Berrien County, Michigan

Founding: 1831 (declared in 1829)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: John Berrien, Georgia politician
Seat: Niles (1831–1837); Berrien Springs (1837–1894); St. Joseph (1894–)

Land area: 568 square miles

Population (2020): 154,316

Population (historic): 5,011 (1840); 22,378 (1860); 36,785 (1880); 49,165 (1900); 81,066 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1980; 1990s

Subdivisions: Eight cities; nine villages; six CDPs; 22 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 13,608 (17.6%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 53%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 21.5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 10.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.1%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,280
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,424

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.2 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 5,443
Average farm size (1920): 48.3 acres
Sources of settlement: New York, Ohio, Germany, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Canada
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St. Joseph

Namesake: The St. Joseph River

Founding: 1829 (platting as Newburyport); 1832 (post office); 1834 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 7,856

Population (historic): 2,603 (1880); 5,155 (1900); 8,349 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1880–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,461 (31.9%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. House (c. 1890). 920 North Shore Drive. Benton. Queen Anne.
2. South Berrien Union Church (1857). 10408 State Route 140. Berrien. Greek Revival.
3. David Gitchell House (c. 1850). 2250 West Chicago Road. Bertrand.
4. George Rough Farm (c. 1875). 2685 West Chicago Road. Bertrand. Italianate.
5. Peter Womer Farm (c. 1885). 3225 West Chicago Road. Bertrand. Eastlake.
6. Riley Scott House (c. 1885). 3675 West Chicago Road. Bertrand. Second Empire.
7. George Rough Farm (c. 1875). West Chicago Road, east of US Highway 31. Bertrand. Italianate.
8. Charles Howe House (1889–1890). 2060 Red Bud Trail. Bertrand. Queen Anne.
9. Albert Drew House (c. 1885). 15429 Three Oaks Road. Chikaming. Eastlake.
10. William Valentine Farm (c. 1850). 19599 Jeffrey Road. Galien. Greek Revival.
11. Henry Starkweather Farm (c. 1865). 2809 Matthew Road. Niles. Italianate.

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