 2012 | 16,655 | 58.20% | 11,491 | 40.15% | 471 | 1.65% |
| 2016 | 19,202 | 62.92% | 9,114 | 29.87% | 2,201 | 7.21% |
| 2020 | 23,471 | 65.27% | 11,797 | 32.80% | 693 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | 25,650 | 66.31% | 12,391 | 32.03% | 642 | 1.66% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 24,678 | 64.72% | 12,311 | 32.29% | 1,143 | 3.00% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 18,547 | 60.42% | 11,552 | 37.63% | 598 | 1.95% |
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 December 2012[update])
In an October 2020 interview with Fox 17 News, Sheriff Dar Leaf stated that the individuals charged in a plot to kidnap GovernorGretchen Whitmer may have been attempting to effectuate a lawful arrest on Whitmer as opposed to a kidnapping. The Sheriff had shared a stage with one of those charged at a protest of the Governor's stay-at-home order in May.[21]
Public schools in Barry County:
Barry County is the host of the annualBarry-Roubaix cycling race.
The annual Barry County Artists Exhibition highlights local art each summer.[22]
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