Oceana County, Michigan

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.



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. The origin of the county's name is unclear, although there are two possibilities: the county may have been named for Lake Michigan, the freshwater "ocean," which forms its western border; or for the book Oceana, written by English author James Harrington in 1656.

In the 1850s about 1400 Odawa were relocated here from Ionia County, Michigan by the federal government.

The county economy was first built on the lumber trade, with logs floated downriver. It later was developed for agriculture. In the 21st century, it is known for its commodity crop of asparagus. Oceana County is famous as the "Asparagus Capital of the World" for its high production of asparagus. The annual Asparagus Festival includes a parade and crowning of the Asparagus Queen.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1306 sqmi, of which 512 sqmi is land and 794 sqmi (61%) is water. The county is considered to be part of West Michigan. The county's western border is formed by Lake Michigan.

Adjacent counties
By land By water
 * Mason County – north
 * Lake County – northeast
 * Newaygo County – east
 * Muskegon County – south
 * 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.

The 2010 United States Census indicates Oceana County had a 2010 population of 26,570. This decrease of 303 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a 1.1% population decrease in the decade. In 2010 there were 10,174 households and 7,239 families in the county. The population density was 51.9 per square mile (20.0 square kilometers). There were 15,944 housing units at an average density of 31.1 per square mile (12.0 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 13.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races.

There were 10,174 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were husband and wife families, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.8% were non-families, and 24.6% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04.

The county population contained 24.9% under age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $39,043 and the median income for a family was $46,816. Males had a median income of $21,774 versus $14,186 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,065. About 1.9% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under the age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

 * Oceana County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
 * Oceana County is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan.
 * Several Christian denominations are represented in the county population.
 * There is one meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oceana County as of 2018.

Tourism
The Electric Forest Festival (formerly the Rothbury Music Festival) has been held annually in Rothbury, Michigan since 2008, except 2020 and 2021, due to COVID.

Camping is a popular summer activity in Oceana County. Areas on the lakeshore such as Silver Lake, Pentwater, and Stony Lake are popular tourist sites.

Government
Oceana County has largely voted Republican through the years. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 82% (28 of 34) of the national elections through 2020.

Oceana County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting attorney: Joseph J. Bizon
 * Sheriff: Craig Mast
 * County administrator: Robert J. Sobie, Ph.D.
 * Animal control: Michael Garcia
 * Building inspector: Randy Miller
 * County clerk: Amy L. Anderson
 * Drain commissioner: Michelle Martin
 * Economic alliance: Ms. Jodi Nichols
 * Emergency management: James C. Duram
 * Equalization: Edward K. VanderVries, MMAO IV, PPE
 * Medical examiner: Dr. Rudy Ochs DO
 * Register of deeds: Richard A. Hodges
 * County treasurer: Mary Lou Phillips

(information as of May 2021)

Education
The West Shore Educational Service District, based in Ludington, services the districts in the county along with those of Mason and Lake counties. The intermediate school district offers regional special education and general education services, as well as technical career programs for its students.

Oceana County is served by the following regular public school districts:


 * Hart Public School District
 * Pentwater Public School District
 * Shelby Public Schools
 * Walkerville Public Schools

Oceana County has the following private schools:
 * New Era Christian School
 * Oceana Christian School (Baptist)

City

 * Hart (county seat)

Villages

 * Hesperia (partially)
 * New Era
 * Pentwater
 * Rothbury
 * Shelby
 * Walkerville

Census-designated place

 * Mears

Unincorporated communities

 * Bird
 * Collinsville
 * Corbin's Mill
 * Cranston
 * Crystal Valley
 * Elbridge
 * Elmwood
 * Elwood
 * Ferry
 * Flower Creek
 * Forest City
 * Gale
 * Silver Lake
 * Stony Lake

Townships













 * Benona Township
 * Claybanks Township
 * Colfax Township
 * Crystal Township
 * Elbridge Township
 * Ferry Township
 * Golden Township
 * Grant Township
 * Greenwood Township
 * Hart Township
 * Leavitt Township
 * Newfield Township
 * Otto Township
 * Pentwater Township
 * Shelby Township
 * Weare Township