Oceana County, Michigan

Oceana County
County
Oceana County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°40′N 86°32′W / 43.66°N 86.53°W / 43.66; -86.53
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	1840 (created) 1855 (organized)[1]
Seat	Hart
Largest city	Hart
Area
• Total	1,306 sq mi (3,380 km2)
• Land	512 sq mi (1,330 km2)
• Water	794 sq mi (2,060 km2)  61%
Population  (2020)
• Total	26,659
• Estimate  (2023)	26,981
• Density	20/sq mi (7.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	oceana.mi.us

Oceana County (/ˌoʊʃiˈænə/ OH-shee-AN-ə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 26,659.^[2] Its county seat and largest incorporated community is Hart.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5] The county was organized in 1855.^[1] 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;^[6] or for the book Oceana, written by English author James Harrington in 1656.^[1]

In the 1850s about 1400 Odawa were relocated here from Ionia County, Michigan by the federal government.^[7]

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.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,306 square miles (3,380 km²), of which 512 square miles (1,330 km²) is land and 794 square miles (2,060 km²) (61%) is water.^[8] The county is considered to be part of West Michigan. The county's western border is formed by Lake Michigan.

By land

• Mason County – north
• Lake County – northeast
• Newaygo County – east
• Muskegon County – south

By water

• Ozaukee County, Wisconsin – southwest
• Sheboygan County, Wisconsin – west

• Manistee National Forest (part)

• US 31 is a north–south freeway in the west of Oceana County. It passes Rothbury, New Era, Shelby, Mears, Hart, and Pentwater.
• 
  Bus. US 31 is a business spur serving downtown Hart.
• M-20 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.
• M-120 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.

• B-15 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.

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.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	496		—
1850	300		−39.5%
1860	1,816		505.3%
1870	7,222		297.7%
1880	11,699		62.0%
1890	15,698		34.2%
1900	16,644		6.0%
1910	18,379		10.4%
1920	15,601		−15.1%
1930	13,805		−11.5%
1940	14,812		7.3%
1950	16,105		8.7%
1960	16,547		2.7%
1970	17,984		8.7%
1980	22,002		22.3%
1990	22,454		2.1%
2000	26,873		19.7%
2010	26,570		−1.1%
2020	26,659		0.3%
2023 (est.)	26,981	[9]	1.2%
US Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census^[14] 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^[14] 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.

• Oceana County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.^[15]
• 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.^[16]

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.^[17]

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.

Oceana County has largely voted Republican through the years. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 83% (30 of 36) of the national elections through 2024.

United States presidential election results for Oceana County, Michigan^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,547	64.14%	5,085	34.16%	252	1.69%
2020	8,892	63.15%	4,944	35.11%	244	1.73%
2016	7,228	60.59%	3,973	33.30%	729	6.11%
2012	6,239	54.49%	5,063	44.22%	148	1.29%
2008	5,860	46.85%	6,405	51.20%	244	1.95%
2004	6,677	54.30%	5,441	44.25%	179	1.46%
2000	5,913	54.89%	4,597	42.68%	262	2.43%
1996	3,947	40.52%	4,419	45.36%	1,376	14.12%
1992	3,944	37.36%	3,846	36.43%	2,767	26.21%
1988	5,693	62.46%	3,356	36.82%	65	0.71%
1984	6,405	68.69%	2,865	30.72%	55	0.59%
1980	5,465	57.14%	3,386	35.40%	713	7.46%
1976	5,236	59.51%	3,427	38.95%	135	1.53%
1972	4,992	64.20%	2,525	32.47%	259	3.33%
1968	3,911	56.22%	2,152	30.93%	894	12.85%
1964	2,958	43.87%	3,773	55.95%	12	0.18%
1960	4,418	62.38%	2,651	37.43%	13	0.18%
1956	4,479	70.29%	1,868	29.32%	25	0.39%
1952	4,704	71.04%	1,799	27.17%	119	1.80%
1948	2,943	60.07%	1,714	34.99%	242	4.94%
1944	3,534	66.24%	1,738	32.58%	63	1.18%
1940	3,711	60.57%	2,379	38.83%	37	0.60%
1936	2,663	45.44%	2,902	49.51%	296	5.05%
1932	2,481	43.47%	3,051	53.46%	175	3.07%
1928	3,555	79.55%	871	19.49%	43	0.96%
1924	3,335	74.94%	650	14.61%	465	10.45%
1920	3,535	77.85%	785	17.29%	221	4.87%
1916	1,957	54.27%	1,387	38.46%	262	7.27%
1912	857	23.00%	796	21.36%	2,073	55.64%
1908	2,445	68.51%	799	22.39%	325	9.11%
1904	2,653	75.65%	591	16.85%	263	7.50%
1900	2,407	63.08%	1,199	31.42%	210	5.50%
1896	2,534	58.09%	1,637	37.53%	191	4.38%
1892	1,635	47.38%	1,416	41.03%	400	11.59%
1888	1,726	47.82%	1,426	39.51%	457	12.66%
1884	1,637	51.04%	1,213	37.82%	357	11.13%

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.

(information as of May 2021)^[19]

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.^[20]

Oceana County is served by the following regular public school districts:^[21]

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

Oceana County has the following private schools:^[22]

• New Era Christian School
• Oceana Christian School (Baptist) ^[23]

• Hart (county seat)

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

• Mears

• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Oceana County, Michigan
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Oceana County

• Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities (Paperback). Great Lakes Books Series. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6.

• Oceana County government

43°40′N 86°32′W / 43.66°N 86.53°W / 43.66; -86.53