Cassopolis, Michigan

Cassopolis (/ˌkəˈsɒpəlɪs/ kə-SAH-pə-liss) is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Cass County.[4] It is located mostly in LaGrange Township with a small portion extending east into Penn Township. The village and county are named after statesman Lewis Cass, a New Hampshire native and a prominent U.S. senator from Michigan prior to the American Civil War.

Cassopolis, Michigan
Village
Cass County Courthouse in Cassopolis
Cass County Courthouse in Cassopolis
Nickname: 
AmstutzVille
Location within Cass County
Location within Cass County
Cassopolis is located in Michigan
Cassopolis
Cassopolis
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 41°54′39″N 86°00′28″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyCass
TownshipsLaGrange and Penn
Government
 • TypeVillage council
 • PresidentDavid Johnson
Area
[1]
 • Total2.23 sq mi (5.79 km2)
 • Land2.01 sq mi (5.21 km2)
 • Water0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2)
Elevation
889 ft (271 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,712
 • Density851.32/sq mi (328.70/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49031
Area code269
FIPS code26-13900[2]
GNIS feature ID0622860[3]
WebsiteOfficial website

Diamond Lake, one of the 100 largest inland lakes in Michigan, is located in Cassopolis.

Cassopolis is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area sometimes referred to as Michiana. The population was 1,774 at the 2010 census. 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.[5] 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.[6] However the 1850s also saw the settlement of many African-Americans and people of mixed African-American and Sapponi and Pumenkey ancestry 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.[7]

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.[8] Cassopolis is the town associated with Diamond Lake, the largest lake in southwestern Michigan.

Transportation
Directional signs in Cassopolis, Michigan

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850379—
1870728—
188091225.3%
18901,36950.1%
19001,330−2.8%
19101,3582.1%
19201,3852.0%
19301,4484.5%
19401,4882.8%
19501,5272.6%
19602,02732.7%
19702,1084.0%
19801,933−8.3%
19901,822−5.7%
20001,740−4.5%
20101,7742.0%
20201,712−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2010 census

As of the census[10] 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.

Schools

Cassopolis Public School District is the school system for the Village of Cassopolis and its surrounding areas.[11] The district's schools are Ross Beatty Junior/Senior High School and Sam Adams Elementary.

Library

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.

Notable people

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. Walter Romig, Michigan Place Names, p. 103
  6. Brown, Beatrice (July 2, 1949). "Cassopolis, Mich. Boasts of Its Role in the Underground Railroad". Pittsburgh Courier.
  7. Popa, Robert (December 19, 1968). "Black Muslims in Michigan". Washington Post.
  8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  11. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cass County, MI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
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