River Country is the name given to St. Joseph County, Michigan, an area of historic small towns including Three Rivers, Mendon, Centreville, Constantine, Sturgis, and Nottawa. Home to one of the largest Amish populations in the state, it is a place of meandering roads often frequented by horse-driven black buggies. The county’s towns, many of which are on the Michigan and National Registers of Historic Places, feature architecture that harkens back to the 1800s with styles ranging from Italianate and Greek Revival to Queen Anne and Colonial. This book chronicles River Country’s historic development, with insight into the businesses, personalities, activities, and architecture that have contributed to its remarkable charm and character.
