St. Joesph and Benton Harbor Timeline by

2018 - Benton Harbor was issued under a state advisory for having high levels of lead in the water lines (HL)

hlloyd31 — 2023-11-01 14:25:01 UTC

1911 - Whirlpool Corporation was started in Benton Harbor (HL)

hlloyd31 — 2023-11-01 14:31:24 UTC

2022 - Census (SP)

sprice222 — 2023-11-01 14:34:55 UTC

Benton Harbor - 8,943

St. Joseph - 7,768

1880 - Census (HL)

hlloyd31 — 2023-11-01 14:39:37 UTC

Benton Harbor - 1,230

St. Joseph - 2,603

1950 - Census (HL)

hlloyd31 — 2023-11-01 14:41:41 UTC

Benton Harbor - 18,769

St. Joseph - 10,223

2021 - Median Household Income (HL)

hlloyd31 — 2023-11-01 14:43:55 UTC

Benton Harbor - $24,549

St. Joesph - $62,156

2003- Census Divide (MJ)

mjames21_ — 2023-11-01 14:45:47 UTC

Benton Harbor:

race: 6% white/94% black racial mix

median income: $17,471

St. Joseph:

race: 90% white/ 5% black racial mix

median income: $37,032

1669 - St. Joesph Construction of Fort Miami (SP)

sprice222 — 2023-11-01 14:45:54 UTC

1828 - The Carey Mission Treaty (SP) (MJ)

sprice222 — 2023-11-01 14:47:29 UTC

Originally declined due to the U.S. policy of Indian Removal in 1827. Established with the Potawatomi Tribe on the St. Joseph River in 1828.

1785 - First permanent Settler in St. Joseph - William Burnett - established trading post(SP)

sprice222 — 2023-11-01 14:52:47 UTC

The area was mostly populated by Native Americans, trappers, and soldiers until 1785 when William Burnett established a trading post and became the first permanent settler.

https://www.sjcity.com/community/page/history

1860 - Benton Harbor - founded as "Brunson Harbor" (SP)

sprice222 — 2023-11-01 14:55:31 UTC

1849 - First Home Built

1865 - Renamed Benton Harbor

1891- Benton Harbor incorporated as a city (MJ)

mjames21_ — 2023-11-01 14:55:44 UTC

1891- St. Joseph incorporated as a city (MJ)

mjames21_ — 2023-11-01 14:56:59 UTC

2003-Census (MJ)

mjames21_ — 2023-11-01 15:03:53 UTC

Benton Harbor: 11,182

St. Joseph: 8,789

1951- Berrien County Jail was built (MJ)

mjames21_ — 2023-11-01 15:08:57 UTC

Located in St. Joseph, MI

1906 - present Blossomtime Festival in celebration of the Agricultural Industry (SP)

sprice222 — 2023-11-01 15:12:12 UTC

Fruit growing and processing fruit is/was a large industry in the area.

Annual festival

The Blossomtime Festival is the oldest and largest multi-community Festival in the state of Michigan.

1910- Census (MJ)

mjames21_ — 2023-11-01 15:12:31 UTC

Benton Harbor- 9,185

St. Joseph- 5,936