Branch County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 44,862. The county seat is Coldwater. One of the "cabinet counties", it was named for John Branch, U.S. Secretary of the Navy under President Andrew Jackson. 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. 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 , of which is land and (2.6%) is water. 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

  • – runs north–south through central Branch County. Runs east of Girard, Coldwater and Kinderhook.
  • – runs through Coldwater.
  • – runs ENE through central Branch County. Passes Bronson, Coldwater and Quincy.
  • – runs through northern part of county. Enters near Union City; runs west to intersection with M60, south of Athens.
  • – runs through NW tip of county. Enters west line from Leonidas, Michigan, runs east , turns north to exit county toward Athens, Michigan.
  • runs east–west through central Branch County. Enters from Colon, Michigan, runs east to intersection with US12, west of Coldwater.

Demographics

<!-- PresRow should be -->

<!-- U.S. SenRow should be -->

<!-- M.I. GovRow should be -->

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 services, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

  • Prosecuting Attorney: Victor Fitz (interim)
  • Sheriff: Fred Blankenship
  • County Clerk: Terry Kubasiak
  • County Treasurer: Steven Rutz
  • Register of Deeds: Nyci Centers
  • Drain Commissioner: Michael Hard
  • County Surveyor: Edward W. Reed

Communities

thumb|right|400px|[[United States Census|U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Branch County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]

Cities

  • Bronson
  • Coldwater (county seat)

Villages

  • Quincy
  • Sherwood
  • Union City (partial)

Civil townships

  • Algansee Township
  • Batavia Township
  • Bethel Township
  • Bronson Township
  • Butler Township
  • California Township
  • Coldwater Township
  • Gilead Township
  • Girard Township
  • Kinderhook Township
  • Matteson Township
  • Noble Township
  • Ovid Township
  • Quincy Township
  • Sherwood Township
  • Union Township

Unincorporated communities

  • Batavia Center
  • Canada Shores
  • Crystal Beach
  • East Gilead
  • Girard
  • Hodunk
  • Lockwood
  • Pearl Beach
  • Ray
  • Sans Souci Beach
  • South Butler
  • West Kinderhook

See also

  • Branch, Branch County, Michigan
  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Branch County
  • Mickesawbe
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Branch County, Michigan
  • USS Branch County (LST-482)

References

  • Branch County government
  • Branch County Tourism Bureau
  • Branch County Chamber of Commerce
  • Office of the County Clerk