Location: 35 miles southeast of Grand Rapids, 30 miles northeast of Kalamazoo, in southwestern Michigan.
Population: 7,095 (2002)
Growth Rate: 1% since 1986.
Per capita income: $10,142 (1985), 93% of state average.
Altitude: 790 ft. above sea level.
Geography / Climate: Sometimes called "the only northern county in southern Michigan" -- hilly, wooded countryside dotted with spring-fed lakes. Westerlies pick up moisture from Lake Michigan 75 miles west, boosting the number of cloudy, wet days. But lake also moderates winter lows and summer highs. Average snowfall, 49 inches. 149 days below freezing, 8 days below zero. Average temperature: January: high, 30; low, 16. Average date of last frost, May 16. July: high, 84; low, 60. Moderate humidity. Annual rainfall 46 inches, heaviest in May.
Economic Base: Tourism, manufacturing, residential. Bedroom town for commuters to Grand Rapids, Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo. Large local payrolls: Pennock Hospital, 486; Hastings Manufacturing Company, automotive parts, 465; Flex-Fab, hose and ducts, 300; Hastings Mutual Insurance, 260; Viking, car seals, sprinkler systems, 250; Barry County government, 195; E. W. Bliss, presses, 185; G&R Felpausch, food products. Annual "Fiberbest" exposition attracts 20,000 people in August.
Newspaper: The Hastings Banner, 1952 N. Broadway, Hastings, MI 49058. 269-948-8051. Weekly, Thursday. David Young, editor. $14.50 a year.
TV, radio: Local AM/FM station. TV networks, PBS, NPR all can be received off-air from surrounding cities.
Library: Hastings Public Library, 22,000 volumes.
Government: Elected Mayor and eight City Council Members. Appointed City Manager.
Public Safety: Full-time Fire Chief and three personnel, augmented by 20 volunteers. Ten well-maintained pieces of equipment.
Hastings Chief of Police, twelve officers and ten reserve officers.
Barry County Sheriff’s Department also located in Hastings, 21 officers, 9 correctional officers.
A Michigan State Police Post is maintained in Hastings.
Enhanced - 911 Service is in operation.
3 BR, 2 BA house: $80,000.
Cost of Electricity: $.07 per kilowatt hour.
Cost of natural gas: $.45 per therm.
Sales Tax: 6%.
State income tax: 4.6%.