Historic Facts & Figures
 Between the Indians, the French, the Spanish, the British, and of course, the Americans each laying claim to Southwest Michigan, you can bet that there are numerous interesting stories, facts, and figures about the area we call "Home".
Below are you will find a brief sampling of facts and figures... we'll add more in the months to come!
Cass County
Cass became a county in 1835.
Van Buren County
Van Buren became a county in 1834.
Berrien County
Berrien became a county in 1832.
Berrien County was named after Colonel James Berrien, Secretary of War under Andrew Jackson.
Region
The three counties of southwest Michigan have 320 lakes.
Of these 320 lakes, 182 have public access for boating, fishing and recreation.
Southwest Michigan's climate and soil have proven to be a winning combination. Southwest Michigan's "Fruitbelt" is world-renown for fruit production.
Southwest Michigan was also home to one of the largest fruit markets in the world in the 1940’s.
At its agricultural height, Southwest Michigan was a major producer of peaches, apples and cherries.
Carrying on this heritage, today Southwest Michigan is home to over 15 wineries.
Civil War Statistics
The three counties sent 8,220 people off to the civil war and lost 1,020.
Acreage/Miles
Paw Paw Lake, Michigan
Largest inland lake in Southwest Michigan.
The mean depth of Paw Paw Lake is 35 ft. the deepest point is over 90ft.
According to the US Corps of Engineers, the lake’s shoreline measures 9.2 miles.
Paw Paw is a fleshy fruit from a tree that typically grows around water. Its scientific name is Asimina Triloba. Its taste has been described as a cross between a banana and a pear.
Little Paw Paw Lake
US Corps of Engineers measures the size of the lake at 90 acres.
The deepest point in Little Paw Paw Lake is 27 feet.
Deer Forest
Deer Forest was founded in 1949 by Cecil Potts in Coloma, Michigan.
By 1965 2.5 million had visited the park since its opening.
|
