The village of Stevensville is in Lincoln Township, Berrien County, in the southwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Lake Michigan is less than a mile away.
I-94 runs roughly north-south through the western part of the village, while Red Arrow Highway parallels it to the east. Other routes to and from Stevensville include Stevensville-Baroda Road, John Beers Road, Jericho Road, Ridge Road, and Demorrow Road, which forms the village's eastern boundary.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Stevensville include Shoreham, Baroda, Bridgman, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Berrien Springs, Galien, Eau Claire, Three Oaks, Coloma, Buchanan, Watervliet, New Buffalo, Niles, Hartford, Grand Beach, and Michiana, while the unincorporated communities of Hollywood and Buckhorn are within ten miles.
The village is named for Thomas L. Stevens, who purchased 160 acres just south of St. Joseph in 1869. He contributed a portion of his land to the Chicago and West Michigan Lake Shore (Pere Marquette) Railroad in exchange for having a railroad depot established there. Operating between New Buffalo and St. Joseph, the line transported fruit, the area's largest industry, which greatly enhanced the community's economy.
In 1870, Mr. Stevens laid out a village plat, which was recorded at the Berrien County Court House in Berrien Springs on April 3, 1872, and the village was named for him. Later, A.D. Brown platted an additional area to the village. A post office was established on May 2, 1872, with James Dunham as postmaster. Stevensville was incorporated as a village in 1893.
In 1869, John S. Beers came to Berrien County from New Jersey to become a fruit farmer. A few years later, he married Eliza Jane Hess, daughter of Drs. Hiram and Matilda Hess, and the couple settled in Stevensville. When his crop failed, he enrolled in medical school. After graduation, he returned to Stevensville and set up a medical practice, eventually moving to the farm of Dr. Matilda Hess, who was widowed by then. The farm was along what is now known as John Beers Road.
By 1878, Stevensville has a gristmill, a hotel, a few stores, and other commercial businesses, as well as a couple of churches and a few dozen homes.
In the early part of the 20th century, Stevensville experienced two large fires, both of which nearly destroyed the village. On the strength of its importance to surrounding agricultural industries, it was quickly rebuilt.
The Stevensville area has a long history of growing cranberries, particularly in the bogs along the Grand Mere Lakes. Until 1933, a large shed on the northwest corner of John Beers Road and St. Joseph Avenue was used for cranberry packing, storage, and loading onto railcars. Today, cranberries still grow wild in Grand Mere State Park, and cranberry themes are common in Stevensville.
Stevensville's peak population was 1,268 in 1980. Since then, it has decreased slightly to 1,147 in 2020.
The total land area of Stevensville is 665 acres, of which nearly 200 acres are wooded, much of this along the bluffs between Red Arrow Highway and I-94, along Hickory Creek, and surrounding homes along Wildwood Lane.
Stevensville receives police and fire services from Lincoln Charter Township, while EMS services are provided through Community Emergency Service, a municipal corporation owned by sixteen municipalities in Berrien and Van Buren counties. Its Medic 1 ambulance services are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services.
A K-12 public school curriculum is provided by the Lakeshore School District, which serves Stevensville and Baroda. Additionally, Christ Lutheran Church and St. Paul's Lutheran Church both offer a PK-8 curriculum.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is the village of Stevensville, Michigan. Online resources for the village, any other governmental entities within the village, and local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities, are appropriate for this category.
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Recommended Resources
Boy Scouts of America Troop 603
Sponsored by the Stevensville Methodist Church, Troop 603 meets at the church on Monday nights. Formed in 1959 as Troop 63, the troop was renumbered as Troop 103 in 1961, taking its current number with the merger of Wabano and the Southwestern Michigan Councils in 1974. Recent and upcoming scout activities are featured on the site, which includes a calendar of events, membership information, orientation packages, and information about its tent rental programs.
http://www.troop603.org/
Comfort Suites - Stevensville, St. Joseph
Located on West Marquette Woods Road in Stevensville, Michigan, the hotel offers one and two-bedroom suites, with various arrangements. The address and a map showing its location are set forth, and rooms may be booked online, through a mobile application, or by telephone. A list of amenities, guest reviews and ratings, and an overview of the Choice Hotels affiliated facility are provided, including photographs, prices, and an overview of its meeting accommodations.
https://www.choicehotels.com/michigan/stevensville/comfort-suites-hotels/mi240
Located on Advance Way in Stevensville, Michigan, Falcon Lakeside Manufacturing can provide team assistance in product design, manufacturing simulation, die design services, manufacturing services, quality control, and new technology integration, as well as turnkey solutions to engineering problems. Its capabilities, services, and examples of some of its finished projects are set forth. Its terms and conditions may be downloaded from the site, which includes contacts.
http://falconlakeside.com/
Full Circle Cafe & Expresso Bar
Locally owned and operated, the Stevensville, Michigan restaurant offers breakfast and lunch items, made-from-scratch baked goods, and a full-service coffee bar with locally roasted coffee and espresso drinks. Feature menu items are highlighted on its index page, and the full menu may be viewed on its site, along with an overview of its catering services, online ordering capabilities, and electronic gift cards, available for purchase online. Employee opportunities are published on the site.
https://www.fullcirclestevensville.com/
History of Stevensville, Michigan
The Southwest Michigan Business & Tourism Directory offers a history of the Berrien County village. Included are an account of the village's founding, its railroad heritage, early businesses and industries, and people who were significant to the history of the community, such as John S. Beers, for whom John Beers Road was named. Also included are several period photographs depicting scenes from the early days of the town, including businesses and people. Sponsorships are available.
http://www.swmidirectory.org/History_of_Stevensville.php
Headquartered in Stevensville, Michigan, the K-12 public school district operates Lakeshore High School, Lakeshore Middle School, Hollywood Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Stewart Elementary School, each of which is highlighted here, with addresses, administrative contacts, office hours, and policy information. The names of school board members, board meeting agendas and minutes, board policies, and FOIA guidelines are posted, along with various reports and plans.
https://www.lakeshoreschools.k12.mi.us/
Lincoln Township Public Library
Founded by the Stevensville Women's Club in 1938, the township library is now located on West John Beers Road in Stevensville, Michigan. The library's history, location, hours of operation, and contacts are posted on the site, which includes a calendar of events, an overview of its services and programs, and resources for adults, teens, and children. Patrons may access the library's digital catalog online, suggest items, pay fines, or make adjustments to account information.
https://lincolntownshiplibrary.org/
Specializing in Italian cuisine, Toni's is located along Ridge Road in Stevensville, Michigan. Its location, hours of operation, holiday closures, and contacts are published on the site, which highlights its features, dinner menu, wine and drink menu, and to-go menu, as well as its accommodations for preferred seating and private parties, including an introduction to its event coordinator. Regular customers are invited to join its email list for special announcements and other updates.
https://tosis.com/