Southwest Region, MI Land for Sale

The Southwest region of Michigan is located in the southwestern part of the state's Lower Peninsula. The region borders Lake Michigan to the west. Large cities in the area are Kalamazoo and Portage, with several well- known port cities, such as New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor and South Haven. The area is best known for its millions of fruit trees grown there. There are hundreds of inland lakes and rivers where visitors can fish, swim, climb dunes, boat or hike. There are also a number of golf courses in this region.

Jackson County is located in the eastern part of this region. It was named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. The only city in this county is Jackson, which is also the county seat, but there are a large number of smaller villages and townships. Much of the countryside consists of rolling farmland, with many lakes, with state forest land covering much of the northeast corner of the county. The Grand River and Kalamazoo River run through Jackson County. Some highlights of the county are Falling Waters Trail, Sparks Parks and The Cascades, one of the larger parks in the county, Ella Sharp Park, along the banks of the southwest branch of the Grand River, Grand River Nature Preserve, MacCready Reserve, Portage Lake County Park, Vandercook Lake County Park and Waterloo State Recreation Area. Coal and sandstone mining are major industries, and in the outlying areas, farms produce corn, oats, onions and potatoes.

Lenawee County is located in the southeastern corner of this region, and borders Indiana to the south. Its name comes from a Shawnee word meaning "Indian." The largest city is Adrian, which is also the county seat. Other cities in this county are Hudson, Morenci and Tecumseh, with other well-known towns being Blissfield, Clinton and Irish Hills. As with much of the region, there are many lakes, parks and trails available for outdoor activities. There are also museums, galleries, fairs and festivals throughout the county. Other attractions include Michigan International Speedway, Hidden Lakes Gardens, Hayes State Park and Cambridge Junction historical area. The county enjoys a diverse economy, where both agriculture and industry remain strong.

Berrien County is located in the southwest corner of the Southwest region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It is bordered by Lake Michigan to the west and Indiana to the south. The largest cities are Benton Harbor and Niles and St. Joseph is the county seat. The county is the 12th largest population in the state. The St. Joseph River flows north and west through the county, flowing into Lake Michigan at St. Joseph. The Galien River and its tributaries are in the southwest of the county. Paw Paw Lake and the Paw Paw River, located in the northern part of the county, flows into the St. Joseph River before it enters Lake Michigan. There are a number of state parks in Berrien County, which include Grand Mere State Park, Warren Dunes State Park and Warren Woods State Park. There are also several other county and city parks, including several resorts and beach parks. There are 11 golf courses in the county and nearly 14 wineries and vineyards. In addition to tourism because of the county's beautiful natural features, it also has a rich soil for farming, and is one of the nation's leading producers of fruit.