St. Joseph County, Michigan

Saint Joseph County, Michigan

Seal

Location in the state of Michigan

Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded 1829
Seat Centreville
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

521.15 sq mi (1,350 km²)
503.72 sq mi (1,305 km²)
17.43 sq mi (45 km²), 3.34%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

62,422
124/sq mi (48/km²)
Website www.stjosephcountymi.org

St. Joseph County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 62,422 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Centreville.[1]

Contents

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 521.15 square miles (1,349.8 km2), of which 503.72 square miles (1,304.6 km2) (or 96.66%) is land and 17.43 square miles (45.1 km2) (or 3.34%) is water.[2]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1900 23,889
1910 25,499 6.7%
1920 26,818 5.2%
1930 30,618 14.2%
1940 31,749 3.7%
1950 35,071 10.5%
1960 42,332 20.7%
1970 47,392 12.0%
1980 56,083 18.3%
1990 58,913 5.0%
2000 62,422 6.0%
Est. 2009 61,723 −1.1%

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 62,422 people, 23,381 households, and 16,600 families residing in the county. The population density 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, 2.58% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.51% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. 3.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 92.9% spoke English, 3.7% Spanish and 1.6% German 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 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 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 the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners 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

(information as of January 2009)

Cities, villages, and townships

Unincorporated

Townships

Transportation

US Highways

Michigan State Trunklines

See also

References

External links