Van Buren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 75,587. The county seat is Paw Paw. The county was founded in 1829 and organized in 1837.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (44%) is water.

Much of the county is farmland dotted with small towns. Areas near Kalamazoo County, specifically Antwerp Township and Almena Township, are becoming suburbanized. Many of the inland lakes are ringed with homes, either by people living year-round or cottagers, generally people who live the rest of the time in Chicago. As with other areas near Lake Michigan, tourism is a major industry.

Rivers

  • Paw Paw River
  • Black River

Adjacent counties

By land

  • Allegan County (north)
  • Kalamazoo County (east)
  • St. Joseph County (southeast)
  • Cass County (south)
  • Berrien County (southwest)

By water

  • Lake County, Illinois (west)

Parks, preserves, natural areas

thumb|240px|Paw Paw River in Van Buren County

  • Dunes Parkway, an preserve of dunes in Covert Township
  • Hamilton Township Coastal Plain Marsh Nature Sanctuary, a preserve of coastal plain marsh in Hamilton Township owned by the Michigan Nature Association
  • Jeptha Lake Fen Preserve, a preserve in Columbia Township
  • Kal-Haven Trail, a multi-use trail converted from old rail line that runs from Kalamazoo to South Haven
  • Keeler State Game Area, (1.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) in Keeler Township
  • North Point Park - high dunes on on Lake Michigan, north of Van Buren State Park
  • Ross Preserve, a preserve of coastal plain marsh in Covert Township owned by The Nature Conservancy
  • Van Buren State Park
  • Van Buren Trail State Park is adjacent to Kal-Haven Trail

Transportation

Highways

Public transportation

  • Pere Marquette (Amtrak train)
  • Van Buren Public Transit

Railroads

  • Amtrak
  • CSX Transportation
  • Norfolk Southern, through Amtrak owned Michigan Line
  • West Michigan Railroad

Demographics