South Haven, Michigan | |
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 South Haven Lighthouse, seen in winter | |
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| Coordinates:42°24′11″N86°16′25″W / 42.40306°N 86.27361°W /42.40306; -86.27361 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Van Buren,Allegan |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Annie Brown |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.50 sq mi (9.05 km2) |
| • Land | 3.40 sq mi (8.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2) |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,964 |
| • Density | 1,164.51/sq mi (449.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 49090 |
| Area code | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-74980[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0638363[3] |
| Website | www |
South Haven is a city in theU.S. state ofMichigan. Most of the city is inVan Buren County, although a small portion extends intoAllegan County. The population was 3,964 at the2020 census.
Because of its position onLake Michigan, at the mouth of theBlack River, South Haven has always been aport city. During settlement, major ship lines stopped there, both passenger and freight. In the early 1900s South Haven became a resort town, sometimes referred to as "TheCatskills of theMidwest." South Haven is a major regional tourist draw because of its recreational harbor and beaches. It is the western terminus of theKal-Haven Trail, popular withbicyclists andsnowmobilers. Nearby areVan Buren State Park and theVan Buren Trail State Park.
Noted botanistLiberty Hyde Bailey was born in South Haven. His childhood home was presented to the city in the 1930s, and is now a museum.
Prior to colonization by white settlers, the area was inhabited at different times byPotawatomi andIroquois native people. In 1833, theU.S. government granted Jay R. Monroe aland patent for 65acres of land along the shore ofLake Michigan. In the 1850s the first permanent settlers arrived, and early in the decade the first steamsawmills were built on the Black River. About this time, the settlement gained its first merchant, physician, lawyer, and minister, and the first schoolhouse was built. The first bank was organized in 1867. South Haven was incorporated as a village in 1869, and as a city in 1902.[4] South Haven was named in relation to nearbyGrand Haven.[5]
In 1853, the first hotel in South Haven, known as the Forest House, was built at the corner of Phoenix and Center Streets.[6] The building was subsequently moved a few doors south and still stands, though greatly modified, and no longer used as a hotel.
Thetimber harvested in South Haven was shipped toChicago andMilwaukee viasteamboats andschooners, and the clearedforests were then used by fruit farmers, who primarily grewpeaches,blueberries andapples. Thefarming industry created many jobs in the area, and the city began to boom. Around the early 1900s, theaters, acasino, anopera house, anamusement park, and many resorts contributed to a rise in popularity of the city. Being aresort city resulted in aseasonal economy, however, and in an effort to stabilize the economy, the city's board of trade successfully recruited several differentindustries to the area.
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In 1925, the first foreign shipments of goods arrived,[7] beginning an era of foreign shipments that would last until the mid-1960s.[citation needed] The last passenger steamboat left South Haven for Chicago on Labor Day, 1941, though recreationalboating increased steadily. In the 1950s and 1960s several new factories came to the area, and although the resort businesses in the area began to flounder, the resorts that remained grew stronger.
In 1970, "The Centennial Celebration andBlueberry Festival" took place, and the city's 64-slipmarina was dedicated. To this day theBlueberry Festival continues to draw many visitors to the city. Other events, such as the Ice Breaker Festival, Harborfest, theart shows andFourth of Julyfireworks display remain very popular. Thebeaches, boating and relaxing atmosphere will continue to ensure that the City of South Haven remains a popular warm-weather destination. TheSouth Pier Lighthouse, built in 1903 to replace the light established in 1872,[8] is still operational, and is accessible from a public beach.
South Haven is home to a public school district as well as Roman Catholic and Lutheranparochial grammar schools. In addition,Western Michigan University andLake Michigan College, a junior college, have branch campuses located within the city. The city has annexed portions of South Haven Township, Van Buren County and a small portion ofCasco Township, Allegan County.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.50 square miles (9.06 km2), of which 3.40 square miles (8.81 km2) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) is water.[9] The surrounding area is known asSouth Haven Charter Township, and as yet is unincorporated.
According to theKöppen climate classification, South Haven borders on a maritime and continental influenced climate, having a microclimate. The extreme western ends are classified as oceanic (Cfb), while the inner parts of the city border on a hot-summer continental climate (Dfa), with moderation byLake Michigan. The summers are hot and humid, while the winters are mild and cold with frequent thaws.
| Climate data for South Haven, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–2019) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) | 71 (22) | 81 (27) | 89 (32) | 97 (36) | 100 (38) | 99 (37) | 99 (37) | 97 (36) | 90 (32) | 78 (26) | 71 (22) | 100 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.5 (0.8) | 35.8 (2.1) | 44.8 (7.1) | 56.1 (13.4) | 67.7 (19.8) | 75.9 (24.4) | 80.0 (26.7) | 79.1 (26.2) | 73.7 (23.2) | 62.2 (16.8) | 49.2 (9.6) | 38.6 (3.7) | 58.1 (14.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.8 (−2.3) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 37.4 (3.0) | 47.7 (8.7) | 58.5 (14.7) | 67.8 (19.9) | 72.8 (22.7) | 71.6 (22.0) | 65.5 (18.6) | 54.9 (12.7) | 42.7 (5.9) | 33.3 (0.7) | 50.8 (10.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 39.3 (4.1) | 49.4 (9.7) | 59.6 (15.3) | 65.6 (18.7) | 64.0 (17.8) | 57.2 (14.0) | 47.5 (8.6) | 36.2 (2.3) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 43.5 (6.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) | −22 (−30) | −4 (−20) | 7 (−14) | 24 (−4) | 35 (2) | 39 (4) | 37 (3) | 26 (−3) | 15 (−9) | −10 (−23) | −12 (−24) | −22 (−30) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.71 (69) | 2.04 (52) | 2.25 (57) | 3.58 (91) | 3.91 (99) | 3.73 (95) | 3.16 (80) | 3.70 (94) | 3.19 (81) | 3.89 (99) | 2.68 (68) | 2.38 (60) | 37.22 (945) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 29.7 (75) | 14.4 (37) | 6.6 (17) | 1.5 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.5 (1.3) | 8.6 (22) | 24.6 (62) | 85.9 (218) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 7.3 | 5.1 | 7.7 | 10.4 | 11.2 | 8.6 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 11.3 | 10.1 | 7.8 | 105.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 6.9 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 6.7 | 21.5 |
| Source:NOAA (precipitation days, snowfall, snow days 1981–2010)[10][11][12] | |||||||||||||
The Scott Club on Phoenix St. was designed by South Haven architectJohn Cornelius Randall and constructed in 1891. The club house has two large stained glass windows portrayingSir Walter Scott andHenry Wadsworth Longfellow. The South Haven Center for the Arts is housed in the 1906 neoclassicalCarnegie Library, also on Phoenix St.
The Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum is housed in thebirth-site home ofLiberty Hyde Bailey Jr. This Greek Revival farmhouse is one of the oldest houses in South Haven.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 308 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,576 | 411.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,442 | −8.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,924 | 33.4% | |
| 1900 | 4,009 | 108.4% | |
| 1910 | 3,577 | −10.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,829 | 7.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,804 | 25.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,745 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 5,629 | 18.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,149 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,471 | 5.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,943 | −8.2% | |
| 1990 | 5,563 | −6.4% | |
| 2000 | 5,021 | −9.7% | |
| 2010 | 4,403 | −12.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,964 | −10.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] | |||
As of thecensus[14] of 2010, there were 4,403 people, 1,959 households, and 1,126 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,295.0 inhabitants per square mile (500.0/km2). There were 3,346 housing units at an average density of 984.1 per square mile (380.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.7%White, 13.3%African American, 0.7%Native American, 0.5%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 0.9% fromother races, and 2.9% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.8% of the population.
There were 1,959 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% weremarried couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.5% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.80.
The median age in the city was 47.7 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.1% were from 25 to 44; 30.2% were from 45 to 64; and 22.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.9% male and 55.1% female.
As of thecensus[2] of 2000, there were 5,021 people, 2,095 households, and 1,330 families living in the city. The population density was 1,452.3 inhabitants per square mile (560.7/km2). There were 2,979 housing units at an average density of 861.6 per square mile (332.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.75%White, 12.83%African American, 0.70%Native American, 0.70%Asian, 1.04% fromother races, and 1.99% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.33% of the population.
There were 2,095 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% weremarried couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,885, and the median income for a family was $46,307. Males had a median income of $37,089 versus $25,486 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,396. About 7.8% of families and 9.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
South Haven offers an interesting array of cultural attractions. TheMichigan Maritime Museum, host of thetall shipFriends Good Will, is perhaps its most famous. The Michigan Maritime Museum also hosts an electrically powered river launch called theLindy Lou. River launch boats were used in the 1890s to the 1930s to ferry passengers up the Black River to various resorts and parks. Visitors are able to buy tickets to ride either ship – theLindy Lou stays on the river, while theFriends Good Will goes down the river and onto Lake Michigan.
TheHistorical Association of South Haven, which now operates out of the old Hartman School, which it is refurbishing, is devoted to documenting and retelling the city's rich history.
The Michigan Flywheelers Museum allows visitors to experience the life of early local farmers. Attractions include exhibits of antiqueflywheel engines and tractors, an old town area with an old jail, farm machinery shop and an exhibit building called "The Farm History Building".
During the winter months the city's ice rink is open. There is a daily fee for entrance and for rental skates, and also season passes are available.
A staple restaurant in the heart of South Haven is Clementine's. The building was originally a bank but has since been renovated into a restaurant.[15]
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 | |
Municipalities and communities ofVan Buren County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Charter township | ||
| Civil townships | ||
| Unincorporated community | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
42°24′11″N86°16′25″W / 42.40306°N 86.27361°W /42.40306; -86.27361
