Niles (Michigan)

city in Berrien and Cass counties of Michigan, United States

Niles is a city of 11,000 people (2019) in West Michigan. Niles lies on the banks of the St. Joseph River, at the site of the French Fort St. Joseph, which was built in 1697 to protect the Jesuit Mission established in 1691. Between 1820 and 1865, Niles was an integral part of the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape from as far south as New Orleans through the Heartland, and eventually into Canada.

Understand

After 1761, it was held by the British and was captured on May 25, 1763, by Native Americans during Pontiac's Rebellion. The British retook the fort but it was not re-garrisoned and served as a trading post. During the American Revolutionary War, the fort was held for a short time by a Spanish force. The occupation of the fort by the four nations of France, Britain, Spain, and the United States has earned Niles the nickname City of Four Flags.

The town of Niles was settled in 1827. The town was named after Hezekiah Niles, editor of the Niles Register, a Baltimore newspaper.

Get in

By car

U.S. Highways 12 and 31.

By train

See also: Rail travel in the United States
The Detroit Amtrak station

By plane

Get around

See

  • 🌍 Fort St. Joseph Museum, 508 E Main St (at 5th St), ☏ +1 269 845-4054. W-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Features exhibits on Fort St. Joseph, a French fort built in 1691. Located in the former carriage house of the Victorian-style Chapin Mansion; the main house is now Niles city hall. Free. 
  • 🌍 Henry A. Chapin House (Chapin Mansion), 508 E. Main St. (updated Jan 2020)

Parks

  • 🌍 Birkholm Park, Clarendon and 14th. (updated Jan 2020)
  • Cass Street Park, Cass and 8th St. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Plym Park, Marmont and Plym Park Rd. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Eagle Street Park, Eagle and 5th. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Tot Park, Pokagon and 11th. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Eastside Park, 17th and Sycamore St. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Saathoff Park, Maple and 9th St. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Clevenger Park, Cherry and 5th. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Riverfront Park. East side of the St. Joseph River from Wayne to Fort St (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Island Park. entrance off Parkway, south of Broadway (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Southside Park, 15th and Silverbrook Ave. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Troost Park, 8th and Ferry St. (updated Jan 2020)
  • Cable Street Park, 1400 block of Michigan St. (updated Jan 2020)
  • 🌍 Madeline Bertrand County Park, 3038 Adams Rd, ☏ +1 269 683-8280. (updated Jan 2020)

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Connect

Go next

Routes through Niles
Chicago ← New Buffalo ←  W  E  → Kalamazoo → Battle Creek
Michigan City ← Three Oaks ←  W  E  → Bronson → Coldwater
Muskegon ← Benton Harbor-St. Joseph ←  N  S  → South Bend → Indianapolis


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