| Benton Harbor, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Lighthouse of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph | |
| Location of Benton Harbor, Michigan | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Berrien |
| Government | |
| • Emergency Manager | Joseph Harris[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.5 sq mi (11.6 km2) |
| • Land | 4.4 sq mi (11.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 591 ft (180 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 10,038 |
| • Density | 2,281.4/sq mi (880.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 49022-49023 |
| Area code(s) | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-07520[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0621144[3] |
| Website | bentonharborcity.com |
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a total population of 156,813.[4]
Benton Harbor and the City of St. Joseph (which is located across the St. Joseph River) are known locally as the "Twin Cities". Fair Plain and Benton Heights are unincorporated areas adjacent to Benton Harbor.
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Benton Harbor was founded by Henry C. Morton, Sterne Brunson and Charles Hull, who all now have or have had schools named after them.[5] Benton Harbor was mainly swampland bordered by the Paw Paw River, through which a canal was built, hence the "harbor" in the city's name.[6] In 1860, the village was laid out by Brunson, Morton, Hull and others, and given the name of Brunson Harbor.[7] In 1865 the name of the settlement was changed to Benton Harbor in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, a Missouri Senator who helped Michigan achieve statehood. In 1869, Benton Harbor was organized as a village and in 1891 was incorporated as a city.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km2), of which 4.4 square miles (11 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.79%) is water.
At the 2000 census[2], there were 11,182 people, 3,767 households and 2,557 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,545.7 per square mile (983.5/km²). There were 4,492 housing units at an average density of 1,022.7 per square mile (395.1/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% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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.
The median 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. The per 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 the poverty line, including 52.5% of those under age 18 and 29.7% of those age 65 or over.
The demographics of Benton Harbor contrast sharply with those across the river in St. Joseph.
| White | Black | Household Income | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor | 5.49% | 92.40% | $17,471 |
| St. Joseph | 90.31% | 5.11% | $37,032 |
The Michigan Treasury Department in 2009 sent a team to look into the city's finance. The team's report was a long list of mismanagement to the point that budgets were "effectively meaningless as a financial management tool." The city was $10 million under- funded in its pension fund and increasing budget deficits. In April 2010, Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Joseph Harris as Emergency Financial Manager. City staff has been reduced by 30 to 70.[8]
Harris was given expanded powers under a new law signed in March 2011 by Republican Governor Rick Snyder.[1] Harris was previously the chief financial officer for the city of Detroit.[1] 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.[1] The Michigan AFL-CIO president called the move "sad news for democracy in Michigan", but at least one city official, City Commissioner Bryan Joseph, was in favor of it, saying the city had been mismanaged for decades.[1]
The city is served by the Benton Harbor Area Schools[9] within the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency.[10] Library service for the City of Benton Harbor is provided by the Benton Harbor Public Library.
Whirlpool Corporation has its corporate headquarters in nearby Benton Charter Township.[11][12]
Black Autonomy Network Community Organization (BANCO) is a political and social justice coalition working in Benton Harbor.
Race Relations Council of Southwest Michigan - The Council is dedicated to fostering interracial understanding, mutual respect, and cooperative action toward the elimination of barriers to racial equality.
Spanning the Paw Paw River and providing an additional connection to St. Joseph, the Charles Freeman Joseph bridge, named for Benton Harbor's first black mayor, opened in late 2005.[13][14]
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.[15]
Benton Harbor is served by The Herald-Palladium newspaper, whose offices are in nearby St. Joseph Township, and is part of the South Bend/Elkhart television market. The Benton Spirit Community Newspaper (http://bentonspiritnews.com/) has also been serving 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 assist in the total development of Benton Harbor.' Benton Harbor is served by sister radio stations WCXT, WCSY, WCSY-FM, WIRX, WSJM, WSJM-FM, and WYTZ, as well as WHFB, WHFB-FM, and some in the South Bend market. Additionally, most of the Chicago market TV and radio stations are available from 60 miles (97 km) across the lake.
Sites of interest in Benton Harbor are Shiloh House, built in 1910, which served as the administration building and men's dormitory for the House 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 on Lake Michigan; and the Golf Club at Harbor Shores. In neighboring Benton Township is a large fruit market which replaced the prior fruit market located in the "flats" area of Benton Harbor, which was torn down during an urban renewal project in 1967.[16][17]
An American Basketball Association team (ABA), the Twin 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, the Lake Michigan Admirals, began play in 2009.
Jack Dempsey defended his heavyweight title September 6, 1920, in Benton Harbor, defeating Billy Miske.
The city hosts the Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon,[18] which is a qualifying event for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Some Ironman 70.3 races also qualify for the Ironman World Championships, but the Benton Harbor race is not one of them.
Benton Harbor is cohost of the annual Blossomtime Festival with St. Joseph.
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