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South Haven

A city of 3,998 people in Michigan
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Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

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Around town

The places and views that make it South Haven

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Outdoors in South Haven

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Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

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Know South Haven

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About South Haven

City in Michigan, United States
1869Established
3,964Population
3.5 sq miArea
614 ftElevation

South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 3,964 at the 2020 census. Because of its position on Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Black River, South Haven has always been a port city. During settlement, major ship lines stopped there, both passenger and freight. In the early 1900s South Haven became a resort town, sometimes referred to as "The Catskills of the Midwest." South Haven is a major regional tourist draw because of its recreational harbor and beaches. It is the western terminus of the Kal-Haven Trail, popular with bicyclists and snowmobilers. Nearby are Van …

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code49090
Area code269
Living in South Haven

Safety in South Haven

D−

Safety Grade D-

South Haven reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000
South Haven 5.5
Michigan 4.3
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
South Haven 61.3
Michigan 13
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in South Haven

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About one in 4 of South Haven’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Kalamazoo (5%), South Haven (4%) and Holland (3%). Half commute less than 24 miles.

Kalamazoo
5%
South Haven
4%
Holland
3%
Covert
3%
Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in South Haven →

Health in South Haven

C

Health Grade C

Healthier than 33% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Michigan

5better than MI·10worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Bronson South Haven HospitalSouth Haven · 0.8 mi · ER
Intercare BangorBangor · 10 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthNo shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for South Haven · CMS · HRSAHealth in South Haven →

Natural hazards in South Haven

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in South Haven →

Climate in South Haven

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South Haven has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 109 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

35° / 23°Winter
56° / 38°Spring
79° / 61°Summer
61° / 45°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in South Haven →

Schools in South Haven

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C+

School Grade C+

The public schools South Haven’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 61% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how South Haven’s schools compare in MI →
DistrictSouth Haven Public SchoolsSchools6

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.

South Haven’s library

Library details →
South Haven Memorial Library314 Broadway Street · part of South Haven Memorial Library
E-books54 hrs a week
IMLS Public Libraries Survey · FY2024South Haven Memorial Library →
Famous people from South HavenWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in South Haven.Meet them →

Where South Haven is

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Locator map of South Haven
Wikimedia Commons · Map: Arkyan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Location map

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How things work in South Haven

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01