Oceana County is a county located in Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 26,659. The county seat is Hart. Long known as part of the large Ojibwe territory, the county was founded by European Americans in 1840 and organized in 1855.
Settlers were attracted by access along the White River, which reaches its mouth on Lake Michigan in Muskegon County to the south. Two possibilities have been put forward to explain the county's name: Oceana County may have been named for Lake Michigan, a freshwater "ocean," which forms its western border; or it was named for the book Oceana, written by English author James Harrington in 1656.
Oceana County is famous as the "Asparagus Capital of the World" for its high production of asparagus. The annual Asparagus Festival includes a parade and crowning of the Asparagus Queen.
The State of Michigan created the county of Oceana on April 1, 1840.
In the 1850s about 1400 Odawa were relocated here from Ionia County, Michigan by the federal government.
The county economy was first built on the lumber trade, with logs floated downriver. It later was developed for agriculture. In the 21st century, it is known for its commodity crop of asparagus.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,306 square miles, of which 512 square miles is land and 794 square miles (61%) is water. The county is considered to be part of West Michigan. The county's western border is formed by Lake Michigan.