Oceana County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 26,659. Its county seat and largest incorporated community is Hart. Oceana County is located in the West Michigan region of the state's Lower Peninsula. The county has a shoreline along Lake Michigan, which has allowed for agriculture and tourism to flourish within the county. The county is also known as the "Asparagus Capital of the World", and is home to the National Asparagus Festival, in Hart.

thumb|[[Little Sable Point Lighthouse]]

History

Prior to European American settlement, Oceana County was part of the territory of the Ojibwe. Early European American settlers were attracted by access along the White River, which reaches its mouth on Lake Michigan in Muskegon County to the south.

The State of Michigan created the county of Oceana on April 1, 1840. The county was organized in 1855. or for the book Oceana, written by English author James Harrington in 1656. The county is considered to be part of West Michigan. The county's western border is formed by Lake Michigan.

Adjacent counties

By land

  • Mason County – north
  • Lake County – northeast
  • Newaygo County – east
  • Muskegon County – south

By water

  • Ozaukee County, Wisconsin – southwest
  • Sheboygan County, Wisconsin – west

National protected area

  • Manistee National Forest (part)

Major highways

  • is a north–south freeway in the west of Oceana County. It passes Rothbury, New Era, Shelby, Mears, Hart, and Pentwater.
  • is a business spur serving downtown Hart.
  • is an east–west route in the south of the county. The highway's western terminus is at US 31 near New Era, and it continues easterly toward Hesperia, where it crosses into Newaygo County.
  • is a north–south highway that runs due north from the county tri-point with Muskegon and Newaygo counties to an intersection with M-20 at Hesperia.

County-designated highways

  • is a north–south county-designated highway that parallels the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The route enters the county from the south, and passes through Stony Lake and the Silver Lake area before ending at Pentwater.

Demographics

This rural county reached a peak of population in 2000. It has attracted Hispanic or Latino immigrants who mostly work as farm laborers; in 2010 nearly 14% of the population was Hispanic.