Living in Niles, MIAt the southernmost tip of Michigan, on the banks of the St. Joseph River, the first settlers set up Fort St. Joseph and a trading post in 1691, later became known as Niles, Mich. Over the course of many years, the fort was conquered by four different groups of people—the British, the Native Americans, the Spanish and the Americans—earning Niles the nickname the “City of Four Flags.” The name Niles originated from Hezekiah Niles, editor of a Baltimore newspaper, the “Niles Register.” Niles was also once known as the “Gateway of Commerce and Settlement” for West America due to the fact that it was once a major trading area and passageway for those bound west. The original train station still exists today and has been a site in several movies like “Continental Divide” with John Belushi and “Midnight Run” with Robert DeNiro.
Niles has multiple schools. There are five elementary buildings, two junior highs, and one high school, Niles High School. The first school in the city opened in 1820 to provide the Potawatomi Indians the educational and religious support they desired from the government. Niles Community School System is a national award-winning system that offers children and young adults multiple chances to advance in life and grow successfully. Nearly 80 percent of high school graduates enter college. Lake Michigan College and Southwestern University provide plenty of opportunities for those seeking higher education.
The Dodge Brothers, founders of Dodge Car Company, were born and raised in Niles. In 1997 and 1999, Niles was the site of the U.S.C.A. National Canoe Races. Each year since 1997, an event called the National Dragon Boat Races has been held by Niles on the St. Joseph River. The Niles Haunted House Scream Park also attracts thrill-seekers while the annual Apple Festival and Hunter Ice Festival tantalize the taste buds and provide activities for everyone. | More Local Area InformationSquire Isaac Thompson built the first homestead in Berrien County in 1823. The county became official in 1831 and received its name from U.S. Senato... Read moreSaint Joseph County is located on the southernmost bend of the St. Joseph River in northern Indiana. The river dips down into Indiana from Michigan... Read moreBerrien Springs, Michigan, received its namesake from John M. Berrien, a U.S. Senator and Attorney General serving under President Andrew Jackson. I... Read morePrior to 1883, the region now known as Granger, Indiana, served as a depot for Lake Huron and Chicago Railroad. The only structures that existed a... Read moreSouth Bend, Indiana, is the fourth largest city in Indiana and the county seat of St. Joseph County. According to the 2006 census, the population wa... Read moreWith so much to offer its residents—a vibrant arts community, intriguing historic districts, and an array of attractions—South Bend is a great plac... Read moreThe city of South Bend is located along the St. Joseph River in North Central Indiana, approximately 10 miles south of the Michigan state line.... Read moreToday South Bend is a thriving city with a diverse population of around 105,000 people. It continues to be the seat of county government, as well a... Read moreA Cass County village, Edwardsburg, Mich., provides a country setting in a quiet environment. This small community is located just northeast of Sout... Read moreCass County, Michigan, was established in 1828 during the presidency of Andrew Jackson and named after Lewis Cass who served as territorial governo... Read moreThe “Grand Old City” of southwestern Michigan, Dowagiac, located in Cass County, was named after the Native American word meaning “foraging ground.... Read moreMishawaka, Indiana, established in 1899, is the birthplace of the Hummer (produced by AM General) and home to approximately 49,000 people. The city’... Read moreThe first settlers of Cassopolis were the Putnams, a small family from Indiana who took up residence in October of 1825. Their humble floorless hom... Read moreLocated in the heart of Amish Country, Elkhart, Indiana, is the birth place of Alka Seltzer and claims to have produced more patents than any othe... Read moreElkhart County, Indiana, offers a mix of urban and rural living with a population of nearly 200,000. The large Amish population contributes to th... Read moreOriginally populated by the Potawatami Indians, Van Buren County, Mich., is considered “Michigan’s Fruit Basket.” Sometime in the mid 1800s, settler... Read moreA small town in Elkhart County, Bristol was founded by European settlers approximately 200 years ago. Today, Bristol looks forward to the future wit... Read moreWith an estimated population of 31,882 in 2006, Goshen, Indiana, is the county seat of Elkhart County. The neighborly, service-oriented environment... Read moreNestled in northeastern Elkhart County, Middlebury covers approximately 100 square miles of scenic, semi-rural landscape. The large Amish an... Read moreIn 1840 Three Rivers, Mich., was named for the three rivers—Rocky, Portage and St. Joseph River—that flow together to become one. In 1895, th... Read more |
