What Makes South Haven

Located on the Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan in Southwest Michigan, the South Haven area combines an idyllic setting with a strong community spirit to make it one of the region's most promising locales.

Situated, as it is between Chicago and Detroit, South Haven is located in the hub of numerous commercial and industrial centers in the nation's Midwest. In fact, one-third the population of the United States and Canada are within a few hours driving time.

Prior to its founding, South Haven was a trading area for members of the Potowatami tribe who stored birchbark in the sands along the beaches and referred to the area as Ni-Ko-Nong, beautiful sunsets. At various points in its 140 year-old history, South Haven has been an agricultural center, industrial hot spot, and tourist mecca. Today, South Haven boasts a unique mix of agriculture, tourism and manufacturing commerce as a formula for a growing economy. While the area is best known for its cultivated high-bush blueberries, other crops including apples, peaches, cucumbers and cranberries are grown in South Haven. Some of the things manufactured in South Haven include bulk pharmaceutical chemicals, injection molded automotive components, roll formed automotive components, hang-tabs and more.

South Haven is a community with a renewed commitment to success. In recent years the community has made its harbor one of the most scenic and sought after by boaters on Lake Michigan; seen the development of numerous new luxury bed & breakfasts, inns, hotel rooms and guest cottages; completed construction of a new middle school and began the process for other new schools; and upgraded its infrastructure with a commitment to cooperation between local units of government.

Indeed, South Haven has come along way and still offers hope for the future. Many thousands of individuals and families visit the community each year and some 18,000 have come and continue to call the area home. Look around and you will discover many of qualities South Haven offers as a place to visit, community to live, and location for business.

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