Watervliet, Michigan
Watervliet: Township in Berrien County, Michigan
About
Watervliet is a township located in the county of Berrien in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population at the 2010 census was 3,102 and a population density of 83 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 3,084 inhabitants.
Watervliet is a small, quiet city in northeastern Berrien County. It’s known for its farmland, which is used to grow corn and wheat.
The name Watervliet comes from the Dutch for “where the waters meet” and was named by early settlers who were impressed with the way the three waterways—the Cass, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph rivers—met at this spot.
Watervliet is located about 20 miles (32 km) north of St. Joseph and about 34 miles (55 km) south of Kalamazoo. It is bounded on all sides by townships of Berrien County: to the north by Benton Charter Township; to the east by Bangor Charter Township; to the south by Bangor Township; and to the west by Burr Oak Charter Township. It is one of only a few municipalities in Michigan that borders two other townships or cities with its own municipal boundaries.
The village is situated on land that was once part of a grant given by Colonial Governor Lewis Cass to Samuel Lewis in 1827. Lewis sold this land to Hiram Vrooman who built a farmhouse there in 1832. In 1837 he sold the house and surrounding land to James Van Cleve who named it "Meadowvale."
Watervliet is also home to many historic buildings that date back to the 19th century. The most notable of these are the historic courthouse (built in 1868), Keith House (built in 1869), and the old City Hall building (built in 1877).
Quick Facts about Watervliet
| Population : | 3,084 (2020) |
| Country : | United States of America |
| State : | Michigan (United States) |
| County : | Berrien County |
| Postal code : | 49098 |
| Area : | 37.5 km2 |
| Altitude : | 656 feet / 200 meters |
| Time Zone : | America/Detroit |
| Local time : | 20:57:01 (21st December 2024) |
| Density : | 82 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth : | -0.58% (2010-2020) |
Geography
Watervliet is located at 42°11'12"N 86°15'38"W (42.1867100, -86.2605800).
Watervliet map
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Demographics
According to census records, the population of Watervliet decreased by 0.58% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
| 2010 | 3,102 | - | census |
| 2011 | 3,128 | 0.83% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 3,132 | 0.13% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 3,125 | -0.22% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 3,124 | -0.03% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 3,106 | -0.58% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 3,098 | -0.26% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 3,099 | 0.03% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 3,096 | -0.1% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 3,090 | -0.19% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 3,084 | -0.19% | estimation process |
Schools in Watervliet
College & universities near Watervliet, MI
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 170620 | Lake Michigan College | Benton Harbor (MI) | 49022-1899 |
| 172495 | Twin City Beauty College | Saint Joseph (MI) | 49085 |
| 168740 | Andrews University | Berrien Springs (MI) | 49104 |
| 172307 | Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac (MI) | 49047-9793 |
| 170541 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo (MI) | 49003-4070 |
Stations (17)
Amtrak & bus stations near Watervliet, MI
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAM | Bangor | 541 Railroad St. | RAIL |
| SJM | St. Joseph | 410 1/2 Vine Street | RAIL |
| DOA | Dowagiac station | 200 Depot Drive | RAIL |
| NLS | Niles station | 598 Dey St. | RAIL |
| KAL | Kalamazoo Transportation Center | 459 North Burdick St. | RAIL |
Post offices near Watervliet
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Watervl Post Office | Watervliet (MI) | 49098 |
Other places with the same name (2)
- Watervliet , New York city in New York, USA with a population of 9,807 people.
Other cities in Berrien County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Berrien County , MI. (more)
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Niles | 13,758 | City in Berrien and Cass counties of Michigan |
| Benton Harbor | 9,692 | City in Michigan |
| Saint Joseph | 8,290 | City in and county seat of Berrien County, Michigan |
| Fair Plain | 7,631 | Unincorporated community in Michigan |
| Benton Heights | 4,084 | Unincorporated community in Michigan |
| Buchanan | 3,527 | City in Berrien County, Michigan, United Staes |
| Paw Paw Lake | 3,511 | Unincorporated community in Michigan |
| Livingston | 2,599 | Township in Otsego County, Michigan |
| Bertrand | 2,599 | Township in Berrien County, Michigan |
| Bridgman | 2,200 | City in Berrien County, Michigan, United States of America |
| Sodus | 1,947 | Township in Berrien County, Michigan |
| New Buffalo | 1,865 | City in Berrien County, Michigan, United States |
| Berrien Springs | 1,718 | City in Berrien County, Michigan, United States of America |
| Three Oaks | 1,540 | Township in Berrien County, Michigan |
| Coloma | 1,402 | City in Berrien County, Michigan, United States of America |
| Lake Michigan Beach | 1,216 | Unincorporated community in Michigan |
Distance to Other Cities
Watervliet distances to largest Michigan cities
