Three Oaks is a village in Three Oaks Township, Berrien County, Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population of the village was 1,370.
The village is located in the southwestern part of Michigan. It is about 5 miles from the shoreline of Lake Michigan and less than 2 miles from the Indiana state line along US 12.
History
The village was first settled by Henry Chamberlain in 1850 and became a village in 1867. It was originally called Chamberlain's Siding but was later renamed Three Oaks. The oak trees were used as a landmark by train engineers. None of the original three oak trees remain today; the last one was removed in the early 1900s.
Three Oaks' pride in its hometown is shown during its Flag Day Celebration in June. The celebration and parade are said to be the largest in the country.
"Apple Cider Century" is a bicycle ride with options for 15, 25, 37, 50, 62, 75, or 100 miles around Three Oaks. It was started by the Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Club in 1974. More than 6,000 riders join each year. The event takes place on the last Sunday of September.
Three Oaks celebrated the 100th anniversary of receiving the Dewey Cannon during its Flag Day Festival from June 9–11, 2000. A historical marker at Dewey Cannon Park states: "This cannon, captured during the Spanish–American War by Admiral Dewey, was given to Three Oaks after its citizens raised $1,400 for a memorial to the men of the battleship Maine. This was the largest contribution per person of any community in the nation. A local newspaper proudly wrote, 'Three Oaks Against the World.' This park was dedicated on October 17, 1899, by President William McKinley and others. The cannon was presented on June 28, 1900. Helen Miller Gould, known as the Spanish–American War's 'Florence Nightingale,' was the guest of honor. Thousands attended both events." The Dewey Cannon, still on display in the park, has the engraved symbol of Queen Isabella II of Spain.
The Christmas movie Prancer, released in 1989, was filmed mostly in Three Oaks (other scenes were filmed in nearby LaPorte, Indiana). A sequel, Prancer Returns, was made in 2001 (filmed in Uxbridge, Ontario), in which a boy visits Three Oaks to learn about the "Prancer incident."
Three Oaks is also home to the Warren Featherbone Factory, built over 100 years ago by Edward Kirk Warren. The factory stripped turkey feathers to make stiffeners for women's clothing, such as corsets, replacing whalebone material. This innovation was welcomed by the garment industry in the late 1800s. The factory still stands today and now houses the Journeyman Distillery, Acorn Theater, and Featherbone Factory.
A financial crisis happened in 2008 after the village spent $350,000 on a five-block street project. This and other costs over the previous four years left Three Oaks with a debt of about $600,000 (equal to one year’s budget) by April 2008. The Village President, Clerk, and a councilman resigned, while two councilmen did not seek re-election. On November 4, 2008, new village councilors were elected. The village faced bankruptcy in early December 2008 due to poor financial decisions. The State of Michigan took control of the village’s finances and appointed Emergency Financial Manager Pam Amato on December 17, 2008. Amato managed village operations and helped the new council create a five-year plan to eliminate the debt. On April 29, 2009, Amato laid off all officers except the chief of police. The officers were later rehired. An audit later found that the Downtown Development Authority had received extra funds meant for the school district, leading to a recommendation to disband it. Amato ended her role as emergency manager on December 4, 2009. On February 10, 2010, the Village of Three Oaks hired Patrick Yoder as its first Village Manager.
Geography
The United States Census Bureau reports that the village has a total area of 0.99 square miles (2.56 km), all of which is land.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the village had 1,622 people, 678 households, and 422 families. The population density was 1,638.4 people per square mile (632.6 per square kilometer). There were 797 housing units, with an average density of 805.1 per square mile (310.9 per square kilometer). The racial composition of the village was 93.2% White, 1.1% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals made up 4.4% of the population.
Of the 678 households, 31.4% had children under 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples, 14.2% had a female householder without a husband, 4.6% had a male householder without a wife, and 37.8% were non-families. Thirty-one percent of households included only one person, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 people, and the average family size was 3.01 people.
The median age in the village was 39.3 years. Twenty-four point four percent of residents were under 18, 8.1% were between 18 and 24, 25.6% were aged 25 to 44, 28.5% were aged 45 to 64, and 13.4% were 65 or older. The gender distribution was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.
As of the 2000 census, the village had 1,829 people, 741 households, and 486 families. The population density was 1,861.4 people per square mile (718.7 per square kilometer). There were 800 housing units, with an average density of 814.2 per square mile (314.4 per square kilometer). The racial composition was 96.34% White, 0.93% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.66% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals made up 1.86% of the population.
Of the 741 households, 34.7% had children under 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples, 13.4% had a female householder without a husband, and 34.3% were non-families. Twenty-nine point three percent of households included only one person, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 people, and the average family size was 3.05 people.
The population was distributed as follows: 27.4% under 18, 9.2% aged 18 to 24, 29.4% aged 25 to 44, 21.9% aged 45 to 64, and 12.1% aged 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and older, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household was $34,120, and the median income for a family was $41,146. Males had a median income of $31,923, while females had a median income of $20,875. The per capita income was $16,361. Approximately 8.5% of families and 11.7% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under 18 and 7.7% of those aged 65 or older.
Media
Three Oaks was the made-up location for the radio and television show Young Doctor Malone, which aired from 1939 to 1960. The town of Three Oaks also served as the setting for the 1989 movie Prancer, and the town's buildings and outside areas were filmed there.
Notable people
- Al Benson, radio DJ
- Henry Chamberlain, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
- Kim Clark, stage director and political candidate
- Frederic G. Donner, former chairman and CEO of General Motors
- Robert Hellenga, novelist and short story writer
- Ron Jelinek, member of the Michigan Legislature
- Carlos T. Mock, physician, activist, and journalist
- Elton Rynearson, athlete and coach
- Joe Savoldi, professional wrestler, football player, and spy
- Edward Kirk Warren, industrialist and inventor
- Donald S. Whitehead, two-time lieutenant governor of Idaho