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Van Buren County, Michigan

54 topographic sheets cover 42 settlements here, and 9 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

9 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Michigan within the United States
Van Buren County within Michigan

What the record shows

  • 484 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 9 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 7 buildings and 2 structures.
  • 2 of the 9 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 42 populated places in this county; 42 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

9

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Liberty Hyde Bailey Birthplacebuilding198383000892
Bangor Elevatorbuilding200909000523
Houppert Winery Complexbuilding200000000222
Marshall's Storebuilding200202000205
Navigation Structures at South Haven Harbor, Michiganstructure199595001160
Navigation Structures at South Haven Harbor, Michiganstructure199595001160
Nichols Hotelbuilding2025100011633
Paw Paw City Hallbuilding197272000657
Van Buren County Courthouse Complexbuilding197979001169

Wildfire, 1996 to 2020

162 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 162 of them, burning about 201 acres. 11 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined68
Equipment and vehicle use59
Debris and open burning13
Natural11
Recreation and ceremony9
Smoking1
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
25 December 2019Equipment and vehicle use10 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesBANGOR COMMUNITY FD 536 - 2019
26 March 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined7.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesVAN BUREN 01
20 September 2003Recreation and ceremony6.2 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
18 April 2004Equipment and vehicle use5.1 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 May 2018Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesLAWTON FD 0000045 - 2018
24 April 2017Recreation and ceremony5.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesVAN BUREN 01
5 May 2018Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesCOLUMBIA TOWNSHIP FD 0000026 - 2018
7 May 2018Equipment and vehicle use4.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesCOVERT FD 0000167 - 2018

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1954 to 2025

60 of 281 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 281 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 34 injuries and about $69,065,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind178
Hail69
Tornado19
Flash Flood7
Funnel Cloud4
Lightning2
Waterspout1
Flood1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1984Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 killed, 2 hurtno account filed
May 1980Tornado (F3)not stated15 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
April 1956Tornado (F3)not stated9 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
August 1989Thunderstorm Windnot stated4 hurtno account filed
July 2011LightningLacota2 hurtMultiple media sources reported a lightning strike injured two males who were picking blueberries at the time.
September 1986Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
June 1979Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
April 2010HailLawton$50,000,000Trained spotters across the far southeastern portion of Van Buren county reported hail up to one and a quarter inches in diameter and wind damage. Several trees were blown down and the large wind driven hail resulted in siding damage to homes across that area.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindToquin$3,000,000Trained spotters reported numerous trees and tree limbs and power lines down across mainly southern Van Buren county. Hail up to one inch in diameter was also reported. Two miles west of Lawrence there was a higher concentration of several dozen large healthy tree trunks snapped, uprooted, or large limbs snapped. Damage occurred to at least 3 residences due to fallen trees, one probably a total loss, another with significant roof damage. Cleanup was still ongoing 12 days after the storms struck. Just east of Hartford, hundreds of trees were scattered within approximately a 6 square-mile area with large limbs snapped, trunks snapped, or uprooted. Damage was centered in and near the Van Buren County Youth Fair. The Van Buren Historical Society Museum had damage to the back of the building due to fallen tree limbs.
April 2013FloodSouth Haven$3,000,000Significant flooding occurred on rivers and streams across Van Buren county due to heavy rainfall from early to mid April.
April 1956Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
June 2020Thunderstorm WindForest Dunes$1,000,000Severe thunderstorm downburst winds brought down numerous large trees in swaths near and just west of Covert and also in and near Lawrence and Paw Paw. Several garages and outbuildings also sustained damage.
February 2024Thunderstorm WindLawton$250,000A trained spotter three miles south southwest of Lawton reported that several trees and power lines were blown down onto county road 669 just north of 79th street. Several trees and limbs were blown down onto homes and outbuildings in the area.
November 2013Thunderstorm WindMattawan Arpk$250,000An NWS storm survey indicated that microburst straight line wind damage with maximum winds of 75 mph caused part of the roof of Mattawan high school to be torn off. Several trees were blown down and awning and roof damage was also incurred at an apartment.
May 1989Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
March 1976Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 1954Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLawton$200,000Numerous trees were blown down near Lawton.
September 1997LightningSouth Haven$200,000South Haven Community Hospital received a direct lightning strike on the northwest corner of the building. The radio tower for the HERN radio, which is the communications link with area ambulances, sustained the strike, which then grounded through the building directly through the telephone communications center on the basement level. The entire telephone system was disabled beyond repair.
June 1997Flash FloodCounty-Wide$125,000Van Buren County officials reported damage from flash flooding late Friday night and early Saturday morning, June 20th and 21st, respectively. The flooding caused 8 road washouts and 35 additional roads were impassable for a time due to water flowing across them. A 15-foot section of the Kal-Haven Trail (a bike and nature trail) was washed out, leaving a gulley 8-feet deep. Baer Park in downtown South Haven was also flooded. Unofficially, 5 to 7 inches of rain fell in the 5-hour time period ending 4:00 AM EDT in Lawrence.
August 2011Flash FloodVan Buren Bluffs$100,000Numerous roads were washed out as reported by road commission. Flash flooding occurred on 2nd avenue in South Haven and forced the cancellation of the National Blueberry Festival.
June 2010Tornado (EF0)Gobles Wesler Arpt$100,000The tornado touched down briefly just south of 20th Avenue causing damage to one property. A metal outbuilding lost its tin roof. Numerous snapped branches were found at treetop level. No damage to the residence was evident. The tornado then skipped across an open area with little to no damage. The tornado then touched down in a cornfield with evidence in the broken cornstalks. The path then moved into a line of trees. Approximately 20 trees were uprooted or snapped. A new camping trailer was flipped into a house. The tornado then lifted in the backyard of the residence.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindBloomingdale$100,000A 69 mph wind gust was measured in Bloomingdale. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down with some trees blocking roads. A tree was reported down on a house as well.
February 2001Flash FloodCountywide$100,000no account filed
May 2000Flash FloodCountywide$100,000no account filed
May 2024Thunderstorm WindDecatur$50,000Several trees were uprooted and snapped off near Decatur and large hail was reported as well.
September 2018Thunderstorm WindSister Lakes$50,000Dozens of trees were blown down in the Sister Lakes area and scattered power outages were reported.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindArmstrong Corners$50,000Numerous trees were blown down across portions of Van Buren county.
December 2007Thunderstorm WindLawton$50,000Numerous trees were blown down in Lawton.
December 2007Thunderstorm WindGobles Wesler Arpt$50,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across Van Buren county.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindBloomingdale$50,000Many trees were blown down across Van Buren county and particularly in and near Bloomingdale.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindGobles$50,000Numerous trees were blown down in Bloomingdale and Gobles.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindPaw Paw$50,000The general public reported that numerous trees were blown down in Paw Paw.
July 2003HailPaw Paw$50,000Two inch diameter hail was reported by area law enforcement in Paw Paw. Another report of three quarters inch hail was received from Paw Paw.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindBangor$50,000no account filed
August 2001Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindBloomingdale$50,000no account filed
May 2000HailPaw Paw$50,000no account filed
May 2000HailHartford$50,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindDecatur$50,000no account filed
December 2007Thunderstorm WindPaw Paw$40,000A square yard of shingles was blown off a roof of an eight year old home. Downed trees and limbs were blocking county road 653.
March 2007Thunderstorm WindSouth Haven$40,000Law enforcement reported that numerous trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts in South Haven and Bangor.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindLawrence$30,000Law enforcement in Lawrence reported that several trees were blown down.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindTeapot Dome$25,000Law enforcement reported that several large trees and limbs were blown down near Lawrence, Decatur and Lawton.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindLawrence Arpt$25,000Several trees were blown down.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindMattawan Arpk$25,000There were several reports of downed trees across portions of Van Buren county.
November 2020Thunderstorm WindDecatur$25,000Several trees were blown down across parts of Van Buren county.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindSouth Haven$25,000A Van Buren county official reported that numerous trees were blown down in South Haven with several other reports of downed trees from the western half of Van Buren county inluding in Grand Junction.
August 2006HailGrand Jct$25,000State police reported that three inch diameter hail fell in and just east of Grand Junction and that hail covered the ground for a short duration.
June 2003HailPaw Paw$25,000Seven eighths inch diameter hail was reported with a severe thunderstorm in Paw Paw, and a tree was blown down in Mattawan.
August 2003HailGrand Jct$25,000One and three quarters inch diameter hail was reported in Grand Junction.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindSouth Haven$25,000Severe thunderstorm wind gusts blew down large trees, branches and numerous power lines in South Haven and Hartford.
April 2001HailGobles$25,000no account filed
April 2001HailBangor$25,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindSister Lakes$25,000no account filed
September 2000Thunderstorm WindGrand Jct$25,000no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindBangor$25,000no account filed
May 1989Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1988Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1956Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed

Mines and quarries

13 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 13 workings inside this county. 6 still produce and 7 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction6
Silica5
Fire Clay (Refractory)2

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Acolliney Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Fish and Steward Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Austin SiteSilicaPast ProducerSedimentary
Busse SiteSilicaProducerSedimentary
Garlanger SiteSilicaPast ProducerSedimentary
Nadeau SiteSilicaPast ProducerSedimentary
Rose PitSilicaPast ProducerSedimentary
Budzen PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
J V Burkett Construction Co. PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Klett Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Plopper Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Van Buren County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Van Buren County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

42

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.