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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