Cassopolis was platted by European Americans in 1831. It had already been designated the county seat by that point. It was incorporated as a village in 1863.[6] The county developed farming and some industry.
Cassopolis was a transit point on the Underground Railroad, by which sympathizers aided refugee slaves from the South to gain freedom in the North and in Canada. Some refugees continued through Michigan to settle in Canada in order to avoid risk under the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law, which increased incentives for capture.[7] Others remained in the area, with many African-Americans and people of mixed African-American and Sapponi and Pumenkey ancestry settling in Cass County.
In the 1960s, a group of African Americans connected to the Nation of Islam acquired some 1,000 acres of farmland in the area. Work on this acquisition was overseen by a man who had graduated from Cassopolis High.[8]
Geography
Lewis Cass historical marker in Cassopolis, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.25 square miles (5.83 km2), of which 2.00 square miles (5.18 km2) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2) is water.[9] Cassopolis is the town associated with Diamond Lake, the largest lake in southwestern Michigan.
As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 1,774 people, 709 households, and 384 families residing in the village. The population density was 887.0 inhabitants per square mile (342.5/km2). There were 833 housing units at an average density of 416.5 per square mile (160.8/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 60.0% White, 29.3% African American, 1.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.5% of the population.
There were 709 households, of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.8% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.15.
The median age in the village was 35.4 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.1% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,740 people, 703 households, and 437 families residing in the village. The population density was 994.1 inhabitants per square mile (383.8/km2). There were 780 housing units at an average density of 445.6 per square mile (172.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 54.60% White, 32.59% African American, 0.57% Native American, 3.62% Asian, 0.80% from other races, and 7.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 703 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village, the age distribution of the population shows 30.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,696, and the median income for a family was $37,348. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $21,036 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,359. About 9.4% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
In 2020, the school district split up the junior and senior high school into Ross Beatty High School and Squires Middle School Ross Beatty High School teaches grades nine through twelve. Squires Middle School teaches grades six through eight.
The Cass District Library's Main Library is located in Cassopolis. The Local History Branch is also located in Cassopolis. Other branches include the Howard Branch, Edwardsburg Branch, and the Mason / Union Branch.
