Barry County, Michigan

Barry County
Barry County
County
	Barry County Courthouse
	Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
	Michigan's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 42°36′N 85°19′W / 42.6°N 85.31°W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	April 29, 1829 (established); March 15, 1839 (organized)
Named for	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 (60 km2) 4.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	62,423
• Density	107/sq mi (41/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	https://www.barrycounty.org/

Barry County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 62,423.^[1] The county seat is Hastings.^[2]

History

Before the present era, the Michigan peninsula was long occupied by bands of the Potowatomi and Ojibwe of the Lake 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 recognized Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottowatomi has a reservation in Allegan County, just west of Barry County.

Barry County was described and delineated by act of the Territorial legislature on April 29, 1829, carved out of previously unorganized lands in the Territory. It was named to honor William Taylor Barry, who was serving as United States Postmaster General at the time of the county's proclamation. Barry was one of US President Andrew 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]

Geography

According to the US 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]

Adjacent counties

Ionia County – northeast
Eaton County – east
Calhoun County – southeast
Kalamazoo County – southwest
Allegan County – west
Kent County – northwest

Transportation

Major highways

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]

Railroads

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 by CSX Transportation, running through the northeastern corner of Woodland Township.

Demographics

Historical population
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%
2023 (est.)	63,808	^[7]	2.2%
US Decennial Census^[8] 1790-1960^[9] 1900-1990^[10] 1990-2000^[11] 2010-2018^[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,173 people living in the county. 96.9% were White, 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% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 19.8% were of German, 13.5% American, 12.1% English, 11.2% Dutch and 8.1% Irish ancestry.^[12]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[13] 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% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.8% were of German, 13.6% English, 12.5% Dutch, 12.4% American and 9.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.2% spoke only English at home.

There were 21,035 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $20,636. About 3.90% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Elections

Barry County has been strongly Republican from its start. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 91% of the elections (31 of 34 elections).

United States presidential election results for Barry County, Michigan^[14]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	23,471	65.27%	11,797	32.80%	693	1.93%
2016	19,202	62.92%	9,114	29.87%	2,201	7.21%
2012	16,655	58.20%	11,491	40.15%	471	1.65%
2008	16,431	53.65%	13,449	43.91%	749	2.45%
2004	18,638	61.57%	11,312	37.37%	322	1.06%
2000	15,716	59.88%	9,769	37.22%	759	2.89%
1996	11,139	48.18%	9,467	40.95%	2,514	10.87%
1992	9,489	38.57%	8,652	35.17%	6,458	26.25%
1988	12,546	60.66%	7,983	38.60%	152	0.73%
1984	14,245	70.29%	5,898	29.10%	122	0.60%
1980	12,006	58.13%	6,857	33.20%	1,791	8.67%
1976	11,178	60.79%	6,967	37.89%	243	1.32%
1972	10,393	64.02%	5,484	33.78%	356	2.19%
1968	8,492	55.14%	5,206	33.81%	1,702	11.05%
1964	5,509	40.36%	8,102	59.36%	39	0.29%
1960	9,298	67.54%	4,406	32.00%	63	0.46%
1956	9,359	70.22%	3,907	29.31%	63	0.47%
1952	8,933	72.70%	3,230	26.29%	124	1.01%
1948	5,677	64.75%	2,726	31.09%	365	4.16%
1944	7,057	69.17%	3,010	29.50%	136	1.33%
1940	6,872	68.55%	3,091	30.83%	62	0.62%
1936	4,950	53.48%	3,880	41.92%	425	4.59%
1932	4,556	49.21%	4,416	47.70%	286	3.09%
1928	6,044	79.94%	1,459	19.30%	58	0.77%
1924	5,656	70.72%	2,046	25.58%	296	3.70%
1920	5,154	70.69%	1,874	25.70%	263	3.61%
1916	3,157	53.82%	2,491	42.47%	218	3.72%
1912	1,585	28.84%	1,800	32.75%	2,111	38.41%
1908	3,247	57.46%	2,126	37.62%	278	4.92%
1904	3,675	63.08%	1,817	31.19%	334	5.73%
1900	3,294	51.44%	2,895	45.21%	214	3.34%
1896	3,294	49.63%	3,157	47.57%	186	2.80%
1892	2,854	49.20%	1,800	31.03%	1,147	19.77%
1888	3,212	49.83%	2,676	41.51%	558	8.66%
1884	2,699	44.71%	2,937	48.65%	401	6.64%

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county 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.

Elected officials

Prosecuting Attorney: Julie Nakfoor-Pratt
Sheriff: Dar Leaf
County Clerk: Pam Palmer
County Treasurer: Susan L. Vandecar
Register of Deeds: Barbara D. Hurless
Drain Commissioner: James Dull
County Surveyor: Brian Reynolds
County Board of Commissioners: 7 Members (7 Republicans, 0 Democrats)

(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 Governor Gretchen 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.^[15]

Education

Public schools in Barry County:

Hastings – 7 public schools, 2 private schools, 1 community college (extension of Kellogg Community College) (see Hastings, Michigan)
Delton – 3 public schools, 3 private schools (see Delton, Michigan)
Middleville – 5 public schools (see Middleville, Michigan)