Townapedia
NorthWatervlietRd-PawpawLakeOutlet-Bridge
NorthWatervlietRd-PawpawLakeOutlet-Bridge · Michigan State Highway Department, Public domain

Watervliet, Michigan

Watervliet is a city of 2,156 people in Berrien County, Michigan.

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Population2,156 +39.6% since 2019
Elevation646 ft 197 m
Land area1.2 sq mi
ZIP code49098
Nearest airportSouthwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH) 9 mi

Why visit Watervliet

Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 6 parks and trails, 3 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.

Highlights include North Watervliet Road – Paw Paw Lake Outlet Bridge, Paw Paw Lake Golf Course and Surfari Joe's Indoor Wilderness Water Park.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 20°F, and about 78 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Watervliet

Watervliet is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located in the northeastern part of the county, the population was 1,669 at the 2020 census. Mostly a rural farming community. The city is surrounded by Watervliet Charter Township but is administered autonomously. “Watervliet” means “flowing water” in Dutch, coming from “water” and “vliet” "Vliet" is a Dutch word for a minor streaming water, though it may refer to a city canal or a river that connects such flows.

From the Wikipedia article Watervliet, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks1

North Watervliet Road – Paw Paw Lake Outlet Bridge

Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi

Former bridge in Michigan, USA

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Parks, trails and playgrounds6

Paw Paw Lake Golf Course

Golf course · 1.3 mi

4548 Forest Beach Road, Watervliet

Open in Google Maps · +1 269 463 3831

Surfari Joe's Indoor Wilderness Water Park

Sports field and stadium · 0.6 mi

8258 Arnt Boulevard, Watervliet

Open in Google Maps · +1-269-463-7946

Flaherty Park

Park

Open in Google Maps

Forest Beach Park

Park · 1.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

Hayes Park

Park · 0.5 mi

Open in Google Maps

Restaurants and cafes3

Taco Bell

Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.6 mi

714 South Main Street, Watervliet

08:00-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 269-463-8264

Burger King

Fast food · Burger · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Chicken Coop

Fast food · Chicken, Fish · 0.5 mi

Open in Google Maps

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Where to stay2

Paw Paw River Campgrounds

Campground · 1.5 mi

5355 M-140, Watervliet

Open in Google Maps · +1-269-463-5454

Comfort Inn & Suites

Motel and hotel · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

History

In 1905, John Olsen and Maud Nelson moved here where they established a women's baseball team. Both of them had experience in the game. The "Cherokee Indian Baseball Team" set out in its Pullman car in the same year complete with an electric light facility, a grand stand and a 12 by 1200 foot fence. Nelson, who was born in Italy, was on the team. She was billed by her husband, Olsen, as the undisputed women's champion pitcher of the world.

From the History section of Watervliet, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship12

Gas and EV charging5

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Schools, colleges and libraries16

Healthcare1

Map of Watervliet

46 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 2.5 in of rainFebruary: 1.9 in of rainMarch: 2.3 in of rainApril: 3.8 in of rainMay: 3.9 in of rainJune: 3.6 in of rainJuly: 3.3 in of rainAugust: 3.9 in of rainSeptember: 3.4 in of rainOctober: 4.4 in of rainNovember: 3.0 in of rainDecember: 2.3 in of rainJanuary: 33°FFebruary: 36°FMarch: 47°FApril: 59°FMay: 70°FJune: 80°FJuly: 83°FAugust: 81°FSeptember: 76°FOctober: 63°FNovember: 49°FDecember: 38°FJanuary: 20°FFebruary: 21°FMarch: 28°FApril: 37°FMay: 47°FJune: 57°FJuly: 62°FAugust: 60°FSeptember: 54°FOctober: 44°FNovember: 34°FDecember: 25°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan33°F20°F2.5 in29.5 in
Feb36°F21°F1.9 in18.8 in
Mar47°F28°F2.3 in7.7 in
Apr59°F37°F3.8 in1.1 in
May70°F47°F3.9 in0.0 in
Jun80°F57°F3.6 in0.0 in
Jul83°F62°F3.3 in0.0 in
Aug81°F60°F3.9 in0.0 in
Sep76°F54°F3.4 in0.0 in
Oct63°F44°F4.4 in0.2 in
Nov49°F34°F3.0 in3.8 in
Dec38°F25°F2.3 in16.6 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Benton Harbor Ap (10 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$61,167median household income
$137,500median home value
$885median monthly rent
29.1median age
8.8%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
67.0%of homes are owner-occupied
19.4 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1834%18 to 3422%35 to 6434%65 and over10%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Berrien County has had 5 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.

  • 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
  • 2004-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2001-01-10: Snow (Snowstorm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.