Allegan

Formed March 2, 1831 (24^th county)

Allegan County (120,499), Allegan (5,219)

The tan brick and concrete building is the 1961 Modern courthouse in Allegan.  It is sited on Hubbard Street between Chestnut and Walnut streets.  The courthouse is one block east of Michigan State Highway 89.  There was a classic 1888 courthouse earlier.  Ralph S. Gerganoff is the current structure’s architect.  The building was enlarged in 1994.  Allegan County was established on March 2, 1831 from parts of Barry County and Native American Territory as the 24^th county.  Allegan City has always been the county seat.  The county and county seat are named for the Native American tribe. 

Allegan County government consists of a sheriff, an administer, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two Circuit Court Judges, Two District Court Judges, One Probate Court Judge and court clerk serve Allegan County (judicial.) Allegan County is in southwest Michigan on Lake Michigan.  Grand Rapids, Michigan is northeast of the county.  The county center is 5.9 miles Northwest of Allegan.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Ottawa, Kent, Barry, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren counties and Illinois and Wisconsin. 

The area of the county is 1833 square miles.  It is 14 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 18 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 65.7 persons per square mile making it 37 out of 83 in the state.  Allegan County has 25.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 196 goes north to south in the county from Ottawa County to Van Buren County.  United States Highway 31 enters from Ottawa County, north, and joins Interstate Highway 196 into Van Buren County.  United States Highway 131 travels north to south from Kent County to Kalamazoo County.  The county shape is overall rectangular.  Allegan City is south and east of center in the county.  Allegan is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 4.3% of the county population.  The county and county seat are pronounced AL-E-GAN.  This county is in the Allegan Micropolitan Statistical Area.