St. Joseph County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 62,422 people, 23,381 households, and 16,600 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 124 people per square mile (48/km²). There were 26,503 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.49% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.58% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.38% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.58% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.51% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.46% from two or more races. 3.99% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 92.9% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 3.7% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and 1.6% German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as their first language.
There were 23,381 households out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,355, and the median income for a family was $46,391. Males had a median income of $34,983 versus $23,638 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,247. About 8.20% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.50% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and
other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
controls the
budget but has only 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.
St. Joseph County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: John McDonough - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Bradley Balk - County Clerk: Pattie S. Bender
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Phyllis E. Bainbridge - Register of Deeds: Cynthia L. Jarratt
- Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: Jeffrey Wenzel - County SurveyorCounty surveyor1. A county surveyor is a public official in many counties of the USA. At the bottom of this page are working "External Links" as at 4 November 2011 to websites of a selection of such County Surveyor's departments. Most of these officials are elected on the partisan ballot to four-year terms...
: Wayne Mostrom
(information as of January 2009)
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities- SturgisSturgis, MichiganSturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66....
- Three RiversThree Rivers, MichiganThree Rivers is a city in St. Joseph County in the US state of Michigan. The population was 7,811 at the 2010 census.Three Rivers derives its name from the confluence of the St. Joseph River with its tributaries the Rocky and Portage Rivers. It is the home of St...
Villages
- Burr OakBurr Oak, MichiganBurr Oak is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 828. The village is located within Burr Oak Township.- History :...
- CentrevilleCentreville, MichiganCentreville is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Joseph County. The population was 1,579 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land....
- ColonColon, MichiganColon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,227 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Colon Township...
- ConstantineConstantine, MichiganConstantine is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,095 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Constantine Township. It is on U.S. Highway 131, leading to Kalamazoo to the north and to the Indiana Toll Road six miles to the south. The...
- MendonMendon, MichiganMendon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 917 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Mendon Township.-Geography:...
- White PigeonWhite Pigeon, MichiganWhite Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,627 at the 2000 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township.-Geography:...
Unincorporated
- ParkvilleParkville, MichiganParkville is an unincorporated community in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in Park Township on the banks of the Portage River at .- History :...
Townships
- Burr Oak TownshipBurr Oak Township, MichiganBurr Oak Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,739...
- Colon TownshipColon Township, MichiganColon Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,405 at the 2000 census. The village of Colon is located within the township.-Geography:...
- Constantine TownshipConstantine Township, MichiganConstantine Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,181 at the 2000 census. The village of Constantine is located within the township.-Geography:...
- Fabius TownshipFabius Township, MichiganFabius Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,285 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Fawn River TownshipFawn River Township, MichiganFawn River Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,648 at the 2000 census. The township is named for the Fawn River.-Geography:...
- Florence TownshipFlorence Township, MichiganFlorence Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,436 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Flowerfield TownshipFlowerfield Township, MichiganFlowerfield Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,592 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Leonidas TownshipLeonidas Township, MichiganLeonidas Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,239 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Lockport TownshipLockport Township, MichiganLockport Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,814 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Mendon TownshipMendon Township, MichiganMendon Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,775 at the 2000 census. The Village of Mendon is located within the township.-Geography:...
- Mottville TownshipMottville Township, MichiganMottville Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,499 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Nottawa TownshipNottawa Township, St. Joseph County, MichiganNottawa Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,999 at the 2000 census. The township is named after the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi.-History:...
- Park TownshipPark Township, St. Joseph County, MichiganPark Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,699 at the 2000 census.The township was originally part of Flowerfield Township and was set off as a separate township in 1838.-Geography:...
- Sherman TownshipSherman Township, St. Joseph County, MichiganSherman Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located just north of Sturgis. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Sturgis TownshipSturgis Township, MichiganSturgis Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,403 at the 2000 census. The City of Sturgis is located at the northeast corner of the township and is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
- White Pigeon TownshipWhite Pigeon Township, MichiganWhite Pigeon Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,847 at the 2000 census. The village of White Pigeon is located within the township.-Geography:...
US Highways
US 12U.S. Route 12U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
US 131U.S. Route 131US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...-
BUS US 131U.S. Route 131US Highway 131 is a north–south United States Highway, of which all but 0.67 miles of its 266.82 miles are within the state of Michigan. The highway starts in rural Indiana south of the state line as a state road connection to the Indiana Toll Road...
is a route traveling through downtown Three Rivers.
Michigan State Trunklines
M-60M-60 (Michigan highway)M-60 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Niles area at a junction with US Highway 12 to the Jackson area where it ends at Interstate 94 . The trunkline passes through a mix of farm fields and woodlands, crosses or runs along several rivers and...
M-66M-66 (Michigan highway)M-66 is a north–south state trunkline highway on the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Indiana state line in the south to Charlevoix in the north. M-66 is the only state highway to traverse almost the entire north–south distance of the LP. It starts as a...
M-86M-86 (Michigan highway)M-86 is a east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan in the southern portion of the Lower Peninsula. The highway starts at Business US Highway 131 and M-60 in Three Rivers and ends at US Highway 12 near Coldwater. In between, it crosses farm country and runs along a section of...
M-103M-103 (Michigan highway)M-103 is a state trunkline highway entirely within St. Joseph County in the southwestern region of the U.S. state of Michigan. The trunkline runs between U.S. Highway 12 in Mottville and the Indiana state line along undivided highway near the St. Joseph River. With the connection to State Road 15...
M-216M-216 (Michigan highway)M-216 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that serves as a connector route between M-40 at Marcellus and US Highway 131 . The highway runs through a rural area of the southwestern part of the state. It has been a part of the highway system since 1935; the current form of...