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Community Profile
County Seat
St. Joseph - www.berriencounty.org or www.sjcity.com
Click here for links to other area communities.
Location
Well, it's pretty self-explanatory where we are. But, to clarify, Berrien County is located in the southwest corner of Michigan, nestled along our beautiful Lake Michigan. In fact, our excellent location in the heart of America's "Midwest coast" makes it a prime market for industry, business, and tourism. Its substantial and wide variety of agriculture has established locally grown crops as major attractions for tourists and food processors. Strategically located on the Chicago/Detroit, Grand Rapids/Indianapolis vectors, we are served by major interstate highways, airports, rail transportation, and shipping; both deep draft and river barge. Scenic natural beauty and 50 miles of shoreline make us a choice destination for tourists, artists, and naturalists.
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Climate
Michigan's Great Southwest enjoys 4 distinct, beautiful seasons. The average minimum temperature in July is 61 degrees, maximum 82 degrees, while the average minimum temperature in January is 18 degrees, maximum 32 degrees. Average annual rainfall is 37 inches, average annual snowfall is 70 inches. The agribusiness in our area enjoys 162 days of growing season. (Source: NOAA Climate Summary, 1995.)
Population
| YEAR |
POPULATION |
| 1990 |
161,378 |
| 1994 |
161,734 |
| 1996 |
161,434 |
| 2000 |
162,453 |
We have an extremely culturally rich, diverse population - unusual for a region of our size. This is partly due to the world-class companies and institutes of higher learning to be found in Michigan's Great Southwest - including reputable schools in Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois.
Click here for complete Census 2000 information.
2000 National Race Date
| RACE |
PERCENTAGE |
| White |
75.1 |
| Black |
12.3 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander |
3.7 |
| Other |
8.9 |
Education
Michigan's Great Southwest's adult population is highly educated. 74% of residents have graduated from high school, 16.7% have a bachelor's degree, or higher. See Higher Education for more information about the wonderful educational opportunities available in our area.
Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6%
Use Tax: 4%
Local Property Tax: 50% Market Value
Income
Per capita income in Berrien County was $22,689 in 1997, while a median household income was $30,058.
Workforce
Our region has a workforce of 81,400. Total employment is 77,600, with unemployment at 4.6% for 1999 (our average is 4.55%).
Projected Job Forecast By Occupational Group (in thousands)
| Occupation Group |
1994 |
2005 |
%Change |
| Executive, Administrative,
And Managerial |
11,410 |
12,620 |
10.6% |
| Professional Specialty Occupations |
15,500 |
18,210 |
17.5% |
| Technicians and Related Support Occ. |
3,470 |
3,910 |
12.7% |
| Marketing and Sales Occupations |
10,660 |
12,320 |
15.6% |
| Administrative Support, Clerical |
17,430 |
18,440 |
5.8% |
| Service Occupations |
16,700 |
20,010 |
19.9% |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, etc. |
7,120 |
7,360 |
3.3% |
| Precision Production, Craft, and Repair |
13,310 |
14,790 |
11.2% |
| Operators, Fabricators, and Laborers |
19,630 |
21,830 |
11.2% |
Including Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties.
Major Employers
Top Manufacturing Employers:
Other Major Employers:
Industrial and Commercial Services:
| TYPES OF SERVICES |
ESTABLISHMENTS |
| Retail trade |
990 |
| General building contractors |
60 |
| Commercial printing |
19 |
| Trucking and courier services, except air |
53 |
| Wholesale trade - durable goods |
149 |
| Advertising |
7 |
| Personnel supply services |
29 |
| Computer and data processing services |
17 |
| Legal services |
74 |
| Engineering and architectural services |
20 |
| Accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping |
42 |
| Research and testing services |
7 |
| Management and public relations |
31 |
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce and Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns, issued November 1997.
Main Highways
I-94, I-196, US12, US31, US33, M-51, M-139, M-140
Bus Lines
Berrien Bus, Dial-A-Ride, Greyhound, Indian Trails, United Limo
Rail Lines
Amtrak, Conrail, CSX
Ports
St. Joseph River Harbor, New Buffalo Harbor
Landfills
Forest Lawn Landfill, Orchard Hill Sanitary Landfill, Southeast Berrien County Landfill Authority
Airports
Andrews University Airpark, Michiana Regional Airport (commercial service), Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, and Watervliet Municipal Airport
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If you see this image  then click it to find locations in that category in our area!
For more information
Cornerstone Alliance
P.O. Box 428, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
tel: (269) 925-6100
webmaster@michigansgreatsw.com
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