COUNTY PROFILE - BERRIEN, Michigan
LOCATION SERVICES
Berrien County Economic Development Dept.
5060 St. Joseph Avenue
Stevensville, Michigan 49127
Contact: Charlie Johnson, Executive Director
Phone: 616/429-0611
FAX: 616/429-1309
County Seat: St. Joseph
POPULATION
1970 Census 163940
1980 Census 171276
1990 Census 161378
Median Age (as of 1990) 33.6 years
LABOR FORCE
(1992 average)
Total Labor Force 78700
Employed 71600
Total Unemployment 7100
Unemployment Rate 9.%
3-Year Average 8.5%
PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC BASE EMPLOYERS
Firm Employees Product/Service
Whirlpool, Benton Harbor (2 locs.) 2738 Major home appliances
Zenith Data Systems, St. Joseph 1300 Computers and peripherals
Leco, St. Joseph 1200 Engineering/scientific instr.
Bendix Automotive Sys., St. Joseph 1180 Auto parts
Imperial Printing, St. Joseph 500 Books, magazines, misc. print.
Tyler Refrigeration, Niles 488 Refrigerated display cases
Simplicity Pattern, Niles 460 Home sewing patterns
Gast Mfg., Benton Harbor & Bridgman 450 Motors, pumps, compressors
Weldun International, Bridgman 421 Flex. assembly & data storage
United Technologies Auto., Niles 400 Urethane steering wheels
Modern Plastics, Benton Harbor 350 Custom plastic molding prods.
Hughes Plastics, St. Joseph 280 Custom molded thermoplastics
Wollin Products, Stevensville 268 Custom injected molded plastic
Silver Leaf Paper, Watervliet 239 Premium/coated grade paper
Gateway, Berrien Springs 225 Assembly, packaging, recycling
Comstock Michigan Fruit, Coloma 210 Canned/frozen fruits, vegs.
Joanna, A CHF Co., Benton Harbor 210 Custom wood louvered shutters
Ausco, Benton Harbor 200 Trans. equipment, fab. metals
Electro-Voice, Buchanan 200 Prof. voice machinery, spkrs.
EARNING LEVELS
Average Hourly Rate
Classification Minimum Maximum
Assembler $4.50 $10.01
Clerk, General Office $5.35 $9.48
Computer Operator $6.75 $14.84
Drafter $10.10 $17.05
Electronic Technician $7.75 $16.68
Machine Operator $6.49 $15.50
Production Supervisor $5.50 $16.25
Receptionist $4.25 $11.66
Tool & Die Maker $8.75 $10.70
Welder $6.00 $12.30
Source: Based on Consumers Power community survey, adjusted for inflation
to 1991 using Consumer Price Index.
DISTANCE TO:
Miles Kilometers
Chicago 90 144
Detroit 180 289
Grand Rapids 83 133
Indianapolis 160 257
Lansing 125 201
South Bend 10 16
TRANSPORTATION
Main Highways: I-94, I-196, M-51, M-139, M-140, US-12, US-31, US-33
Bus Lines: Dial-A-Ride; Greyhound; Indian Trails
Truck Lines: 42
Rail Lines: Amtrak; Conrail; C&O
Ports: St. Joseph River Harbor; New Buffalo Harbor
Airports: Ross Field, Benton Harbor; Michiana Regional Airport, South
Bend (10 miles)
Airlines: Iowa Air; Northwest, US Air
CLIMATE
As reported by weather station at Benton Harbor.
January Average Minimum: 18 F./ -8 C. Average Maximum: 32 F./ 0 C.
July Average Minimum: 61 F./ 16 C. Average Maximum: 82 F./ 28 C.
Growing Season: 162 days
Days below 0 F or -18 C: 4 Average Annual Rainfall: 37 in./ 94 cm.
Days above 90 F or 32 C: 11 Average Annual Snowfall: 70 in./178 cm.
INDUSTRIAL SITES
(As of January 1993)
Community Sites Acres Hectares Industrial Parks
Benton Harbor 18 469 190 1
Benton Twp. 18 491 199 3
Berrien Springs 1 3 1 0
Bridgman 2 107 43 0
Buchanan 4 0 0 1
Buchanan Twp. 1 5 2 0
Chikaming Twp. 1 0 0 0
Coloma 1 0 0 0
Eau Claire 1
Galien 1
Hagar Twp. 2 6 2 0
Lake Twp. 3 63 25 0
Niles 8 19 8 1
Niles Twp. 6 105 42 0
Oronoko Twp. 3 34 14 0
St Joseph 2 0 0 2
St Joseph Twp. 4 0 0 0
Stevensville 1 0 0 0
Three Oaks 1 0 0 0
Watervliet 1 25 10 0
Watervliet Twp. 1 0 0 2
COUNTY TOTAL 78 1327 537 12
Zero acres indicates less than half an acre or no information available.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
Residential Industrial Office Mercantile
Units Value Units Value Units Value Units Value
1991: 424 $40.55 12 $2.48 5 $1.62 16 $1.52
3-Year Average: 447 $42.21 18 $2.62 8 $2.34 19 $1.82
Values are reported in millions of dollars. A 3-year average value of 1 may
indicate no construction activity in one or more of the last three years.
NEW INCORPORATIONS
Incorporations in 1992: 295 State Median: 68
Incorporation Rate: 183 State Median: 183
Incorporation Rate = incorporations per 100,000 population.
PROPERTY TAX BASE
(As of 1992)
Agricultural Residential Industrial Commercial Other
4% 54% 22% 10% 10%
County Total State Equalized Value: $2,871,546,312.00
County Average Tax Millage Rate (in 1991): 43.28
UTILITIES
Electric Gas Telephone*
Benton Harbor Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell, EA
Benton Twp. Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell, D,EA
Bridgman Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Mid-Michigan
Buchanan Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell, EA
Coloma Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell
Niles Local Michigan Gas Michigan Bell, D,EA
Niles Twp. Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell
Oronoko Twp. Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell
St. Joseph Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell, D,EA
St. Joseph Twp. Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell, D,EA
Watervliet Ind/Mich Power Michigan Gas Michigan Bell, D,EA
* D=digital switching; EA=equal access to interexchange carriers;
see Source List note.
WATER
Gallons Liters Pressure
Source Capacity Use Capacity Use (lbs./sq.in.)
Benton Harbor Lake 160 53 606 201 70-80
Benton Twp. Benton Hbr
Bridgman Lake 14 4 53 13 60-70
Buchanan Wells 21 6 79 23 65-75
Coloma Wells 9 3 34 9 40-60
Niles Wells 56 17 212 64 45-90
Niles Twp. Wells 5 2 19 8
Oronoko Twp. Wells 14 4 53 15 45-55
St. Joseph Lake 160 45 606 170 55-95
St. Joseph Twp. St. Joseph
Watervliet Wells 7 3 25 9 40-60
Capacity and maximum use in hundreds of thousands of gallons/liters per day.
SEWER
Gallons Liters
Type Capacity Load Capacity Load
Benton Harbor Secondary 135 110 511 416
Benton Twp.
Bridgman
Buchanan Secondary 35 10 132 38
Coloma Secondary 25 13 95 49
Niles Secondary 140 30 530 114
Niles Twp. Niles
Oronoko Twp. Secondary 35 31 132 117
St. Joseph
St. Joseph Twp.
Watervliet
Capacity and present load in hundreds of thousands of gallons/liters per day.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
1990 Master Public Library
Community Phone Number Population Zoning Plan (Volumes)
Benton Harbor 616-927-8400 12818 yes yes 84,863
Benton Twp. 616-925-1616 17163 yes yes
Bridgman 616-465-5144 2140 yes yes 30,669
Buchanan 616-695-3844 4992 yes yes 37,000
Coloma 616-468-6606 1679 yes yes 64,513
Niles 616-683-4700 12458 yes no 122,468
St. Joseph 616-983-5541 9214 yes yes 90,176
St. Joseph Twp. 616-429-7703 9613 yes yes
Watervliet 616-463-6769 1867 yes yes 37,665
------- Fire Department ------- Police
Community Class. FT Paid PT/Volunt. (Full-Time) Solid Waste
Benton Harbor 5 16 25 Municipal
Benton Twp. 6/9 17 19 22 Municipal
Bridgman 6 18 4 Independent
Buchanan 7 20 9 Municipal
Coloma 6 30 3 Independent
Niles 5 14 19 18 Independent
St. Joseph 5 16 12 19 Municipal
St. Joseph Twp. 5 25 25 9 Municipal
Watervliet 6 2 30 3 Independent
County Sheriff Officers: 135 Licensed Landfills in County: 3
Other communities in Berrien County (1990 population for incorporated
communities in parenthesis):
Bainbridge Twp. (2865), Baroda (657), Baroda Twp. (2731), Berrien Center,
Berrien Springs (1927), Berrien Twp. (4697), Bertrand Twp. (2228), Buchanan
Twp. (3402), Chikaming Twp. (3717), Dayton, Eau Claire (494), Galien (596),
Galien Twp. (1591), Glendora, Grand Beach (146), Hagar Twp. (4113), Harbert,
Lakeside, Lakeview, Lincoln Twp. (13604), Michiana (164), Millburg, New Buffalo
(2317), New Buffalo Twp. (2419), New Troy, Oxbow, Pipestone Twp. (2303),
Riverside, Royalton Twp. (3135), Sawyer, Scottsdale, Shoreham (737), Sodus Twp.
(2065), Stevensville (1230), Three Oaks (1786), Three Oaks Twp. (2952), Union
Pier, Watervliet Twp. (2926), Weesaw Twp. (2114)
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES (1992-1993)
K-12 Instruc. High
Community School District Students Staff Schools
Benton Harbor Benton Harbor Area 6081 250 1
Bridgman Bridgman Public 880 52
Buchanan Buchanan Community 1807 92 1
Coloma Coloma Community 2393 108 1
Niles Niles Community 3918 185 1
St. Joseph St. Joseph Public 2509 125 1
Stevensville Lakeshore 2834 119 1
Watervliet Watervliet 1241 55 1
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
(As of Fall 1991)
Name and Location Enrollment
Andrews University, Berrien Springs 3057
Lake Michigan Community College, Benton Harbor 3625
Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana (10 mi.)
Southwestern Michigan College, Dowagiac (12 mi.) 2779
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo (40 mi.) 27901
MEDICAL FACILITIES
Hospitals in County: 5 Total Beds: 1136
Nearest Large Medical Center: South Bend, Indiana (10 miles)
Extended Care Facilities: 9 Total Beds: 926
Physicians (MDs and DOs) in County: 231
HOUSING AND CHURCHES
(Housing as of 1990)
Owner occupied: 42452 (69.6%) Median Home Value: $52,800.00
Renter occupied: 18573 (30.4%) Median Contract Rent: $294.00
Churches: Catholic: 10 Protestant: 160
Synagogues: 1
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
Lake Michigan - marinas, beaches, parks, camping, hiking, public access.
Nature centers - Fernwood, Grand Mere, Love Creek, Sarett, Warren Woods.
Wineries - Bronte, Lemon Creek, Tabor Hill. Culture - Krasl Art Center,
Twin City Players, Southwest Michigan Symphony, historical museums and
districts. Also fishing, golf, cross-country and downhill skiing.
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
(As of 1989)
General Building Contractors 44
Metalworking Machinery 54
Commercial Printing 19
Advertising 6
Personnel Supply Services 12
Computer and Data Processing Services 6
Legal Services 66
Accounting, Auditing and Bookkeeping 35
Retail Establishments 972
Wholesale Establishments 243
Hotel/Motel Rooms (as of 1992): 1575
Television Channels: 10 plus cable
Radio Stations: 15
Newspapers: Berrien County Record, Herald Palladium, Niles Daily Star,
South Bend Tribune, Tri-City Record
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
(As of 1993) Offices
Main Office in County
Alliance Banking Company New Buffalo 2
First of America Bank-Michigan, NA Kalamazoo 2
FMB-Community Bank Dowagiac 2
Inter-City Bank Benton Harbor 12
LaSalle Federal Savings Bank Buchanan 4
Michigan National Bank Farmington Hills 3
NBD Bank, NA Detroit 7
New Buffalo Savings Bank New Buffalo 2
Old Kent Bank-Southwest Kalamazoo 13
SJS Federal Savings Bank Saint Joseph 3
Standard Federal Bank Troy 5
The Peoples State Bank of St Joseph Saint Joseph 14
The State Bank of Coloma Coloma 1
EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS BY INDUSTRY
Earnings
Employment ($ millions)
1985 1990 1985 1990
Total Employment 74619 83703
Total Income $1,963.55 $2,622.60
Earnings by Place of Work $1,318.29 $1,790.80
Components by Type:
Wage and Salary 62644 70874 $1,085.60 $1,466.17
Proprietors 11975 12829 $114.62 $167.44
Farm 2000 1728 $2.77 $6.66
Nonfarm 9975 11101 $111.85 $160.79
Components by Industry:
Farm 3471 2912 $14.40 $20.26
Nonfarm 71148 80791 $1,303.90 $1,770.54
Private 62871 71640 $1,155.86 $1,556.23
Agric./For./Fish. 516 650 $4.44 $7.14
Mining 199 318 $5.21 $7.93
Construction 2340 3098 $45.62 $67.24
Manufacturing 20745 21916 $561.81 $684.84
Non-Durable Goods --- --- $97.84 $141.20
Durable Goods --- --- $463.98 $543.64
Transp. & Utilities 2887 3026 $84.12 $110.29
Wholesale Trade 2534 2682 $52.86 $78.22
Retail Trade 11957 13998 $118.32 $161.09
Fin./Ins./Real Est. 3711 4367 $44.35 $67.82
Services 17982 21585 $239.13 $371.67
Government 8277 9151 $148.03 $214.30
Federal 467 517 $11.89 $15.05
Military, Civilian 393 416 $2.42 $3.28
State and Local 7417 8218 $133.73 $195.98
Earnings by Place of Residence $1,271.57 $1,698.40
Zero values indicate confidential information or fewer than 10 employees
or less than $50,000.
Per Capita Income: 1985: $12,332.00 1990: $16,232.00
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