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Branch County
Branch County
County
	Lanphere-Pratt House in Coldwater.
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
	Michigan's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 41°55′N 85°03′W / 41.92°N 85.05°W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	October 29, 1829 (created); 1833 (organized)
Named for	John Branch
Seat	Coldwater
Largest city	Coldwater
Area
• Total	520 sq mi (1,300 km2)
• Land	506 sq mi (1,310 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (30 km2) 2.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	44,862
• Density	89/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	https://www.countyofbranch.com/

Branch County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 44,862.^[2] The county seat is Coldwater.^[3] As one of the "cabinet counties" it was named for the U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Branch under President Andrew Jackson.^[1] The county was founded in 1829, and was organized in 1833.

Branch County comprises the Coldwater, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Branch County was a New England settlement. The original founders of Coldwater were settlers from the northern coastal colonies – "Yankees", descended from the English Puritans who came from the Old World in the 1600s and who brought their culture. During the early 1800s, there was a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was then the untamed Northwest Territory. Many traveled through New York State via the Erie Canal; the threat of Native Americans had been reduced by the end of the Black Hawk War.

These early settlers laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings, and established post routes. They brought a passion for education, and established many schools. Many were supporters of abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church though some were Episcopalian. Culturally Branch County, like much of Michigan, developed as part of the Northern Tier, continuous with New England culture, during its early history.^[4]^[5] The county still depends on agriculture as the basis of its economy.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 520 square miles (1,300 km²), of which 506 square miles (1,310 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (2.6%) is water.^[6] It is the third-smallest county in Michigan by total area. The only island in the county is Iyopawa Island.

Adjacent counties

Kalamazoo County – northwest
Calhoun County – north
Hillsdale County – east
Steuben County, Indiana – south
LaGrange County, Indiana – southwest
St. Joseph County – west

Major highways

I-69 – runs north–south through central Branch County. Runs east of Girard, Coldwater and Kinderhook.
BL I-69 – runs through Coldwater.
US 12 – runs ENE through central Branch County. Passes Bronson, Coldwater and Quincy.
M-60 – runs through northern part of county. Enters near Union City; runs west 5 miles (8.0 km) to intersection with M60, south of Athens.
M-66 – runs through NW tip of county. Enters west line from Leonidas, Michigan, runs east 2.4 miles (3.9 km), turns north to exit county toward Athens, Michigan.
M-86 runs east–west through central Branch County. Enters from Colon, Michigan, runs east to intersection with US12, three miles (4.8 km) west of Coldwater.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	5,715		—
1850	12,472		118.2%
1860	20,981		68.2%
1870	26,226		25.0%
1880	27,941		6.5%
1890	26,791		−4.1%
1900	27,811		3.8%
1910	25,605		−7.9%
1920	23,997		−6.3%
1930	23,950		−0.2%
1940	25,845		7.9%
1950	30,202		16.9%
1960	34,903		15.6%
1970	37,906		8.6%
1980	40,188		6.0%
1990	41,502		3.3%
2000	45,787		10.3%
2010	45,248		−1.2%
2020	44,862		−0.9%
2023 (est.)	45,215	^[7]	0.8%
US Decennial Census^[8] 1790-1960^[9] 1900-1990^[10] 1990-2000^[11] 2010-2018^[2]

The 2010 United States Census^[12] indicates Branch County had a 2010 population of 45,248. This decrease of -539 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a -1.2% growth decrease during the decade. In 2010 there were 16,419 households and 11,350 families in the county. The population density was 89.4 per square mile (34.5 square kilometers). There were 20,841 housing units at an average density of 41.2 per square mile (15.9 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races.

There were 16,419 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were husband and wife families, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 25.8% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 111.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.9 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate^[12] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $41,855 and the median income for a family was $48,959. Males had a median income of $25,595 versus $17,263 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,289. About 2.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under the age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Branch County has been reliably Republican since the parties' founding. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried 86% of the elections (31 of 36).

United States presidential election results for Branch County, Michigan^[13]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	14,848	70.41%	5,911	28.03%	330	1.56%
2020	14,064	68.36%	6,159	29.94%	350	1.70%
2016	11,786	66.73%	5,061	28.65%	816	4.62%
2012	10,035	58.52%	6,913	40.32%	199	1.16%
2008	9,534	52.14%	8,413	46.01%	338	1.85%
2004	10,784	60.02%	7,004	38.98%	179	1.00%
2000	8,743	55.40%	6,691	42.39%	349	2.21%
1996	6,321	42.70%	6,567	44.36%	1,917	12.95%
1992	5,976	36.02%	5,850	35.26%	4,767	28.73%
1988	9,225	63.48%	5,231	36.00%	75	0.52%
1984	11,004	73.63%	3,860	25.83%	81	0.54%
1980	10,224	62.99%	4,635	28.56%	1,371	8.45%
1976	8,251	55.74%	6,301	42.57%	250	1.69%
1972	8,388	62.01%	4,887	36.13%	251	1.86%
1968	7,071	55.88%	4,518	35.70%	1,065	8.42%
1964	5,110	39.21%	7,858	60.29%	66	0.51%
1960	8,752	64.41%	4,759	35.03%	76	0.56%
1956	8,856	69.49%	3,827	30.03%	61	0.48%
1952	9,215	71.52%	3,564	27.66%	105	0.81%
1948	6,323	63.06%	3,405	33.96%	299	2.98%
1944	7,155	67.44%	3,406	32.10%	48	0.45%
1940	7,400	62.90%	4,318	36.71%	46	0.39%
1936	5,528	48.60%	5,425	47.69%	422	3.71%
1932	4,663	43.83%	5,685	53.43%	292	2.74%
1928	6,818	74.51%	2,266	24.77%	66	0.72%
1924	6,016	64.67%	2,253	24.22%	1,033	11.11%
1920	5,704	69.72%	2,181	26.66%	296	3.62%
1916	3,100	48.77%	3,062	48.17%	194	3.05%
1912	1,865	30.11%	2,185	35.28%	2,143	34.60%
1908	3,715	57.48%	2,402	37.17%	346	5.35%
1904	4,385	69.72%	1,598	25.41%	306	4.87%
1900	4,293	54.73%	3,419	43.59%	132	1.68%
1896	3,596	46.58%	3,976	51.50%	148	1.92%
1892	3,271	49.68%	2,161	32.82%	1,152	17.50%
1888	4,098	55.36%	2,739	37.00%	566	7.65%
1884	3,671	52.08%	2,958	41.96%	420	5.96%

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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.

Elected officials

Prosecuting Attorney: Zachary Stempien^[14]
Sheriff: John Pollack^[15]
County Clerk: Terry Kubasiak^[16]
County Treasurer: Steven Rutz^[17]
Register of Deeds: Nyci DeLoach^[18]
Drain Commissioner: Michael Hard^[19]
County Surveyor: Edward W. Reed^[20]
County Commissioners: Tim Stoll, Tom Matthew, Alan McClellan, Jon Houtz, Randall Hazelbaker^[21]

Information correct as of March 2017.

Communities

Cities

Bronson
Coldwater (county seat)

Villages

Civil townships

Unincorporated communities

References

^ ^a ^b "Bibliography on Branch County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
^ ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ Johnson, Crisfield (1879). "History of Branch County MI". google.com.
^ Johnson, Crisfield (1879). "History of Branch County MI". google.com.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
^ US Election Atlas
^ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
^ Branch County Government Website.
^ "County of Branch ::". www.countyofbranch.com. Retrieved March 23, 2017.