Cass County, Michigan
Use this county page to find the right government office or narrow down to a city or township. The service directory covers common county jobs; the local pages add property-tax context, school-district rate ranges, nearby places, and Porch Notes tied to each community.
County snapshot
Cities
2
Townships
15
School districts
11
Primary home (PRE) rates, for homes with Michigan's Principal Residence Exemption, range from 18.2563 mills to 43.9086 mills.
Other property, often called non-homestead, usually means rentals, vacation homes, and second homes. Those rates range from 36.2563 mills to 61.9086 mills.
Rate rows come from the official Michigan Treasury millage-rate reports . Data used: 2025 Michigan Treasury Total Property Tax Rates. Last reviewed July 12, 2026.
Use this carefully: Michigan Porch uses the statewide published rates as a planning aid. The local assessor or treasurer controls parcel-specific values, due dates, and special assessments.
County service directory
Find the office before you make the trip
Some questions stay with the city or township. Others move to the county, a health district, or a court. Start with the job you need done, then confirm hours, fees, and forms with the office.
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Marriage licenses, local vital records, and elections
Cass County clerk
Start with the clerk for a marriage license, a county-filed birth or death record, election information, and other county records.
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Deeds, mortgages, and recorded land documents
Cass County register of deeds
Use this office for recorded property documents. It does not decide ownership disputes or tell you whether a deed is legally sufficient.
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Delinquent real-property tax and foreclosure questions
Cass County treasurer
Current bills usually begin with the city or township treasurer. After the local collection period, delinquent real-property tax moves to the county or the state foreclosing unit.
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Private wells, septic systems, and local health services
Local health department
Michigan has county and multi-county health departments. Use the state finder to see which department serves this county before applying or making an appointment.
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District, circuit, probate, or family-court business
Michigan trial courts serving this county
The court depends on the case type and sometimes the city or district. The judiciary directory lists court locations, websites, and contact information by county.
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Countywide assessment data and equalization
Cass County equalization
Your local assessor and Board of Review handle an individual parcel first. County equalization studies values across local units and supports assessment administration.
County websites are checked against the State of Michigan county website directory . State and court finders are used where one office or district can serve more than one county. Directory reviewed July 12, 2026. Office roles were checked against Michigan Vital Records, Michigan Treasury taxpayer resources, and State Tax Commission guidance.
Local pages
Places in Cass County
City
Dowagiac
1 school district available.
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City
Niles
1 school district available.
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Township
Calvin Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Howard Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Jefferson Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Lagrange Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Marcellus Township
1 school district available.
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Township
Mason Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Milton Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Newberg Township
4 school districts available.
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Township
Ontwa Township
1 school district available.
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Township
Penn Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Pokagon Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Porter Township
4 school districts available.
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Township
Silver Creek Township
2 school districts available.
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Township
Volinia Township
3 school districts available.
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Township
Wayne Township
4 school districts available.
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Porch Notes
Local notes from Cass County
Stories, practical notes, and local details tied to places in this county.
Cass County · History and culture
The day kitty litter was invented in Cassopolis
Cat litter was invented in Cassopolis in 1947 when Edward Lowe handed a neighbor a bag of absorbent clay instead of sand — the start of a billion-dollar industry.
Read this note ->Cass County · History and culture
Edwardsburg started as a cabin where two trails crossed
Edwardsburg grew from Ezra Beardsley's 1826 cabin at the junction of two Indian trails, on the Detroit-to-Chicago road, and lost the 'h' off its name by a postmaster's order in 1845.
Read this note ->Cass County · Outdoors
Sister Lakes: a Chicago resort town that grew a monster
Sister Lakes, a cluster of resort lakes straddling three counties near Dowagiac, drew Chicagoans by rail from the 1880s — and made global headlines in 1964 over a Bigfoot scare.
Read this note ->Cass County · Outdoors
Dr. T.K. Lawless Park's international dark-sky designation
Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park near Vandalia earned an International Dark Sky Park designation after upgrading its outdoor lighting and documenting night-sky conditions. Check current park hours before visiting after dark.
Read this note ->Cass County · Outdoors
Fred Russ Forest, and the 40 acres that never met an axe
Fred Russ Forest near Decatur is an MSU research forest and Cass County park that protects Newton Woods, a rare old-growth oak-hickory stand in southern Michigan.
Read this note ->Cass County · History and culture
The Newton House: a farmhouse that forgot to change
The George Newton House in Volinia Township, built in 1844, is a Michigan State Historic Site run as a museum by the Cass County Historical Society.
Read this note ->Next steps
What to check next in Cass County
Start with a local page, then move into the Michigan rule or tool that matches the question in front of you.
- Tool Estimate a buyer tax bill Use the Michigan homebuyer tax calculator when you have a price, place, and school district. Open calculator ->
- Question Understand uncapping See why a buyer's first full-year tax bill can differ from the seller's old bill. Read the guide ->
- Places Search statewide Look up another city, township, village, county, or school district. Browse places ->
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