Niles is a city located on the banks of the St. Joseph River in Berrien County, Southwest Michigan. According to the U.S. Census, the city’s population was 11,200 as of 2017 and encompasses a total land area of 5.95 square miles, surrounded by Niles Township. Residents enjoy a multitude of recreational amenities such as parks and nature preserves, farmers markets, antique stores, wineries, and lakes. The city of Niles is located fifteen minutes from the city of South Bend, ninety minutes from Chicago, and three-and-a-half hours from Detroit. Highway M-51 runs through the city, as well as U.S. Route 12. As a logistical thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by nearby I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local and regional travel.