Branch County, Michigan

Branch County, Michigan

Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Branch County
Location in the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded October 29, 1829 (created)
1833 (organized)[1]
Named for John Branch
Seat Coldwater
Largest city Coldwater
Area
 • Total 520 sq mi (1,347 km2)
 • Land 506 sq mi (1,311 km2)
 • Water 13 sq mi (34 km2), 2.6%
Population
 • (2010) 45,248
 • Density 89/sq mi (34/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website co.branch.mi.us

Branch County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,248.[2] The county seat is Coldwater.[3] As one of the "cabinet counties" it was named for the U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Branch under President Andrew Jackson.[1] The county was founded in 1829 and organized in 1833.

Branch County comprises the Coldwater, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Branch County was a New England settlement. The original founders of Coldwater consisted entirely of settlers from New England. These people were "Yankees", that is to say they were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s and carried their culture with them. During the early 1800s, these settlers were part of a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was then the wilds of the Northwest Territory. Many traveled through New York State via the Erie Canal; the threat of Native Americans had been reduced by the end of the Black Hawk War. When they arrived in what is now Branch County, they found virgin forest and wild prairie.

The Yankees laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings, and established post routes. They brought many of their New England values, such as a passion for education, and established many schools. Many were supporters of abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church though some were Episcopalian. Culturally Branch County, like much of Michigan, developed as part of the Northern Tier, continuous with New England culture, for most of its history.[4][5] The county depends on agriculture as the basis of its economy.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 520 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 506 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (2.6%) is water.[6] It is the third-smallest county in Michigan by total area.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18405,715—
185012,472118.2%
186020,98168.2%
187026,22625.0%
188027,9416.5%
189026,791−4.1%
190027,8113.8%
191025,605−7.9%
192023,997−6.3%
193023,950−0.2%
194025,8457.9%
195030,20216.9%
196034,90315.6%
197037,9068.6%
198040,1886.0%
199041,5023.3%
200045,78710.3%
201045,248−1.2%
Est. 201643,427[7]−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[2]

The 2010 United States Census[12] indicates Branch County had a 2010 population of 45,248. This is a decrease of -539 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -1.2% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 16,419 households and 11,350 families in the county. The population density was 89.4 per square mile (34.5 square kilometers). There were 20,841 housing units at an average density of 41.2 per square mile (15.9 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races.

There were 16,419 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were husband and wife families, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 25.8% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.9% under age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 111.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.9 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate[12] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $41,855 and the median income for a family was $48,959. Males had a median income of $25,595 versus $17,263 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,289. About 2.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under the age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential Elections Results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 66.7% 11,786 28.7% 5,061 4.6% 816
2012 58.5% 10,035 40.3% 6,913 1.2% 199
2008 52.1% 9,534 46.0% 8,413 1.9% 338
2004 60.0% 10,784 39.0% 7,004 1.0% 179
2000 55.4% 8,743 42.4% 6,691 2.2% 349
1996 42.7% 6,321 44.4% 6,567 13.0% 1,917
1992 36.0% 5,976 35.3% 5,850 28.7% 4,767
1988 63.5% 9,225 36.0% 5,231 0.5% 75
1984 73.6% 11,004 25.8% 3,860 0.5% 81
1980 63.0% 10,224 28.6% 4,635 8.5% 1,371
1976 55.7% 8,251 42.6% 6,301 1.7% 250
1972 62.0% 8,388 36.1% 4,887 1.9% 251
1968 55.9% 7,071 35.7% 4,518 8.4% 1,065
1964 39.2% 5,110 60.3% 7,858 0.5% 66
1960 64.4% 8,752 35.0% 4,759 0.6% 76
1956 69.5% 8,856 30.0% 3,827 0.5% 61
1952 71.5% 9,215 27.7% 3,564 0.8% 105
1948 63.1% 6,323 34.0% 3,405 3.0% 299
1944 67.4% 7,155 32.1% 3,406 0.5% 48
1940 62.9% 7,400 36.7% 4,318 0.4% 46
1936 48.6% 5,528 47.7% 5,425 3.7% 422
1932 43.8% 4,663 53.4% 5,685 2.7% 292
1928 74.5% 6,818 24.8% 2,266 0.7% 66
1924 64.7% 6,016 24.2% 2,253 11.1% 1,033
1920 69.7% 5,704 26.7% 2,181 3.6% 296
1916 48.8% 3,100 48.2% 3,062 3.1% 194
1912 30.1% 1,865 35.3% 2,185 34.6% 2,143
1908 57.5% 3,715 37.2% 2,402 5.4% 346
1904 69.7% 4,385 25.4% 1,598 4.9% 306
1900 54.7% 4,293 43.6% 3,419 1.7% 132
1896 46.6% 3,596 51.5% 3,976 1.9% 148
1892 49.7% 3,271 32.8% 2,161 17.5% 1,152
1888 55.4% 4,098 37.0% 2,739 7.7% 566
1884 52.1% 3,671 42.0% 2,958 6.0% 420

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.

Elected officials

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Bibliography on Branch County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ "HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN". google.com.
  5. ↑ "History of Branch County, Michigan". google.com.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "American Factfinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  13. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  14. ↑ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  15. ↑ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  16. ↑ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  17. ↑ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  18. ↑ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  19. ↑ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  20. ↑ Branch County Government Website.
  21. ↑ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
Adjacent places of Branch County, Michigan
 Calhoun County
St. Joseph County Hillsdale County
   Branch County, Michigan  
LaGrange County, Indiana Steuben County, Indiana

Coordinates: 41°55′N 85°03′W / 41.92°N 85.05°W / 41.92; -85.05

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