Van Buren County, Michigan

Founding: 1837 (declared in 1829)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Martin Van Buren, U.S. president
Seat: Paw Paw (1837–)

Land area: 607 square miles

Population (2020): 75,587

Population (historic): 1,910 (1840); 15,224 (1860); 30,807 (1880); 33,274 (1900); 32,637 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1880; 1890s; 1920s; 1940–2000

Subdivisions: Four cities; seven villages; 18 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 7,402 (20%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 55.3%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 14.2%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 10.7%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,690
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,309

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.1 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 4,662
Average farm size (1920): 57.1 acres
Sources of settlement: New York, Ohio, Canada, Indiana, and Pennsylvania

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Paw Paw

Namesake: The Paw Paw River

Founding: 1832 (platting as Lafayette); 1834 (post office); 1837 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 3,362

Population (historic): 1,428 (1870); 1,391 (1890); 1,643 (1910); 1,684 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1832–1880; 1890–1910; 1920–1980; 1990–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 588 (35.6%)

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Outstanding Buildings

1. Joshua Breed Farm (1889). 31220 State Route 43. Almena. Italianate/Eastlake.
2. Edward Harvey House (1902). 29063 Red Arrow Highway. Antwerp. Classical Revival.
3. George Smiley House (c. 1865). 40321 County Road 681. Arlington. Italianate.
4. William Summers Farm (c. 1885). 32744 62nd Road. Bangor. Eastlake.
5. Adelbert Vought Farm (c. 1905). 42239 Valley Road. Decatur.
6. John Rosevelt Farm (c. 1865). 59204 Territorial Road. Keeler. Italianate.
7. William Pugsley Farm (c. 1875). 36980 52nd Road. Paw Paw. Italianate.
8. Henry Barnum House (c. 1855). 38442 Red Arrow Highway. Paw Paw. Greek Revival.

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