List of counties in Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The boundaries of the 83 counties in the U.S. state of Michigan have not changed substantially since 1897. However, throughout the 19th century, the state legislature frequently adjusted county boundaries. County creation was intended to fulfill the goal of establishing government over unorganized territory, but a more important goal was encouraging settlement by surveying the land and dividing it into saleable sections.
The creation of counties generally occurred in two stages. First the boundaries of a county were declared and given a name. The county appeared on maps, even though this may have been the entire extent of a county's tangible existence for several years. During this period, the as yet unorganized county was attached to another already organized county for administrative purposes. The legislature frequently changed the administrative attachment of these unorganized counties. Residents of such an attached county could petition the legislature for organization, which was the granting of full legal recognition to the county.
There are many cities and villages that span county boundaries in Michigan, including its capital, Lansing. For a few years during the early 1970s, split cities briefly had authority to petition to change the county boundaries to accord with the city boundaries. The only city to take advantage of this brief opportunity was New Baltimore (previously split between Macomb County and St. Clair County; now completely in Macomb). This transfer of territory from St. Clair to Macomb was the first and only county boundary change in Michigan since the early 20th century.
The state Constitution of 1850 permitted an incorporated city with a population of at least 20,000 to be organized into a separate county of its own.[1] The Constitution of 1908 retained this provision, but raised the population threshold to 100,000.[2] No city was ever organized into an independent county in this fashion and when a new Constitution took effect in 1963, the provision was removed.
Contents |
| County |
FIPS Code[3] | County Seat |
Created |
Origin |
Etymology |
Population |
Area |
Map |
| Alcona County | 001 | Harrisville | 1840 (boundaries declared) 1869 (organised) |
From unorganized territory. Was named Negwegon County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 11,719 | 677 sq mi (1,753 km²) |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alger County | 003 | Munising | 1885 | From part of Schoolcraft County. | Russell A. Alger, (1836-1907): Governor of Michigan; Senator; and Secretary of War during the McKinley Administration |
9,862 | 913 sq mi (2,365 km²) |
 |
| Allegan County | 005 | Allegan | 1831 (boundaries declared) 1835 (organised) |
From part of Barry County and unorganized territory. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 105,665 | 826 sq mi (2,139 km²) |
 |
| Alpena County | 007 | Alpena | 1840 (boundaries declared) 1857 (organized) |
From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Anamickee County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 31,314 | 565 sq mi (1,463 km²) |
 |
| Antrim County | 009 | Bellaire | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Meegisee County until 1843. | County Antrim, Ireland | 23,110 | 476 sq mi (1,233 km²) |
 |
| Arenac County | 011 | Standish | 1831 | From unorganized territory. Annexed to Bay County in 1857 and reinstated in 1883. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 17,269 | 368 sq mi (953 km²) |
 |
| Baraga County | 013 | L'Anse | 1875 | From part of Houghton County. | Frederic Baraga (1797-1868): Catholic missionary and first Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie | 8,746 | 901 sq mi (2,334 km²) |
 |
| Barry County | 015 | Hastings | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | William T. Barry (1784-1835): Postmaster General in the Jackson Administration | 56,755 | 549 sq mi (1,422 km²) |
 |
| Bay County | 017 | Bay City | 1857 | From parts of Arenac County, Midland County and Saginaw County. | Saginaw Bay | 110,157 | 446 sq mi (1,155 km²) |
 |
| Benzie County | 019 | Beulah | 1863 | From part of Leelenau County. | French: Riviere Aux-Bec-Scies | 15,998 | 316 sq mi (818 km²) |
 |
| Berrien County | 021 | St. Joseph | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John M. Berrien (1781-1856): Attorney General in the Jackson Administration | 162,453 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km²) |
 |
| Branch County | 023 | Coldwater | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John Branch (1782-1863): Secretary of the Navy in the Jackson Administration | 45,787 | 507 sq mi (1,313 km²) |
 |
| Calhoun County | 025 | Marshall | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John C. Calhoun (1782-1850): Vice President of the United States in the Jackson Administration | 137,985 | 781 sq mi (2,023 km²) |
 |
| Cass County | 027 | Cassopolis | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Lewis Cass (1782-1866): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration | 51,104 | 508 sq mi (1,316 km²) |
 |
| Charlevoix County | 029 | Charlevoix | 1869 | From parts of Antrim County, Emmet County and Otsego County. | Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682-1761): Jesuit traveller and historian of New France | 26,090 | 1,391 sq mi (3,603 km²) |
 |
| Cheboygan County | 031 | Cheboygan | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | Cheboygan River | 26,448 | 885 sq mi (2,292 km²) |
 |
| Chippewa County | 033 | Sault Ste. Marie | 1827 | From part of Mackinac County. | Ojibwa Native American tribe, also known as the Chippewa | 35,543 | 2,698 sq mi (6,988 km²) |
 |
| Clare County | 035 | Harrison | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Kaykakee County until 1843. | County Clare, Ireland | 31,252 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
 |
| Clinton County | 037 | St. Johns | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | DeWitt Clinton ((1769-1828): Governor of New York. | 64,753 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
 |
| Crawford County | 039 | Grayling | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Shawano County until 1843. | Possibly for Fort Crawford | 14,273 | 563 sq mi (1,458 km²) |
 |
| Delta County | 041 | Escanaba | 1843 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Greek letter Delta, it refers to the triangular shape of the original county which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties | 38,250 | 1,992 sq mi (5,159 km²) |
 |
| Dickinson County | 043 | Iron Mountain | 1891 | From parts of Iron County, Marquette County and Menominee County. | Donald M. Dickinson (1846-1917): Postmaster General in the Cleveland Administration | 27,472 | 777 sq mi (2,012 km²) |
 |
| Eaton County | 045 | Charlotte | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John Eaton (1790-1856): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration | 103,655 | 579 sq mi (1,500 km²) |
 |
| Emmet County | 047 | Petoskey | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Tonegadana County until 1843. | Robert Emmet (1778-1803): Irish nationalist and rebel leader | 31,437 | 882 sq mi (2,284 km²) |
 |
| Genesee County | 049 | Flint | 1835 | From parts of Lapeer County, Saginaw County and Shiawassee County. | Seneca word, "je-nis-hi-yeh," meaning "beautiful valley": named after western New York State valley from which many settlers came | 436,141 | 649 sq mi (1,681 km²) |
 |
| Gladwin County | 051 | Gladwin | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | Major Henry Gladwin, British commander of the fort at Detroit during the siege by Chief Pontiac in 1763-64. | 26,023 | 516 sq mi (1,336 km²) |
 |
| Gogebic County | 053 | Bessemer | 1887 | From part of Ontonagon County. | Probably from the Chippewa "bic" which most references interpret as "rock." | 17,370 | 1,476 sq mi (3,823 km²) |
 |
| Grand Traverse County | 055 | Traverse City | 1851 | From part of Omeena County. | French phrase "grande travers," which means "long crossing." It was given first to Grand Traverse Bay by French voyageurs. | 77,654 | 601 sq mi (1,557 km²) |
 |
| Gratiot County | 057 | Ithaca | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | Captain Charles Gratiot (1788-1855), built Fort Gratiot at the present site of Port Huron | 42,285 | 572 sq mi (1,481 km²) |
 |
| Hillsdale County | 059 | Hillsdale | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | . | 46,527 | 607 sq mi (1,572 km²) |
 |
| Houghton County | 061 | Houghton | 1845 | From parts of Marquette County and Ontonagon County. | Dr. Douglass Houghton (1809-1845), first state geologist of Michigan, physician and surgeon, mayor of Detroit (1842-1843) | 36,016 | 1,502 sq mi (3,890 km²) |
 |
| Huron County | 063 | Bad Axe | 1840 | From part of Sanilac County. | Lake Huron. The French named "Lac des Hurons" for the Native American tribe they called "hure" (meaning "head") when they saw the fantastic way they dressed their hair. | 36,079 | 2,136 sq mi (5,532 km²) |
 |
| Ingham County | 065 | Mason | 1829 (boundaries declared) 1838 (organised) |
From parts of Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. | Samuel D. Ingham (1779-1860), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in the Jackson Administration | 279,320 | 561 sq mi (1,453 km²) |
 |
| Ionia County | 067 | Ionia | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Province in ancient Greece | 61,158 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km²) |
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| Iosco County | 069 | Tawas City | 1840 | From unorganized territory. Was named Kanotin County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 27,339 | 1,891 sq mi (4,898 km²) |
 |
| Iron County | 071 | Crystal Falls | 1885 | From parts of Marquette County and Menominee County. | For the iron deposits and mines found in the county | 13,138 | 1,211 sq mi (3,136 km²) |
 |
| Isabella County | 073 | Mt. Pleasant | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Queen Isabella (1451-1504) of Spain, under whose patronage Columbus undertook his voyages. | 63,351 | 578 sq mi (1,497 km²) |
 |
| Jackson County | 075 | Jackson | 1829 (boundaries declared) 1832 (organised) |
From part of Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. | Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), 7th President of the United States and President when Michigan was admitted to the Union | 61,518 | 724 sq mi (1,875 km²) |
 |
| Kalamazoo County | 077 | Kalamazoo | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | . | 238,603 | 567 sq mi (1,469 km²) |
 |
| Kalkaska County | 079 | Kalkaska | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Wabassee County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 16,571 | 571 sq mi (1,479 km²) |
 |
| Kent County | 081 | Grand Rapids | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | . | 574,335 | 872 sq mi (2,258 km²) |
 |
| Keweenaw County | 083 | Eagle River | 1861 | From part of Houghton County. | . | 2,301 | 862 sq mi (2,233 km²) |
 |
| Lake County | 085 | Baldwin | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Aischum County until 1843. | . | 11,333 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
 |
| Lapeer County | 087 | Lapeer | 1822 | From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County. | . | 87,904 | 663 sq mi (1,717 km²) |
 |
| Leelanau County | 089 | Leland | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 21,119 | 2,532 sq mi (6,558 km²) |
 |
| Lenawee County | 091 | Adrian | 1822 | From part of Monroe County. | . | 98,890 | 761 sq mi (1,971 km²) |
 |
| Livingston County | 093 | Howell | 1833 (boundaries declared) 1836 (organised) |
From parts of Shiawassee County and Washtenaw County. | Edward Livingston (1764-1836): second Secretary of State in the Jackson Administration | 156,951 | 585 sq mi (1,515 km²) |
 |
| Luce County | 095 | Newberry | 1887 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | . | 7,024 | 1,912 sq mi (4,952 km²) |
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| Mackinac County | 097 | St. Ignace | 1818 | From part of Wayne County. Was named Michilimackinac County until 1837. | . | 11,943 | 2,101 sq mi (5,442 km²) |
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| Macomb County | 099 | Mt. Clemens | 1818 | From part of Wayne County. | . | 788,149 | 570 sq mi (1,476 km²) |
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| Manistee County | 101 | Manistee | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | . | 24,527 | 1,281 sq mi (3,318 km²) |
 |
| Marquette County | 103 | Marquette | 1843 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | . | 64,634 | 3,425 sq mi (8,871 km²) |
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| Mason County | 105 | Ludington | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Notipekago County until 1843. | . | 28,274 | 1,242 sq mi (3,217 km²) |
 |
| Mecosta County | 107 | Big Rapids | 1840 | From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County. | . | 40,553 | 571 sq mi (1,479 km²) |
 |
| Menominee County | 109 | Menominee | 1861 | From part of Delta County. Was named Bleeker County until 1863. | . | 25,326 | 1,338 sq mi (3,465 km²) |
 |
| Midland County | 111 | Midland | 1831 | From part of Saginaw County and unorganized territory. | Located near the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula | 82,874 | 528 sq mi (1,368 km²) |
 |
| Missaukee County | 113 | Lake City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | . | 14,478 | 574 sq mi (1,487 km²) |
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| Monroe County | 115 | Monroe | 1817 | From part of Wayne County. | . | 145,945 | 680 sq mi (1,761 km²) |
 |
| Montcalm County | 117 | Stanton | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | . | 61,266 | 721 sq mi (1,867 km²) |
 |
| Montmorency County | 119 | Atlanta | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Cheonoquet County until 1843. | House of Montmorency influential in the history of French Canada | 10,315 | 562 sq mi (1,456 km²) |
 |
| Muskegon County | 121 | Muskegon | 1859 | From parts of Oceana County and Ottawa County. | Muskegon River running through county, from the Ojibwa/Chippewa word "mashkig" meaning "swamp" or "marsh." | 170,200 | 1,459 sq mi (3,779 km²) |
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| Newaygo County | 123 | White Cloud | 1840 | From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County. | . | 47,874 | 861 sq mi (2,230 km²) |
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| Oakland County | 125 | Pontiac | 1819 (boundaries declared) 1820 (organized) |
From part of Macomb County. | Named for the numerous "oak openings" in the county. Dr. Bela Hubbard, surveyor of Michigan, described an "oak opening" as "a majestic orchard of oaks and hickories varied by small prairies, grassy lawns and clear lakes." | 1,214,361 | 908 sq mi (2,352 km²) |
 |
| Oceana County | 127 | Hart | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County. | Borders Lake Michigan, the fresh water "ocean." | 26,873 | 1,307 sq mi (3,385 km²) |
 |
| Ogemaw County | 129 | West Branch | 1840 | From unorganized territory. Annexed to Iosco County in 1867 and reinstated in 1873. | . | 21,645 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
 |
| Ontonagon County | 131 | Ontonagon | 1843 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | Named for the Ontonagon River, called "Nantounagon" on a 1670 French map. The Ojibwa word "onagon" means "dish" or "bowl." | 7,818 | 3,741 sq mi (9,689 km²) |
 |
| Osceola County | 133 | Reed City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Unwattin County until 1843. | Osceola (1800?-1838), Seminole chief | 23,197 | 573 sq mi (1,484 km²) |
 |
| Oscoda County | 135 | Mio | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 9,418 | 572 sq mi (1,481 km²) |
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| Otsego County | 137 | Gaylord | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Okkudo County until 1843. | . | 23,301 | 526 sq mi (1,362 km²) |
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| Ottawa County | 139 | Grand Haven | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | . | 238,314 | 1,632 sq mi (4,227 km²) |
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| Presque Isle County | 141 | Rogers City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | A derivation of the French phrase for "peninsula," literally "almost an island." | 14,411 | 2,573 sq mi (6,664 km²) |
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| Roscommon County | 143 | Roscommon | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Mikenauk County until 1843. | County Roscommon, Ireland | 25,469 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km²) |
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| Saginaw County | 145 | Saginaw | 1822 | From part of Oakland County. | . | 210,039 | 816 sq mi (2,113 km²) |
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| St. Clair County | 147 | Port Huron | 1820 | From part of Macomb County. | . | 164,235 | 837 sq mi (2,168 km²) |
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| St. Joseph County | 149 | Centerville | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | . | 62,422 | 521 sq mi (1,349 km²) |
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| Sanilac County | 151 | Sandusky | 1822 | From part of St. Clair County. | Sanilac, a Wyandotte chief | 44,547 | 1,590 sq mi (4,118 km²) |
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| Schoolcraft County | 153 | Manistique | 1843 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, (1793-1864): American geographer and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Michigan |
8,903 | 1,884 sq mi (4,880 km²) |
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| Shiawassee County | 155 | Corunna | 1822 | From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County. | . | 71,687 | 541 sq mi (1,401 km²) |
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| Tuscola County | 157 | Caro | 1840 | From part of Sanilac County. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 58,266 | 914 sq mi (2,367 km²) |
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| Van Buren County | 159 | Paw Paw | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Martin Van Buren (1782-1862): U.S. Secretary of State in the Jackson Administration, later Vice President and 8th President of the United States | 76,263 | 1,090 sq mi (2,823 km²) |
 |
| Washtenaw County | 161 | Ann Arbor | 1822 (boundaries declared) 1826 (organised) |
From parts of Oakland County and Wayne County | Native American people called the area west of Detroit "Wash-ten-ong," meaning "further district" or "land beyond." | 322,895 | 723 sq mi (1,873 km²) |
 |
| Wayne County | 163 | Detroit | 1815 | All lands within Michigan Territory that had been ceded by Native Americans through the 1807 Treaty of Detroit. | "Mad" Anthony Wayne, (1745-1796): United States Army general and statesman |
2,061,162 | 672 sq mi (1,740 km²) |
 |
| Wexford County | 165 | Cadillac | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Kautawaubet County until 1843. | County Wexford, Ireland | 30,484 | 576 sq mi (1,492 km²) |
 |
[edit] Defunct counties
- Brown County formed in 1818 from unorganized territory when Michigan Territory was expanded to include area west of Lake Michigan upon formation of the state of Illinois. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Brown County, Wisconsin.
- Keskkauko County formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Renamed Charlevoix County in 1843. Annexed to Emmet County in 1853. Reformed as Charlevoix County from Emmet County in 1869.
- Crawford County formed in 1818 from unorganized territory when Michigan Territory was expanded to include area west of Lake Michigan upon formation of ths state of Illinois. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Crawford County, Wisconsin.
- Des Moines County formed in 1834 from unorganized territory. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Des Moines County, Iowa.
- Dubuque County formed in 1834 from unorganized territory. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Dubuque County, Iowa.
- Iowa County formed in 1830 from part of Crawford County. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Iowa County, Wisconsin.
- Isle Royale County formed in 1875 from part of Keweenaw County. Returned to it in 1897.
- Manitou County formed in 1855 from parts of Emmet County and Leelenau County. County government was disorganized in 1861 and attached for administrative purposes to Mackinac County. In 1865, it was attached to Leelanau and reattached to Mackinac in 1869. County was abolished in 1895 and absorbed by Charlevoix County and Leelanau County.
- Milwaukee County formed in 1834 from part of Brown County. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
- Omeena County formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Annexed to Grand Traverse County in 1853.
- Wyandot County formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Annexed to Cheboygan County in 1853.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links and sources
- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography by county and region, including origin of county names.
- Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary
- maps of Michigan county formation
- History of County Creation
- Michigan County History and atlases, digitized database, including Powers, Perry F., assisted by H.G. Cutler, A History of Northern Michigan and its People (1912).
- Michigan County names per the Michigan government.
- Table of dates counties laid out and organized
- History of the name "Sheboygan".
[edit] References and Notes
- ^ Constitution of the State of Michigan, 1850, Article 10, Section 2
- ^ Constitution of the State of Michigan, 1908, Article 8, Section 2
- ^ EPA County FIPS Code Listing. EPA. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
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