The Formation of Barry County-Barry County was formed by act of the Territorial legislature of April 29, 1829, along with a number of other counties in the state, taking their names from men prominent in national affairs at the time,-Jackson, Berrien, Cass, Calhoun, Van Buren, Barry, Eaton, Ingham and Livingston, with Barry County taking its name from William T. Barry, Postmaster General of the United States under President Jackson.

County Seat: Hastings

Origin of Name: Named for the Hon. William T. Barry, Postmaster General under President Andrew Jackson

Set Off: 1829

Organized: 1839

Population in 1990: 50,057

Barry County is located in central/southwestern Michigan . It was named after President Andrew Jackson's Postmaster, General William T. Barry. Barry County was one of the last counties organized in the southern tier of the Lower Peninsula . The first white settlers arrived here in 1831. At that time, the forest land and rolling countryside was considered to be a favorite hunting ground among the Indians, who traveled by canoe on Lake Michigan from as far away as the Upper Peninsula . The white settlers and the Indians co-existed peaceably.

Today Barry County is an area of extensive darying and farming, with crops including corn for grain, winter wheat, barley, oats and hay. Some manufacturing also exists. The main geographical feature for Barry County are its many lakes, which can be found by taking just about any road out of Hastings . Gun Lake , the largest inland lake in Southern Michigan , provides plenty of opportunity for all types of recreational activities The 15,000 acre Barry State Game Area offers excellent hunting. Historical sites of interest include the Courthouse in Hastings and the 1880's Striker House, Hastings ' most lavish Queen Anne style residence. Other points of interest include the Bowen's Mills Historical site and the dam on the Thornapple River in Middleville.

Hastings is located in central/northern Barry County at the junctions of M-43 and M-37. It is the county seat as well as the county's largest city. The area, originally inhabited by the Ojibway , Potawatomi and Ottawa , because of its superb hunting, was eventually visited by white settlers in the early 1830's. Eurotas P. Hastings became the first owner of land here in 1836. He sold his plot to a development firm on the County Commission 's promise that his plot would become the county seat. This happened in 1841, after the developers built saw and grist mills to attract settlers. Located on the Thornapple River , this community was an ideal spot for distributing lumber.

Today, Hastings has grown into a major urban area with many diversified types of businesses. It also shares significant commuter traffic to the major metropolitan areas of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo . The downtown district, including the elaborately built turn of the century courthouse, has retained a distinct Victorian architectural atmosphere, with many unique shops and restaurants. If you're looking for a change, Hastings is a great place to come for shopping or for a night out on the town. C'mon down and check it out for yourself!

Barry County Websites and Locations of Interest

http://www.multimag.com/city/mi/hastings/

http://multimag.com/county/mi/barry/

http://www.lib.cmich.edu/clarke/lhbbarry.htm

http://www.vintage-ebooks.com/barry_county_michigan_history.htm