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Named by noted Michigan geographer and ethnologist Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, Allegan County was set off in 1831 and organized in 1835. Extensive lumbering by early pioneers cleared the way for farm production, still a significant part of the economy along with tourism and light industry. Allegan County is the 18th largest county with 24 townships and is a popular destination for summer and winter outdoor activities, wine tasting and fruit orchards.
Allegan County is located in the southwest region of the Michigan’s lower peninsula and shares its north, east and south boundaries with Ottawa, Kent, Barry Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties and 25 miles of Lake Michigan coastline.
Selected general works
Johnson, Crisfield et al.
History of Allegan and Barry counties, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers. 1880.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 572 .A3 H6 1880
Thomas, Henry F.
Memories: a brief history of early life in Gun Plains: as sketched by Sophia Bush in her 88th year. 1908.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 574 .G85 B88 1908a
Humphrys, C. R.
Allegan County lake inventory. 1962.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N Folio GB 1625 .M5 A45 1962
Cook, Darius B.
Six months among Indians, wolves and other wild animals, in the forests of Allegan county, Mich.: in the winter of 1839 and 1840. Interesting stories of forest life. The exploits of Tecumseh and other chiefs, their cruelty to captives. How Tecumseh was killed and who killed him. True Indian stories of the war of 1812-13. 1889.
LIB OF MICH RARE MICH 4N E 85 .C77 1889
Monteith, Ruth Robbins.
Census of …, Allegan County, Michigan. 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 572 .A3 M6* (*See catalog for full call numbers)
Selected newspapers
Otsego.
Allegan County record
1869-1871.
LIB OF MICH MICROFILM NEWSPAPERS 2S
Otsego.
The weekly union
1875-1888.
LIB OF MICH MICROFILM NEWSPAPERS 2S
Wayland.
The Wayland globe
1893-1936, 1976, 1987.
LIB OF MICH MICROFILM NEWSPAPERS 2S
Allegan.
The Allegan County news
1966-1985, 1990-1999.
LIB OF MICH MICROFILM NEWSPAPERS 2S
Saugatuck.
The Saugatuck commercial
1870-1902.
LIB OF MICH MICROFILM NEWSPAPERS 2S
Selected plats, maps, and atlases
Rockford Map Publishers.
Atlas & plat book, Allegan County, Michigan. 1958-1996 (various years).
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N G 1413.A5 R65
Lane, Kit, ed.
Allegan County historical atlas and gazetteer. 1998.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N G 1413 .A5 A55 1998
Boyd, Gregory A.
Family maps of Allegan County, Michigan. 2008.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 572.A3 B69 2008
Rockford Map Publishers.
Farm plat book with index to owners, Allegan County, Michigan.1958, 1962.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N G 1413.A5 R65
Kace Publishing Company.
Illustrated atlas of Allegan County, Mich.: compiled … official records and local inspection. 1895.
LIB OF MICH RARE 4N Folio G 1413.A5 K3 1895
Selected records, indexes, and transcriptions
Herrick Public Library.
Index of obituaries from the Holland evening sentinel, 1912 - 1974. 1984.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 574 .H6 I5 1984
Castle, Amelia B.
Index to 1873 Allegan County, Michigan land owners. 1995.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 572 .A3 C37 1995
Monteith, Ruth Robbins.
Genealogical records, Allegan County, Michigan. 1952.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 572 .A3 M62 1952, vol. 1-3
Jansen, Amy Slotman.
The cemeteries of Overisel Township, Allegan County. 1980.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N F 574 .O847 C4z
Wayland Area Genealogy Society.
Master index to 1864 Allegan County, Mich. atlas. 1991.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N G 1413 .A5 M3 1991
Selected government publications
Allegan County. Geographic Information Services Department.
Allegan County heritage trail. 2003.
LIB OF MICH FLATFILE 2N G 4113 .A5E635 2003 .A45
Michigan Dept of Natural Resources.
Allegan County [map]. 1969.
LIB OF MICH MICH DOCS FLATFILE 2N G 4113 .A5 1969 .M53
Michigan Dept. of Health.
Return of marriages recorded in the county o…f Allegan. 1867-1925.
LIB OF MICH MICROFILM 2S F 565 .I54 1867A
Michigan Dept. of Health.
Return of deaths recorded in the county of… Allegan. 1867-1925.
LIB OF MICH MICROFILM 2S F 565 .I53 1868
Allegan County.
Official directory of public officials, Allegan County, Michigan: county seat, Allegan. 1964-1973.
LIB OF MICH MICHIGAN 2N JS 451 .M59 A45
Updated 11/16/2022