South Haven, Michigan

South Haven, Michigan
City
South Haven Lighthouse, seen in winter
Logo
Location in Van Buren County & Allegan County in the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 42°24′11″N 86°16′25″W / 42.40306°N 86.27361°W / 42.40306; -86.27361
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Counties	Van Buren, Allegan
Government
• Mayor	Annie Brown
Area [1]
• Total	3.50 sq mi (9.05 km2)
• Land	3.40 sq mi (8.82 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2)
Elevation	614 ft (187 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,964
• Density	1,164.51/sq mi (449.61/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	49090
Area code	269
FIPS code	26-74980[2]
GNIS feature ID	0638363[3]
Website	www.southhaven.org

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 Buren State Park and the Van Buren Trail State Park.

Noted botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey was born in South Haven. His childhood home was presented to the city in the 1930s, and is now a museum.