Benton Harbor, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Main Street in Downtown Benton Harbor | |
 Logo | |
 Location withinBerrien County | |
  Benton Harbor Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Benton Harbor Location within the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°07′00″N86°27′15″W / 42.11667°N 86.45417°W /42.11667; -86.45417 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Berrien |
| Incorporated | 1837 (village) 1891 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Marcus Muhammad |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.63 sq mi (12.00 km2) |
| • Land | 4.38 sq mi (11.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| Elevation | 590 ft (180 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 9,103 |
| • Density | 2,077.9/sq mi (802.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | 49022, 49023 |
| Area code | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-07520[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0621144[3] |
| Website | bhcity |
Benton Harbor is a city inBerrien County, in theU.S. state ofMichigan. Located 46 miles southwest ofKalamazoo and 71 miles southwest ofGrand Rapids, it had a population of 9,103 according to the 2020census.[4] It is the smaller of the two principal cities in theNiles–Benton HarborMetropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 156,813.[5]
Benton Harbor and the nearby city ofSt. Joseph developed on opposite sides of theSt. Joseph River and are commonly referred to as the "Twin Cities".[6][7]Fairplain andBenton Heights areunincorporated areas adjacent to Benton Harbor. The population is more than 80 percent African American.
Benton Harbor was founded by Henry C. Morton, Sterne Brunson and Charles Hull, who all now have or have had schools named after them.[8] It was mainly wetlands bordered by thePaw Paw River, through which a canal was built, hence the "harbor" in the city's name.[9] In 1860, the village was laid out by Brunson, Morton, Hull and others, and given the name Brunson Harbor.[10]
Brunson, Morton, and Hull also donated land and solicited subscriptions for construction of the canal, which was completed in 1862.[11] It had long been recognized that a canal would be crucial to the town's development, both to drain the marsh and to provide a berthing area for ships. The canal, originally 25 feet (7.6 m) wide but expanded to 50 feet (15 m) in 1868, led to the town's becoming a shipping and manufacturing center for the area.[12] The eastern end of the canal was deemed non-navigable in 1937[13] and most of the rest was in 1963.[14]
In 1866, the settlement's name was changed to Benton Harbor in honor ofThomas Hart Benton, aMissouri Senator who helped Michigan achieve statehood.[15] In 1891, Benton Harbor was incorporated as a city.[10]
Benton Harbor's retail establishments started relocating outside of the city starting in the 1950s, and the city experienced an economic downturn between 1970 and 1985.[16]
TheHouse of David religious group was founded there and once ran a local amusement park.
Benton Harbor has had two major riots, one in 1966 and one in 2003, with smaller ones occurring in 1960, 1967, and 1990.[17]
On August 30, 1966, a riot began after a meeting discussing recreational facilities and police relations with respect to black residents.[18] During the riot, a black 18-year-old named Cecil Hunt was killed in adrive-by shooting; suspects were arrested but the assault charge was later dismissed.[18][19] GovernorGeorge W. Romney dispatched troops from theMichigan National Guard, who stood down on September 5 when the riot dissipated.[20]
In June 2003, several citizens in Benton Harbor demonstrated for two days when black motorcyclist Terrance Shurn, being chased by a police officer, crashed into a building and died.[21][22] As many as 300 state troopers and law enforcement personnel from neighboring communities were called to Benton Harbor.[23][24][25]
A state task force produced a report about the incident later in 2003.[26] Indirectly, the riot contributed to theJimmy Carter Work Project's 2005 activities being held in Benton Harbor andDetroit.[27]
As with the 2014–2019public health crisis involving thedrinking water inFlint, in 2018 higher-than-acceptable levels oflead were found in Benton Harbor'stap water.[28] Water was starting to appear "bubbly and white" to "brown", with a "horrible" taste and poor smell.[29] This was due to lead-based water service lines.[28] Testing found the samples returned lead levels of 22 parts per billion, greater than the 20 parts per billion inFlint and the federal lead action level of 15 parts per billion.[29][30] High levels of copper were also noted in the annualconsumer confidence reports that have been required byEnvironmental Protection Agency.[30]
Concerns were with the health impacts oflead poisoning.[31] As a result, residents were supplied with freebottled water, including for use with brushing teeth and cooking, for residences and schools.[31][28][29] In September 2021, $10 million was budgeted to replace the lead service lines.[28] All lead pipes had been replaced by December 1, 2023, per theMichigan Department of Health and Human Services.[32]
In the 2020s Benton Harbor began a project to improve the area around Ox Creek, a stream that flows through parts of the city including the downtown area and drains into thePaw Paw River.[33][34] Contributing parties are the Southwest Michigan Planning Commissionmetropolitan planning organization[35] and theUniversity of Michigan.[36]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.68 square miles (12.12 km2), of which 4.43 square miles (11.47 km2) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2) is water.[37]
Benton Harbor has ahumid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa) that has very warm summers for the type and also less cold winters than many climates of the classification. Due tolake-effect snow there is very high snowfall relative to precipitation in winter, but far lower than some locations that are farther north in the state. Summer high temperatures range from 77 to 83 °F (25 to 28 °C) from June to August, but the apparent heat is normally moderated by mild nights.
| Climate data for Benton Harbor, Michigan (Benton Harbor Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1887–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) | 73 (23) | 86 (30) | 90 (32) | 97 (36) | 104 (40) | 104 (40) | 102 (39) | 98 (37) | 94 (34) | 82 (28) | 69 (21) | 104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 51.9 (11.1) | 55.8 (13.2) | 70.8 (21.6) | 80.3 (26.8) | 89.6 (32.0) | 92.1 (33.4) | 94.4 (34.7) | 92.6 (33.7) | 89.7 (32.1) | 81.1 (27.3) | 67.3 (19.6) | 56.9 (13.8) | 96.5 (35.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.2 (0.7) | 35.7 (2.1) | 46.8 (8.2) | 59.3 (15.2) | 70.1 (21.2) | 79.5 (26.4) | 83.1 (28.4) | 81.4 (27.4) | 75.5 (24.2) | 63.1 (17.3) | 49.4 (9.7) | 37.8 (3.2) | 59.6 (15.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 26.3 (−3.2) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 37.3 (2.9) | 48.1 (8.9) | 58.5 (14.7) | 68.1 (20.1) | 72.6 (22.6) | 70.9 (21.6) | 64.5 (18.1) | 53.4 (11.9) | 41.6 (5.3) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 50.1 (10.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.5 (−6.9) | 21.2 (−6.0) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 36.9 (2.7) | 47.0 (8.3) | 56.6 (13.7) | 62.1 (16.7) | 60.4 (15.8) | 53.6 (12.0) | 43.8 (6.6) | 33.8 (1.0) | 25.3 (−3.7) | 40.7 (4.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −2.9 (−19.4) | 3.1 (−16.1) | 9.2 (−12.7) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 31.6 (−0.2) | 40.4 (4.7) | 47.5 (8.6) | 47.0 (8.3) | 37.2 (2.9) | 27.8 (−2.3) | 19.0 (−7.2) | 7.7 (−13.5) | −5.1 (−20.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −13 (−25) | −9 (−23) | 9 (−13) | 23 (−5) | 31 (−1) | 37 (3) | 36 (2) | 23 (−5) | 15 (−9) | −1 (−18) | −15 (−26) | −21 (−29) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.46 (62) | 1.89 (48) | 2.26 (57) | 3.76 (96) | 3.85 (98) | 3.60 (91) | 3.30 (84) | 3.90 (99) | 3.40 (86) | 4.40 (112) | 3.01 (76) | 2.33 (59) | 38.16 (969) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 29.5 (75) | 18.8 (48) | 7.7 (20) | 1.1 (2.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 3.8 (9.7) | 16.6 (42) | 77.7 (197) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 13.5 (34) | 9.8 (25) | 5.5 (14) | 0.5 (1.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.3 (5.8) | 6.2 (16) | 16.7 (42) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 13.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 12.3 | 11.4 | 9.7 | 7.6 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 12.6 | 125.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 10.2 | 7.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 7.3 | 31.1 |
| Source:NOAA[38][39] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 661 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,230 | 86.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,692 | 200.2% | |
| 1900 | 6,562 | 77.7% | |
| 1910 | 9,185 | 40.0% | |
| 1920 | 12,233 | 33.2% | |
| 1930 | 15,434 | 26.2% | |
| 1940 | 16,668 | 8.0% | |
| 1950 | 18,769 | 12.6% | |
| 1960 | 19,136 | 2.0% | |
| 1970 | 16,481 | −13.9% | |
| 1980 | 14,707 | −10.8% | |
| 1990 | 12,818 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 11,182 | −12.8% | |
| 2010 | 10,038 | −10.2% | |
| 2020 | 9,103 | −9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[40] 2010[41] 2020[42] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[43] | Pop 2010[41] | Pop 2020[42] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 600 | 641 | 679 | 5.37% | 6.39% | 7.46% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 10,303 | 8,899 | 7,569 | 92.14% | 88.65% | 83.15% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 17 | 30 | 24 | 0.15% | 0.30% | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 15 | 6 | 13 | 0.13% | 0.06% | 0.14% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 8 | 12 | 44 | 0.07% | 0.12% | 0.48% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 170 | 226 | 302 | 1.52% | 2.25% | 3.32% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 65 | 220 | 467 | 0.58% | 2.19% | 5.13% |
| Total | 11,182 | 10,038 | 9,103 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[44] of 2010, there were 10,038 people, 3,548 households, and 2,335 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,265.9 inhabitants per square mile (874.9/km2). There were 4,329 housing units at an average density of 977.2 per square mile (377.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.2%African American, 7.0%White, 0.3%Native American, 0.1%Asian, 0.8% fromother races, and 2.6% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
There were 3,548 households, of which 44.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 17.0% weremarried couples living together, 43.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% 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 3.41.
The median age in the city was 28.3 years. 35.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 7.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.5% male and 53.5% female.
At the 2000census,[2] there were 11,182 people, 3,767 households and 2,557 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,545.7 inhabitants per square mile (982.9/km2). There were 4,492 housing units at an average density of 1,022.7 per square mile (394.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.40%African American, 5.48%White, 0.15%Native American, 0.13%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.14% fromother races, and 1.65% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.58% of the population.
There were 3,767 households, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 20.8% weremarried couples living together, 42.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.53.
Age distribution was 39.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.7 males.
Themedian household income was $17,471, and the median family income was $19,250. Males had a median income of $27,154 versus $20,105 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $8,965, the lowest in Michigan. About 39.6% of families and 42.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 52.5% of those under age 18 and 29.7% of those age 65 or over.
The Michigan Treasury Department in 2009 sent a team to look into the city's finances. The team's report was a long list of mismanagement to the point that budgets were "effectively meaningless as a financial management tool."[45] The city was $10 million underfunded in its pension fund and increasing budget deficits. In April 2010, governorJennifer Granholm appointed Joseph Harris as Emergency Financial Manager. City staff was reduced by 30 to 70.[46]
Harris was given expanded powers under a new law signed in March 2011 by governorRick Snyder.[47] Harris was previously the chief financial officer for the city ofDetroit.[47] On April 14, 2011, Harris suspended the decision-making powers of Benton Harbor's elected city officials, who can hold meetings but are not allowed to govern.[47] The MichiganAFL–CIO president called the move "sad news for democracy in Michigan", but at least one city official, City Commissioner Bryan Joseph, supported it, saying the city had been mismanaged for decades.[47]
On January 4, 2012,city commissioners Marcus Muhammad and MaryAlice Adams held a press conference where they stated that if there was still an emergency financial manager administering the city when Benton Harbor hosted theSenior PGA Championship in May, an "Occupy PGA movement should sit in on the golf greens and driving ranges in protest."[48] Occupy PGA held protest marches on multiple days during the tournament, but did not disrupt the tournament.[49]
On January 11, 2013, the Emergency Financial Assistance Loan Board (ELB) voted to replace Harris as the Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) for the city. On February 1, 2013, the ELB appointedTony R. Saunders II as the youngest Successor-Emergency Financial Manager for the city of Benton Harbor.[50]
Library service for the city is provided by theBenton Harbor Public Library.
The town has a police department.[51]
| Mayors of Benton Harbor, Michigan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The city is served by two institutions,Benton Harbor Area Schools[59] within theBerrien Regional Education Service Agency,[60] andLake Michigan College, a two-year community college just east of Benton Harbor.
Whirlpool Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of major home appliances, has its corporate headquarters in nearbyBenton Charter Township,[61][62] along with a new Riverview campus near the St. Joseph River in Benton Harbor and the Technical Center in St. Joseph.
Black Autonomy Network Community Organization (BANCO) is a political and social justice coalition working in Benton Harbor.
I-94 bypasses the city to the east and south, connecting withKalamazoo andDetroit to the east and withMichigan City, Indiana, andChicago, Illinois, to the south and southwest.
BL I-94 travels through the downtowns of both Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. It mostly follows the former route ofUS 12.
I-196 begins nearby inBenton Township and continues northerly towardHolland, ending atGrand Rapids.
US 31 is currently a freeway (theSt. Joseph Valley Parkway) from theIndiana border north, entering a partial cloverleaf with Main St. and I-94 connecting downtown Benton Harbor with US 31
M-63 serves as a loop route connecting with I-196 at the north and running through downtown St. Joseph. M-63 continues on to I-94 and then to M-139, where it ends. M-63 follows the former route ofUS 33.
M-139 begins at US 12 nearNiles and terminates at BL I-94 on the Benton Harbor–Benton Township border (the northbound direction terminates wholly within Benton Township). M-139 follows a former route of US 31 south of I-94.Spanning thePaw Paw River and providing an additional connection to St. Joseph, the Charles Freeman Joseph bridge on Whitwam Drive, is named for Benton Harbor's first black mayor, opened in late 2005.[63][64]
TheAmtrak station in St. Joseph is served daily by Amtrak'sPere Marquette passenger train.
Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority (TCATA) provides bus transit throughout Benton Harbor and the surrounding areas. Originally strictly a dial-a-ride service, it has recently expanded to include three fixed routes—Red Route, Green Route and Blue Route. Red Route serves Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, St. Joseph Charter Township, Lincoln Township, and Royalton Township. Blue and Green routes operate throughout Benton Harbor and Benton Township.[65]
Southwest Michigan Regional Airport provides non-commercial air service.
Both Benton Harbor and neighboring St. Joseph are commercial ports that receive bulk goods fromlake freighters.
Benton Harbor is served byThe Herald-Palladium newspaper, whose offices are in nearbySt. Joseph Township, and is part of theSouth Bend/Elkhart television market. TheBenton Spirit community newspaper has also served the community for the past 10 years. The paper was acknowledged by former Governor Granholm's 2003 Benton Harbor Task Force Report as a key communications stakeholder that "proactively assists in the total development of Benton Harbor". Benton Harbor is served by sister radio stationsWCXT,WCSY-FM,WIRX,WQYQ,WRRA-FM,WSJM-FM, andWYTZ-FM, as well asWHFB and some in theSouth Bend market. Additionally, most of the Chicago marketTV andradio stations are available from 60 miles (97 km) across the lake.
Sites of interest in Benton Harbor areShiloh House, built in 1910, which served as the administration building and men's dormitory for theHouse of David colony, a communal religious group; Morton House (on Morton Hill), built in 1849 by Eleazar Morton, which now houses a museum;Jean Klock Park onLake Michigan; andthe Golf Club at Harbor Shores. In neighboring Benton Township is theBenton Harbor Fruit Market,[66] which replaced the fruit market in the "flats" area of Benton Harbor, which was torn down during anurban renewal project in 1967.[67][68]
The main shopping center isThe Orchards Mall.
AnAmerican Basketball Association team (ABA), theTwin City Ballers, played in Benton Harbor for a few games in November 2006, but left the city due to poor attendance at games. Another ABA team, theLake Michigan Admirals, began play in 2009. The Admirals switched from the ABA to join the Premiere Basketball League for the 2012 season.
Jack Dempsey defended hisheavyweight title on September 6, 1920, in Benton Harbor, defeatingBilly Miske.
The city hosts the Maytag Ironman 70.3 Steelhead triathlon,[69] a qualifying event for theIronman 70.3 World Championship.
The city is the birthplace ofIris Kyle, the most successful professional bodybuilder ever, with ten overallMs. Olympia wins and two heavyweight wins, along with sevenMs. International wins and one heavyweight win.
Benton Harbor co-hosts the annual Blossomtime Festival with St. Joseph.
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Municipalities and communities ofBerrien County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Charter townships | ||
| Civil townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |