Harbert
Just a few miles to the south of Sawyer, if you follow the Red Arrow Highway as it winds through the beautiful Harbor Country shore line, you will find the European flavored, chic, decidedly boutique village of Harbert, one of the smallest villages in Harbor Country and the home of poet Carl Sandburg for over 15 years. Dotted with numerous boutique wineries, art galleries, antique shops, as well as a world-renowned Swedish Bakery, charming cafes, restaurants and a beautiful country bed and breakfast are the centerpieces of this quiet little village.
Let Us Show You All That Harbert Has To Offer
If you are looking for a small resort village, rich with fine wine, art, antiques and food, but with an eye for the outdoors with plenty of picnicking and hiking and just miles to the great dunes and beaches of Lake Michigan, then Harbert is definitely the place you have been looking for. Harbert has a distinctive European feel, due to the rich Scandinavian heritage of its original settlers. If this sounds like a place for you, then let us show you around Harbert and help you find the perfect home for you and your family.
The History of Harbert
Harbert actually owes its roots to the Great American Railroad of yesterday. The village was founded in the 1850's by John Glavin, a engineer running the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad route. Glavin so fell in love with area as he made his runs on his regular route between Chicago and Detroit, he decided to turn in his train for a plow and became the first farmer and original settler of what is now the village of Harbert.
But curiously, Harbert was not named after Glavin its actual founder, instead it was named after the wealthy Chicago Industrialist who was the developer of the towns train depot that was vital to the towns growth at the time. After that, the train depot would be instrumental in shipping the towns agricultural products, the mainstay of the village, to the big cities of Chicago and Detroit. Exports from the orchards and vineyards in the area and even a pickle factory, kept the small village growing. A pier was constructed and the village's exports were then sent to other Great Lakes cities, towns and villages.
Harbert today is still steeped in the Scandinavian heritage of its original settlers, who created a thriving resort community here after the turn of the century. The European heritage is reflected in the look and feel of much of the architecture and the Harbert Swedish Bakery, the original Swedish Bakery the founders opened, and which is still in operation today.
The most famous of Harbert's residents though, is definitely writer and poet Carl Sandburg, who lived there for over 15 years and wrote most of his Pulitzer Prize-winning work on Abraham Lincoln while he was living in Harbert. Interestingly, Sandburg and his wife also raised award-winning goats on his farm there, which they shipped all over the country.
Harbert At A Glance
Harbert is a quiet, peaceful, smaller village with about 1,560 full-time residents, who are mostly of German and Swedish descent. It is a very safe place, with a below-average crime rate, numerous beautiful parks and picnic areas, above-average law enforcement presence, an excellent school system and healthcare nearby, all of which make Harbert a very attractive place for families with young children. The unemployment rate is also well below national average, and the average educational attainment and income are significantly above national average. This European-flavored, wine and food haven could be just the little village you are looking for, for your family to call home!
There are a total of 1,519 total housing units in Harbert as of the last survey, including single-family homes, condos and apartments, with the number of occupied housing units at around 725, the number of owner-occupied housing units was 546.
Harbert offers a comfortable climate, with average summer temperatures of the mid-70's. Winter temperatures are an average of the mid-20's, with up to 13 inches of snowfall per month in December and January, providing perfect conditions for winter sports.
Interesting Events - The "Umbrellas of Harbert" Event
A highlight in Harbert during the summer and fall is the "Umbrellas of Harbert" event. The "Umbrellas of Harbert" event features a long roadside display of original, hand-painted 9 ft. market umbrellas which are designed by various local and area artists and are displayed along Red Arrow Hwy. lasting throughout the entire summer. At the end of August, the umbrellas are finally auctioned off for charity, with live music, wine tasting and food featured at the auction.
Area Information
Median Home Price - $166,700
Schools – Harbert is served by neighboring elementary, middle and high schools.
Hospitals - There are three hospitals serving the Harbert area.
Emergency Services – There are local police, fire and ambulance services throughout the Harbert area.
Find A Great Real Estate Deal in Harbert Now
There are still real estate deals right now in the Harbert area, with a nice inventory of single-family homes available. Prices range from the low 100's to the millions for homes. Lake Living Realty will be glad to help you in your search for just the right home, in one of the most stunningly beautiful areas of Michigan. Call us today for an appointment to find your new home!
