The county has long been a regional tourist draw, particularly the Tulip Time Festival in Holland and the area along Lake Michigan.

The Lake Michigan shoreline has long been a popular place for vacation homes, and that development continues, especially around Saugatuck and Douglas.

Another draw is Allegan State Game Area, a 45,000 acres (180 km2) forest attracting campers, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and hunters.

The county also contains Pier Cove Park, a public beach with Lake Michigan access.

[7] By land By water As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 111,408 people living in the county.

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services.

The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances.

In Michigan, most local government functions—police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc.—are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

It was one of the few counties in the nation where Franklin D. Roosevelt was completely shut out in all four of his successful runs for president.

The only other time that the Republicans lost the county in the 20th century was in 1912, when the GOP was mortally divided and Theodore Roosevelt carried it on the Bull Moose ticket.