Situated in the southwestern portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, the Village of Cassopolis was designed to be the seat of Cass County, so its position in the center of the county was no accident.
Largely in the southeastern corner of LaGrange Township, a portion of the village extends east into Penn Township. The village is bordered by Jefferson Township on the south, while Calvin Township is nearby to the southeast.
Cassopolis is a traditional Midwestern small town with an older, urban core surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Most of the county offices, the courthouse, and fairgrounds are in Cassopolis. The Cassopolis Public School District provides a K-12 curriculum for the village and surrounding area, and the Cass District Library's main branch is in Cassopolis, including its Local History branch.
The chief routes through the village are M-60 and M-62. Vandalia is 5.6 miles east, Dowagiac is 8.1 miles northwest, Edwardsburg is 9.7 miles south-southwest, and Niles is 15.4 miles southwest of Cassopolis.
Stone Lake, a 148-acre body of water in the southwestern part of the village, is 56-feet deep at its deepest point, and popular for bluegill and northern pike fishing. Southeast of the village is Diamond Lake, a 1,020-acre lake, 64-feet deep at its deepest point, in which anglers can catch bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Several smaller lakes are in the nearby surrounding area.
Abram Tietsort, Jr. and his family, the first European-American settlers, came from Ohio in 1829, the same year that Cass County and the county seat were organized the State Legislature, and named for Territorial Governor Lewis Cass.
Although it had already been designated the county seat, the village was platted in 1831 and recorded by its proprietors, Oliver Johnson, Ephraim McCleary, Alexander H. Redfield, Elias B. Sherman, and Abram Tietsort. On August 17, 1832, a post office was established, with Mr. Redfield as the first postmaster. Cassopolis was incorporated as a village in 1863. Originally spelled Cassapolis, its first newspaper, the National Democrat, changed it to Cassopolis in 1865.
Cassopolis was a transit point on the Underground Railroad, in which anti-slavery sympathizers assisted refugee slaves from the Southern States to gain freedom in the North. Due to the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law, several refugees continued through Michigan to Canada, where they would not be deported to the South, although many chose to settle in various parts of Michigan, including Cass County.
The focus of this guide is on the Village of Cassopolis, Michigan. Appropriate resources include websites representing the village itself, or businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, and events within the village.
Categories
Faith & Spirituality |
Recommended Resources
The Cass County Fairgrounds hosts the annual county fair, which differs somewhat from year to year, but generally includes a number of competitions, such as truck pulls, tractor pulls, horse pulls, demolition derbies, monster trucks, and others, including agricultural competitions and children’s events, raffles, and quilting competitions. Other events include pageants, livestock exhibitions. Sponsors are acknowledged, and sponsorship opportunities are featured.
http://www.mycasscountyfair.com/
Situated along M-62, the Cassopolis, Michigan clinic offers a full array of dental services, including crowns and bridges, cosmetic fillings, whitening, sealants, cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, and others, which are highlighted here, along with new patient forms, a map and directions to the office. The clinic’s hours of operation are posted, its appointment policies are stated, and payment, financing, and insurance options are discussed. Patient reviews are included.
https://cassopolisdentist.com/
Headquartered in Cassopolis, Michigan, the K-12 public school district operates Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School, Cassopolis Middle School, Sam Adams Elementary School, and the Adult/Alternative Education Center, each of which is featured here, with addresses, hours of operation, and telephone and fax numbers. Included here are a district calendar, policy information, a parent-teacher guide, registration information, and various staff resources.
http://www.cassopolis.k12.mi.us/
Based in Cassopolis, Community Mills serves all of southwest Michigan. Family-owned for several years, the full-service agricultural center includes a retail store that stocks products for gardeners, small animal owners, outdoor enthusiasts, and casual shoppers looking for durable apparel for men, women, and children. The company also offers a range of services that include custom application, soil testing, and delivery of feed, fertilizer, and chemicals.
https://www.commills.com/
The local florist serves Cassopolis, Michigan, and the surrounding area, delivering flowers locally or anywhere in the world, including daily delivery service to local hospitals and funeral homes. Its location, hours of operation, contacts, local delivery areas, payment options, and customer reviews are posted to the site, which includes an online catalog of products, which may be ordered through the site. Custom orders can also be made, and best-sellers are highlighted.
https://www.villagefloralcassopolis.com/
Located about thirty-five miles northeast of South Bend, and part of the South Bend Metropolitan Statistical Area for census purposes, the village is the county seat for Cass County. The official municipal website presents a profile of the village, and posts village rules and ordinances, permit information and applications, minutes of council meetings, workshops, and special meetings, the village master plan, and an overview of its programs and services.
https://cassopolis-mi.us/
