Branch County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 45,787 people, 16,349 households, and 11,575 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 90 people per square mile (35/km²). There were 19,822 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.37% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.63% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.47% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.42% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.69% from two or more races. 2.98% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 25.8% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 14.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 11.9% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 8.1% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 7.2% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.2% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 2.8% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and 1.9% German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as their first language.
There were 16,349 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,760, and the median income for a family was $44,777. Males had a median income of $32,098 versus $22,579 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $17,552. About 6.00% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 7.20% 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 healthPublic health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
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.
Branch County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: Terri Norris - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Warren Cannon - County Clerk: Teresa Kubasiak
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Sandra Thatcher - Register of Deeds: Nancy Hutchins
- Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: Michael Hard - County SurveyorCounty surveyor1. A county surveyor is a public official in many counties of the USA. At the bottom of this page are working "External Links" as at 4 November 2011 to websites of a selection of such County Surveyor's departments. Most of these officials are elected on the partisan ballot to four-year terms...
: Edward W. Reed
(information as of September 2005)
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities- BronsonBronson, MichiganBronson is a city located in west central Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,349 at the 2010 census.Bronson is situated on U.S. Route 12 about southwest of Coldwater...
- ColdwaterColdwater, MichiganColdwater is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945. It is the county seat of Branch County....
Villages
- QuincyQuincy, MichiganQuincy is a village in Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,701 at the 2000 census.The village is located within Quincy Township on U.S. Highway 12. Note: there is also another Quincy Township in Houghton County.-Geography:...
- SherwoodSherwood, MichiganSherwood is a village in Branch County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 324.The village is located within Sherwood Township near the St. Joseph River.-Geography:...
- Union CityUnion City, MichiganUnion City is a village in Branch and Calhoun counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located mostly within Union Township in Branch County, it sits at the junction of the Coldwater and St. Joseph rivers; the Calhoun County portion lies within that county's Burlington Township. It is part of the...
Unincorporated
- Batavia Center
- Canada Shores
- Crystal Beach
- East Gilead
- Hodunk
- Lockwood
- Pearl Beach
- Ray
- Sans Souci Beach
- South Butler
- West Kinderhook
Townships
- Algansee TownshipAlgansee Township, MichiganAlgansee Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,061....
- Batavia TownshipBatavia Township, MichiganBatavia Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,546....
- Bethel TownshipBethel Township, MichiganBethel Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,421.- Communities :There are no incorporated municipalities within the township....
- Bronson TownshipBronson Township, MichiganBronson Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,358....
- Butler TownshipButler Township, MichiganButler Township is a civil township in northeastern Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,362.There are no incorporated municipalities in the primarily agricultural township...
- California TownshipCalifornia Township, MichiganCalifornia Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 909 at the 2000 census.-Communities:There are no incorporated municipalities within the primarily agricultural township...
- Coldwater TownshipColdwater Township, Branch County, MichiganColdwater Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,678 at the 2000 census.The city of Coldwater is at the center of the township, though it is administratively autonomous. However, the Coldwater urban area extends well into the surrounding...
- Gilead TownshipGilead Township, MichiganGilead Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 753.There are no incorporated municipalities within the primarily agricultural township...
- Girard TownshipGirard Township, MichiganGirard Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,916....
- Kinderhook TownshipKinderhook Township, MichiganKinderhook Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,614.- Communities :There are no incorporated municipalities within the primarily agricultural township...
- Matteson TownshipMatteson Township, MichiganMatteson Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,285.There are no incorporated municipalities in the mostly agricultural township...
- Noble TownshipNoble Township, MichiganNoble Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 518 at the 2000 census.There are no incorporated municipalities in the primarily agricultural township...
- Ovid TownshipOvid Township, Branch County, MichiganOvid Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,432 at the 2000 census.- Communities :There are no incorporated municipalities in this primarily agricultural township...
- Quincy TownshipQuincy Township, Branch County, MichiganQuincy Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,411 at the 2000 census.The Village of Quincy is located within the township...
- Sherwood TownshipSherwood Township, MichiganSherwood Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,284 at the 2000 census.The Village of Sherwood is located within the township. There are no other incorporated municipalities and no named settlements or unincorporated communities within the...
- Union TownshipUnion Township, Branch County, MichiganUnion Township is a civil township of Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,121 at the 2000 census.The village of Union City is the only incorporated municipality in the township...
Interstates
I-69Interstate 69Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
I-69 Business Loop routes through Coldwater.
US Highways
US 12U.S. Route 12U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
, is an east-west route crossing through the southern portion of the state from DetroitDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to the IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
state line at MichianaMichiana, MichiganMichiana is a village in New Buffalo Township, Berrien County in the extreme southwest corner of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 200 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Michigan State Trunklines
M-60M-60 (Michigan highway)M-60 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Niles area at a junction with US Highway 12 to the Jackson area where it ends at Interstate 94 . The trunkline passes through a mix of farm fields and woodlands, crosses or runs along several rivers and...
runs east from Niles to I-94 at JacksonJackson, MichiganJackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
.
M-66M-66 (Michigan highway)M-66 is a north–south state trunkline highway on the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. It runs from the Indiana state line in the south to Charlevoix in the north. M-66 is the only state highway to traverse almost the entire north–south distance of the LP. It starts as a...
runs south from SturgisSturgis, MichiganSturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66....
through Battle CreekBattle Creek, MichiganBattle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
and ending near CharlevoixCharlevoix, MichiganCharlevoix is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,994. It is the county seat of Charlevoix County....
.
M-86M-86 (Michigan highway)M-86 is a east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan in the southern portion of the Lower Peninsula. The highway starts at Business US Highway 131 and M-60 in Three Rivers and ends at US Highway 12 near Coldwater. In between, it crosses farm country and runs along a section of...
runs east from Three RiversThree Rivers, MichiganThree Rivers is a city in St. Joseph County in the US state of Michigan. The population was 7,811 at the 2010 census.Three Rivers derives its name from the confluence of the St. Joseph River with its tributaries the Rocky and Portage Rivers. It is the home of St...
to approximately 1 mile west of Coldwater.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Branch County, Michigan
- USS Branch County (LST-482)USS Branch County (LST-482)USS Branch County was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Branch County, Michigan, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name....