text:
Chippewa County, Michigan

Chippewa County is a county in the eastern Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,785. The county seat is Sault Ste. Marie. The county is named for the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people, and was set off and organized in 1826. Chippewa County comprises the Sault Ste. Marie, MI micropolitan statistical area.

With shorelines on Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Chippewa County is one of two U.S. counties to contain shorelines on two Great Lakes, the other being neighboring Mackinac County. The county's irregular shape follows the Canadian border, itself following the St. Marys River. Drummond Island is part of Chippewa County.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2698 sqmi, of which 1558 sqmi is land and 1140 sqmi (42%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Michigan by land area and fifth-largest by total area.

The Michigan Meridian runs through the eastern portion of the county. South of Nine Mile Road, M-129 (Meridian Road) overlays the meridian. In Sault Ste. Marie, Meridian Street north of 12th Avenue overlays the meridian.

Adjacent counties & districts
By land By water
 * Mackinac County (south)
 * Luce County (west)

 * Presque Isle County (south)
 * Algoma District, Ontario, Canada (north)
 * Manitoulin District, Ontario, Canada (east)

National protected areas

 * Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge
 * Hiawatha National Forest (part)
 * Whitefish Point Unit of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Game areas
The Munuscong Bay is open for hunting, boating and bird watching. The area is known for its duck hunting, including mallards, divers and green-winged teal ducks. The Bay is most known for its icefishing and duck hunting. During opening weekend of duck season (late September), hundreds of hunters come from all over the state to begin their season on the Bay. This area has many types of waterfowl pass through it on their annual migrations.

City

 * Sault Ste. Marie (county seat)

Village

 * DeTour Village

Charter township

 * Kinross Charter Township

Civil townships

 * Bay Mills Township
 * Bruce Township
 * Chippewa Township
 * Dafter Township
 * Detour Township
 * Drummond Township
 * Hulbert Township
 * Pickford Township
 * Raber Township
 * Rudyard Township
 * Soo Township
 * Sugar Island Township
 * Superior Township
 * Trout Lake Township
 * Whitefish Township

Census-designated places

 * Brimley
 * Kincheloe

Unincorporated communities

 * Barbeau
 * Bay Mills
 * Bay Mills Indian Community (Indian Reservation)
 * Cartonville (ghost town)
 * Dafter (named Stevensburg until 1893)
 * Drummond
 * Eckerman
 * Emerson
 * Goetzville (named Gatesville until 1917)
 * Homestead
 * Johnswood
 * Hulbert
 * Kelden (also spelled Keldon)
 * Kinross
 * Mission
 * Neebish Island
 * Paradise
 * Pickford
 * Raber
 * Raco
 * Rudyard (named Pine River until 1890)
 * Shelldrake (Ghost town)
 * Stalwart
 * Stirlingville (named Jolly's Landing until 1888)
 * Strongs
 * Trout Lake
 * Whitefish Point
 * Vermilion

Indian reservations

 * The Bay Mills Indian Community occupies a portion of land within Bay Mills Township and Superior Township, within another smaller portion within Sugar Island Township.
 * The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians occupies scattered pieces of land within Kinross Charter Township, Sugar Island Township, and in the city limits of Sault Ste. Marie.

Demographics
In 2020, the county had a population of 36,785.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicated the median income for a household in the county was $39,351 and the median income for a family was $54,625. Males had a median income of $25,760 versus $16,782 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,334. About 2.3% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under the age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Chippewa County voters have been reliably Republican from the start. Since 1876, they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 86% of national elections (31 of 36).

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.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Robert L. Stratton
 * Sheriff: Michael Bitnar
 * County Clerk: Cathy Maleport
 * County Treasurer: Carmen Fazzari
 * Register of Deeds: Sharon H. Kennedy
 * Drain Commissioner: James Zimmerman
 * County Surveyor: Robert Laitinen

(Current as of October 2018)

Major highways
All Interstate and US Highways in Michigan are all state-maintained highways and part of the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System.
 * is Michigan's longest state highway overall; it ends on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge at the Canada border.
 * travels from I-75 into downtown Sault Ste. Marie, and ends at the ferry to Sugar Island.
 * is Michigan's longest state highway; it ends at M-129 8 mi south of Sault Ste. Marie.
 * is a highway that goes through Pickford and Rudyard, and ends at exit 373 on I-75.
 * is a highway that begins at exit 378 on I-75, goes through the former base in Kincheloe, and terminates at M-129.
 * is a highway that is the main connector from Tahquamenon Falls to M-28.
 * (also known as Meridian Road) runs through the eastern part of the county, and ends at BS I-75 just south of Sault Ste. Marie.
 * is a highway that goes to and terminates on Drummond Island.
 * is the shortest highway in Chippewa County, just going through Brimley and ending at M-28.

County-designated highways
The following highways are maintained by the Chippewa County Road Commission as part of the county road system. They are assigned numbers by the Michigan Department of Transportation as part of the County-Designated Highway System.
 * runs via Mackinac Trail, the former route of US 2 before it was replaced by I-75 in 1962.
 * (Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway), is a National Forest Scenic Byway with the US Forest Service the Chippewa County Road Commission jointly maintains.
 * (Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway), is a National Forest Scenic Byway with the US Forest Service the Chippewa County Road Commission jointly maintains.

Airports

 * Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) serves Chippewa county and the surrounding communities, providing commercial connection to hub airports.
 * Drummond Island Airport (DRM) is a public-owned, public-use general-aviation airport with 2 runways (1 hard-surfaced).

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association announced that Chippewa County will house its new command and control center. In last year, this is the third major announcement from the organization — guiding Michigan's aerospace and defense manufacturing community within the global industry. Previously, MAMA announced plans for a Oscoda, Michigan Wurtsmith Airport horizontal launch site at and a Marquette, Michigan vertical launch site.

title: Chippewa County, Michigan


text:
Cheboygan County, Michigan

Cheboygan County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,579. The county seat is Cheboygan. The county boundaries were set off in 1840, with land partitioned from Michilimackinac County. The Cheboygan County government was organized and combined with the former Wyandot County in 1853.

Etymology
The name of the county shares the same origin as that of the Cheboygan River, although the precise meaning is no longer known. It may have come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan, meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, the origin may have been Chabwegan, meaning "a place of ore". It has also been described as "a Native American word first applied to the river." See List of Michigan county name etymologies. "Cheboygan" is pronounced the same as "Sheboygan" (a city in Wisconsin).

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 885 sqmi, of which 715 sqmi is land and 170 sqmi (19%) is water. The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Adjacent counties
By land By water
 * Presque Isle County - east
 * Montmorency County - southeast
 * Otsego County - south
 * Charlevoix County - southwest
 * Emmet County - west

 * Mackinac County - north

City

 * Cheboygan (county seat)

Villages

 * Mackinaw City (part)
 * Wolverine

Civil townships

 * Aloha Township
 * Beaugrand Township
 * Benton Township
 * Burt Township
 * Duncan Township (defunct)
 * Ellis Township
 * Forest Township
 * Grant Township
 * Hebron Township
 * Inverness Township
 * Koehler Township
 * Mackinaw Township
 * Maple Grove Township (defunct)
 * Mentor Township
 * Mullett Township
 * Munro Township
 * Nunda Township
 * Tuscarora Township
 * Walker Township
 * Waverly Township
 * Wilmot Township

Census-designated places

 * Indian River
 * Tower

Other unincorporated communities

 * Afton
 * Aloha
 * Alverno
 * Birchwood
 * Burt Lake
 * Cordwood Point
 * Dow
 * Elmhurst
 * Fingerboard Corner
 * Freedom
 * Geyersville
 * Giauque Beach
 * Grand View
 * Haakwood
 * Long Point
 * Mullett Lake
 * Mullett Lake Woods
 * Orchard Beach
 * Point Landing
 * Pries Landing
 * Riggsville
 * Rondo
 * Royal Oak
 * Silver Beach
 * Topinabee
 * Veery Point
 * Wildwood

Indian reservations

 * Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 26,448 people, 10,835 households, and 7,573 families in the county. The population density was 37 /mi2. There were 16,583 housing units at an average density of 23 /mi2. In 2020, its population was 25,279.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 2.55% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 10.4% English, 10.0% French, 9.5% Polish, 9.2% American and 8.9% Irish ancestry. 97.7% spoke English as their first language.

There were 10,835 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.

The county population contained 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $33,417, and the median income for a family was $38,390. Males had a median income of $30,054 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,088. About 8.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Cheyboygan County has tended to vote Republican through the years. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 71% (24 of 35) of the national elections.

Cheyboygan County operates the County 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.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Daryl P. Vizina
 * Sheriff: Dale V. Clarmont
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Karen Brewster
 * County Treasurer: Buffy Jo Werdon
 * Drain Commissioner: Cameron Cavitt
 * County Surveyor: James H. Granger

(information as of September 2018)

Historical markers

There are eight recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:

 * Forty Mile Point Lighthouse / Graveyard of Ships
 * Inland Waterway
 * Jacob J. Post House
 * Jail and Sheriff's Residence
 * Newton-Allaire House
 * Old Cheboygan County Courthouse
 * St. Bernard Catholic Church
 * St. Mary's Church

Highways

 * (former highway)
 * (former highway)
 * (former highway)
 * (former highway)
 * (former highway)
 * (former highway)
 * (former highway)

Airports

 * Cheboygan County Airport, located in Cheboygan, is a private airport. There are no commercial airline airports in Cheboygan County but the nearest ones are Alpena County Regional Airport, Chippewa County International Airport (Sault Ste. Marie, MI), and Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City). Delta Air Lines schedules flights daily out of the Pellston Regional Airport.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Cheboygan County, Michigan


text:
Charlevoix County, Michigan

Charlevoix County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. The county seat is Charlevoix, and the largest city is Boyne City. Located in the Northern Lower Peninsula, Charlevoix County is bisected by Lake Charlevoix, Michigan's third largest inland lake. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 26,054.

Beaver Island, the largest island in Lake Michigan, is located within Charlevoix County.

Surveyed and organized as Keskkauko County
Between 1840 and 1841, surveyors William Austin Burt, John Mullett and Charles W. Cathcart, surveyed much of Northern Michigan. Cathcart oversaw the internal lines survey for 34N 08W, the region which would later be known as Charlevoix. Mullett and Cathcart laid out many of the townships in the new county including Charlevoix Township.

The county was originally organized in 1840 as Kesk-kauko in honor of a great chief of the Saginaw tribe, and name was changed from Resh-kanko to Charlevoix County in 1843. The county was named in 1843 for Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, a Jesuit missionary of the French colonial era.

Strangites gain power and re-organize Keskkauko into Emmet County
In 1847, a group of "Strangite" Mormons settled on Beaver Island and established a "kingdom" led by "King" James Jesse Strang. There were bitter disputes between Strang's followers and other white settlers. Strang, seeking to strengthen his position, gained election to the Michigan State House of Representatives. In January 1853, he pushed through legislation titled, "An act to organize the County of Emmet", which enlarged Emmet County by attaching the nearby Lake Michigan islands to Emmet county, as well as a portion of Cheboygan County and Keskkauko/Resh-kanko/ Charlevoix. Charlevoix was thus organized in 1853 as a township under Emmet County and consisted all of the nine townships in the southern half of Emmet County.

Popular dissatisfaction with Mormon power
Due to Strang's influence, Mormons came to dominate Emmet county government, causing an exodus of many non-Mormon settlers to neighboring areas. In 1855, the non-Mormon resistance succeeded in getting the Michigan Legislature to reorganize Emmet County. The islands, including Beaver Island and North and South Manitou Islands, were transferred into the separate Manitou County, which effectively eliminated Mormons from Emmet County government. After an assassination attempt on June 20, 1856, Strang died three weeks later.

Charlevoix Township splits off to become Charlevoix County in 1869
Emmet County continued to experience tensions as citizens clashed over whether to put the county seat at Little Traverse (Harbor Springs) versus Mackinaw City. In a contested election in 1867, residents voted to move the county seat to Charlevoix, which was upheld by a Circuit Court decision in 1868. However, in 1869, Charlevoix County was split from Emmet County, resulting in Charlevoix being the official county seat for Emmet county as well as for the newly formed Charlevoix County.

County seat wars – Charlevoix vs East Jordan vs Boyne City
In 1873, the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad was completed through the eastern side of Charlevoix county up to Petoskey, and the east side of Pine Lake became more and more populated. For example, Resort Township and Springvale Township, Michigan were formed in 1880 as a part of Charlevoix County. As new townships became established, Boyne City colluded with East Jordan to gain a requisite 2/3 majority of township supervisors to vote to move the county seat to East Jordan. In October 1884, 11 of the existing 16 township supervisors designated East Jordan to be the county seat. In October 1886, Boyne City convinced 2/3 of township supervisors to move the county seat to Boyne City.

Finally, in a January 1897 land deal with Emmet County and the state legislature, Charlevoix County took on three townships on Beaver Island while giving up Resort, Bear Lake, and Springvale townships to Emmet County. The resulting balance of township supervisor votes gave the City of Charlevoix enough votes to obtain the county seat after a 13-year hiatus.

Other history
The Ironton Ferry began operation in 1876, and Ironton soon became a location for iron manufacture.

There are ten Michigan state historical markers in the county, and the area was once home to a thriving culture of Odawa fishers, hunters, and fur trappers.:
 * Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant
 * Boyne City United Methodist Church
 * Charlevoix Depot
 * Greensky Hill Mission
 * Horace S. Harsha House
 * Horton Bay
 * John Porter and Eva Porter Estate
 * Mormon Kingdom
 * Mormon Print Shop
 * Norwood Township Hall

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1390 sqmi, of which 416 sqmi is land and 974 sqmi (70%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Michigan by land area.

Mainland Charlevoix County features a shoreline on both Traverse Bays (Grand Traverse Bay and Little Traverse Bay) of Lake Michigan.

Lake Charlevoix, with 17200 acre surface area and 56 mi of shoreline, is a very prominent feature of the county. Gull, Hat, Pismire, and Shoe Islands, which are part of the Beaver Island archipelago, form the Lake Michigan division of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and two of them are part of the Michigan Islands Wilderness Area.

The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Adjacent counties
By land By water
 * Emmet County (north)
 * Cheboygan County (northeast)
 * Otsego County (southeast)
 * Antrim County (south)
 * Mackinac County (north)
 * Leelanau County (southwest)
 * Schoolcraft County (northwest)

National protected area

 * Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Cities

 * Boyne City
 * Charlevoix (county seat)
 * East Jordan

Village

 * Boyne Falls

Civil townships

 * Bay Township
 * Boyne Valley Township
 * Chandler Township
 * Charlevoix Township
 * Evangeline Township
 * Eveline Township
 * Hayes Township
 * Hudson Township
 * Marion Township
 * Melrose Township
 * Norwood Township
 * Peaine Township
 * South Arm Township
 * St. James Township
 * Wilson Township

Census-designated places

 * Advance
 * Bay Shore
 * Horton Bay
 * Ironton
 * Norwood
 * St. James
 * Walloon Lake

Other unincorporated communities

 * Barnard
 * Beaver Island
 * Bonner Landing
 * Boulder Park
 * Burgess
 * Clarion
 * Martins Bluff
 * Nomad
 * Phelps
 * Wildwood
 * Zenith Heights

Indian reservations
Charlevoix County contains portions of two Indian reservations, both of which are branches of the federally-recognized Odawa tribe. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians occupies a small reservation in southwest Evaline Township. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians has four scattered reservations throughout the county—three small sections in Hayes Township and one isolated section in St. James Township on Beaver Island.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,090 people, 10,400 households, and 7,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 /mi2. There were 15,370 housing units at an average density of 37 /mi2. By 2020, its population was 26,054.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 96.31% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.8% were of German, 12.0% English, 11.0% American, 10.6% Irish and 8.4% Polish ancestry. 97.3% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,400 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, 25.90% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $39,788, and the median income for a family was $46,260. Males had a median income of $32,457 versus $22,447 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,130. About 5.40% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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. Charlevoix is part of the 114th district.

State highways

 * is a route that parallels the shore of Lake Michigan. The route passes through the city of Charlevoix, and can be used to access Traverse City to the south, and Petoskey and the Mackinac Bridge to the north.
 * is a north–south route in the east of the county. The route passes through Boyne Falls.
 * is an east–west route that begins in East Jordan, and continues southeast into Antrim County. The highway can be used to access Gaylord and Alpena, to the east.
 * is a north–south route that terminates at US 31 in Charlevoix. The highway is the longest state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula, and continues south to the Indiana border near Sturgis.
 * is a highway that runs entirely within Charlevoix County. The highway begins at US 131 in Boyne Falls, and continues northwest to Boyne City. The highway then turns northeasterly, and terminates once more at US 31 in Walloon Lake.

Airports

 * Beaver Island is served by two airlines:
 * Welke Airport
 * Beaver Island Airport

Ferry service

 * Beaver Island Boat Company maintains a regular auto ferry from Charlevoix:
 * The Ironton Ferry at Ironton, Michigan crosses the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. It is a designated Michigan Historical Site and has been in operation since 1876.

Bus service

 * Indian Trails provides intercity bus service with stops in the city of Charlevoix and Boyne Falls.
 * County-wide dial-a-ride bus service is provided by the Charlevoix County Transit System.

title: Charlevoix County, Michigan


text:
Talk:Wyoming

Semi-protected edit request on 1 September 2023
Potatoes 2605:59C8:63D2:1300:DD22:74F4:16F2:D194 (talk) 23:30, 1 September 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 13 October 2023
The "dimensions" section has the length listed as the width and the width listed as the length. The Colorado page has it correctly labeled for reference. 96.8.131.200 (talk) 19:32, 13 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. I do not know what the normal convention is when describing a geographical entity, but in many other contexts the length of something is usually described as the longer dimension, and the width is the shorter. Following that, this page would be the correct one and Colorado is the one that should be corrected. So this change does need some kind of reliable sourcing to either describe which dimension is which for Wyoming, or at the very least, the general convention for lengths and widths of defined geographical entities. -- Pinchme123 (talk) 18:28, 15 October 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 20 December 2023
Add Native American languages of Wyoming to languages section. 91.192.81.61 (talk) 21:33, 20 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Red question icon with gradient background.svg Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Lightoil (talk) 02:12, 21 December 2023 (UTC)
 * In the Wyoming, add see also. 91.192.81.61 (talk) 04:37, 21 December 2023 (UTC)

Statehood
Wyoming became a state on July 10, 1890, not in March. First state to recommend women's suffrage. 2600:6C67:8700:47:2866:F2E6:9018:C22A (talk) 19:17, 14 January 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Wyoming


text:
Cass County, Michigan

Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 51,589. Its county seat is Cassopolis.

Cass County is included in the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a total population of 316,663 and is considered part of the Michiana region.

History
The county is named for Lewis Cass, the Michigan Territorial Governor at the time the county was created in 1829. Cass later served as the United States Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson, thus making a case for including Cass County as one of Michigan's "cabinet counties".

Cass County was not as heavily forested and had more fertile prairie land than other nearby areas of Michigan. During early settlement, it attracted numerous settlers who wanted to farm and grew more rapidly in population.

The county quickly developed industry as well. As early as 1830, a carding mill was started in the county on Dowagiac Creek, a branch of the St. Joseph River. Although the Sauk Trail (Chicago Road) passed through the southern part of the county, early settlement did not come primarily from eastern Michigan. Instead, settlers from Ohio and Indiana migrated who had learned of available prairie lands, reaching the Michigan Territory via a branch of the Chicago Road leading from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The population of Cass County was more than 3,000 by 1834.

Among the most prominent early settlers of Cass County were Baldwin Jenkins and Uzziel Putnam, who both came from Ohio by way of the Carey Mission in Berrien County. Jenkins had been born at Fort Jenkins in Green County, Pennsylvania, and had migrated to Tennessee. He left that state as he was opposed to the institution of slavery. Putnam, who had lived in Massachusetts and New York, migrated to Cass from Erie County, Ohio, by way of Fort Wayne. These settlers, and their families, established the nucleus of the village of Pokagon on Pokagon Prairie in 1825. The next year, a settlement was made on Beardsley's Prairie, where the village of Edwardsburg was laid out in 1831.

The village of Cassopolis was platted in 1831 and intended as the county seat, because it was the geographical center of the county. It had no settlers at the time.

Black settlers
After 1840, the black population of Cass County grew rapidly as families were attracted by white defiance of discriminatory laws, including the Fugitive Slave Law. Numerous highly supportive Quakers helped blacks settle in the area, and the land was low-priced. Free and refugee blacks found Cass County to be a haven, some with mixed Native ancestry, especially Saponi, Lumbee, and Pamunkey. Their development of a thriving community attracted the attention of southern slaveholders.

In 1847 and 1849, planters from Bourbon and Boone counties in Northern Kentucky led raids into Cass County to recapture escaped slaves. They were "surrounded by crowds of angry farmers armed with clubs, scythes, and other farm implements", resisting their attempt.

The raids failed to accomplish their objective but strengthened Southern demands for passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required residents and law enforcement even in free states to support capture of refugee slaves, and increased penalties for failure to do so. Biased toward slaveholders and slavecatchers, it required little documentation and put free blacks at risk for capture and sale into slavery. Many in the North resisted the law, especially in abolitionist strongholds, and it increased tensions contributing to the Civil War.

Cass County became known early on for the anti-slavery attitudes of its population. Pennsylvania Quakers made a settlement in Penn Township in 1829. This community later became a prominent station on the Underground Railroad. One established Underground Railroad route ran from Niles through Cassopolis, Schoolcraft, Climax, and Battle Creek, and thence along the old Territorial Road.

Historical markers
Some 26 historical sites in Cass County have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated by state historical markers as of December 2009.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 508 sqmi, of which 490 sqmi is land and 18 sqmi (3.6%) is water. It is the 9th smallest county in Michigan by total area.

Adjacent counties

 * Van Buren County (north)
 * St. Joseph County (east)
 * Berrien County (west)
 * Elkhart County, Indiana (southeast)
 * St. Joseph County, Indiana (southwest)

Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The elected county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Victor Fitz
 * Sheriff: Richard J. Behnke
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Monica McMichael
 * County Treasurer: Hope Anderson
 * Drain Commissioner: Jeff VanBelle

(information as of July 2019)

Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 52,293 people living in the county. 88.9% were White, 5.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.1% of some other race and 3.0% of two or more races. 3.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 25.9% were of German, 10.0% English, 9.6% Irish, 8.1% American and 5.7% Polish ancestry.

As of the 2000 census, there were 51,104 people, 19,676 households, and 14,304 families living in the county. The population density was 104 PD/sqmi. There were 23,884 housing units at an average density of 48 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 89.19% White, 6.12% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 2.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.6% were of German, 11.1% American, 10.3% Irish, 10.1% English and 5.0% Polish ancestry, 96.4% spoke English and 2.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 19,676 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were not family units. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,264, and the median income for a family was $46,901. Males had a median income of $35,546 versus $24,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,474. About 6.80% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Higher Education
Cass County is home to Southwestern Michigan College. The college is a public two-year institution of higher education, the college is part of the Michigan community college system. The college is the largest employer in Cass County.

Libraries
Cass County has several library system which operate in the county. The Cass District Library is the largest library in the county, have branch located in 4 cities around the county. Cass District Library is the library system which services Calvin, Howard, Jefferson, LaGrange, Mason, Milton, Newberg, Ontwa, Penn, Pokagon, Porter and Volinia Townships.

The Dowagiac District Library serves the City of Dowagiac, Wayne Township, and portions of Silver Creek, Keeler, and Bainbridge townships. Marcellus Township also operates their own library apart from the Cass District library to service the residence of the village of Marcellus and the Township of Marcellus.

Southwestern Michigan College operates the Fred Mathews Library on its Campus in Dowagiac.

Cities

 * Dowagiac
 * Niles (part)

Villages

 * Cassopolis (county seat)
 * Edwardsburg
 * Marcellus
 * Vandalia

Civil townships

 * Calvin Township
 * Howard Township
 * Jefferson Township
 * LaGrange Township
 * Marcellus Township
 * Mason Township
 * Milton Township
 * Newberg Township
 * Ontwa Township
 * Penn Township
 * Pokagon Township
 * Porter Township
 * Silver Creek Township
 * Volinia Township
 * Wayne Township

Unincorporated communities

 * Adamsville
 * Calvin Center
 * Charleston
 * Corey
 * Glenwood
 * Jones
 * La Grange
 * Penn
 * Pokagon
 * Sumnerville
 * Union
 * Wakelee

Indian reservation

 * Cass County contains a large reservation of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, which also contains territories in Allegan, Berrien, and Van Buren counties, as well as extending south into the state of Indiana. The reservation headquarters are located in the county in the city of Dowagiac and also extends into the townships of Pokagon, LaGrange, Silver Creek, Volinia, and Wayne.

title: Cass County, Michigan


text:
Calhoun County, Michigan

Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 134,310. The county seat is Marshall. The county was established on October 19, 1829, and named after John C. Calhoun, who was at the time Vice President under Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties. County government was first organized on March 6, 1833. Calhoun County comprises the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek-Portage Combined Statistical Area.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 sqmi, of which 706 sqmi is land and 12 sqmi (1.7%) is water.

Geographic features

 * Kalamazoo River
 * Battle Creek River
 * St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan)
 * Goguac Lake
 * Lyon Lake

Adjacent counties

 * Eaton County - north
 * Barry County - northwest
 * Jackson County - east
 * Kalamazoo County - west
 * Hillsdale County - southeast
 * Branch County - south
 * St. Joseph County - southwest

History
The Kalamazoo River oil spill occurred in July 2010 when a pipeline operated by Enbridge (Line 6B) burst and flowed into Talmadge Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River. A six-foot break in the pipeline resulted in the largest inland oil spill, and one of the costliest spills in U.S. history. The pipeline carries diluted bitumen (dilbit), a heavy crude oil from Canada's Athabasca oil sands to the United States. Following the spill, the volatile hydrocarbon diluents evaporated, leaving the heavier bitumen to sink in the water column. Thirty-five miles of the Kalamazoo River were closed for clean-up until June 2012, when portions of the river were re-opened. On March 14, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered Enbridge to return to dredge portions of the river to remove submerged oil and oil-contaminated sediment.

Demographics
The 2010 United States Census indicates Calhoun County had a 2010 population of 136,146. This is a decrease of -1,839 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -1.3% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 54,016 households and 35,220 families in the county. The population density was 192.8 per square mile (74.4 square kilometers). There were 61,042 housing units at an average density of 86.4 per square mile (33.4 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 79.8% White, 10.7% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races.

There were 54,016 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were husband and wife families, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.8% were non-families, and 28.8% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $42,921 and the median income for a family was $49,964. Males had a median income of $25,712 versus $18,298 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,661. About 11.7% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under the age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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.

Calhoun County is a swing county in presidential elections. Since 1980, it has voted for the winner of the national election every time except in 2000 and 2020.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: David E. Gilbert
 * Sheriff: Steven Hinkley
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Kimberly A. Hinkley
 * County Treasurer: Brian Wensauer
 * Water Resource Commissioner: Ron Smith

(information as of October 2020)

Cities

 * Albion
 * Battle Creek
 * Marshall (county seat)
 * Springfield

Villages

 * Athens
 * Burlington
 * Homer
 * Tekonsha
 * Union City (partial)

Charter townships

 * Bedford Charter Township
 * Emmett Charter Township
 * Pennfield Charter Township

Census-designated places

 * Brownlee Park
 * Level Park-Oak Park

Other unincorporated communities

 * Albion Landing
 * Babcock
 * Beadle Lake
 * Bedford
 * Bentleys Corners
 * Ceresco
 * Charlotte Landing
 * Clarence Center
 * Clarendon
 * Condit
 * Duck Lake
 * East Leroy
 * Eckford
 * Greenfield Park
 * Joppa
 * Lee Center
 * Maplehurst
 * Marengo
 * Old Mill Gardens
 * Orchard Park
 * Partello
 * Pennfield
 * Pine Creek
 * Pine Creek Indian Reservation
 * Rice Creek
 * Sonoma
 * Springfield Place
 * Stanley Corners
 * Sunrise Heights (subdivision)
 * Verona
 * Walnut Point
 * Wattles Park
 * West Leroy
 * Wrights Corners

Townships

 * Albion Township
 * Athens Township
 * Burlington Township
 * Clarence Township
 * Clarendon Township
 * Convis Township
 * Eckford Township
 * Fredonia Township
 * Homer Township
 * Lee Township
 * Leroy Township
 * Marengo Township
 * Marshall Township
 * Newton Township
 * Sheridan Township
 * Tekonsha Township

Historical markers
There are 83 recognized Michigan historical markers in the county.

title: Calhoun County, Michigan


text:
Branch County, Michigan

Branch County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 44,862. The county seat is Coldwater. As one of the "cabinet counties" it was named for the U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Branch under President Andrew Jackson. The county was founded in 1829, and was organized in 1833.

Branch County comprises the Coldwater, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Branch County was a New England settlement. The original founders of Coldwater were settlers from the northern coastal colonies – "Yankees", descended from the English Puritans who came from the Old World in the 1600s and who brought their culture. During the early 1800s, there was a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was then the untamed Northwest Territory. Many traveled through New York State via the Erie Canal; the threat of Native Americans had been reduced by the end of the Black Hawk War.

These early settlers laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings, and established post routes. They brought a passion for education, and established many schools. Many were supporters of abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church though some were Episcopalian. Culturally Branch County, like much of Michigan, developed as part of the Northern Tier, continuous with New England culture, during its early history. The county still depends on agriculture as the basis of its economy.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 520 sqmi, of which 506 sqmi is land and 13 sqmi (2.6%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Michigan by total area. The only island in the county is Iyopawa Island.

Adjacent counties

 * Kalamazoo County – northwest
 * Calhoun County – north
 * Hillsdale County – east
 * Steuben County, Indiana – south
 * LaGrange County, Indiana – southwest
 * St. Joseph County – west

Major highways

 * – runs north–south through central Branch County. Runs east of Girard, Coldwater and Kinderhook.
 * – runs through Coldwater.
 * – runs ENE through central Branch County. Passes Bronson, Coldwater and Quincy.
 * – runs through northern part of county. Enters near Union City; runs west 5 mi to intersection with M60, south of Athens.
 * – runs through NW tip of county. Enters west line from Leonidas, Michigan, runs east 2.4 mi, turns north to exit county toward Athens, Michigan.
 * runs east–west through central Branch County. Enters from Colon, Michigan, runs east to intersection with US12, 3 mi west of Coldwater.

Demographics
The 2010 United States Census indicates Branch County had a 2010 population of 45,248. This decrease of -539 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a -1.2% growth decrease during the decade. In 2010 there were 16,419 households and 11,350 families in the county. The population density was 89.4 per square mile (34.5 square kilometers). There were 20,841 housing units at an average density of 41.2 per square mile (15.9 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 90.9% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races.

There were 16,419 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were husband and wife families, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 25.8% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 111.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.9 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $41,855 and the median income for a family was $48,959. Males had a median income of $25,595 versus $17,263 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,289. About 2.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under the age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Branch County has been reliably Republican since the parties' founding. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried 85% of the elections (29 of 34).

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.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Zachary Stempien
 * Sheriff: John Pollack
 * County Clerk: Terry Kubasiak
 * County Treasurer: Steven Rutz
 * Register of Deeds: Nyci DeLoach
 * Drain Commissioner: Michael Hard
 * County Surveyor: Edward W. Reed
 * County Commissioners: Tim Stoll, Tom Matthew, Alan McClellan, Jon Houtz, Randall Hazelbaker

Information correct as of March 2017.

Cities

 * Bronson
 * Coldwater (county seat)

Villages

 * Quincy
 * Sherwood
 * Union City (partial)

Civil townships

 * Algansee Township
 * Batavia Township
 * Bethel Township
 * Bronson Township
 * Butler Township
 * California Township
 * Coldwater Township
 * Gilead Township
 * Girard Township
 * Kinderhook Township
 * Matteson Township
 * Noble Township
 * Ovid Township
 * Quincy Township
 * Sherwood Township
 * Union Township

Unincorporated communities

 * Batavia Center
 * Canada Shores
 * Crystal Beach
 * East Gilead
 * Girard
 * Hodunk
 * Lockwood
 * Pearl Beach
 * Ray
 * Sans Souci Beach
 * South Butler
 * West Kinderhook

title: Branch County, Michigan


text:
Berrien County, Michigan

Berrien County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located at the southwest corner of the state's Lower Peninsula, located on the shore of Lake Michigan and sharing a land border with Indiana. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 154,316. The county seat is St. Joseph.

Berrien County is included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka, IN-MI Combined Statistical Area. The county is part of the Michiana region.

History
As one of the Cabinet counties, Berrien County was named for John M. Berrien of Georgia, US Attorney General (1829–1831) under US President Andrew Jackson. The county was founded in 1829, and was organized in 1831, before Michigan was accepted into the Union as a state.

When Michigan Territory was established in 1805, the area of present Berrien County was included in the boundary of Wayne County.

About 1780, New Jersey resident William Burnett established a trading post at the mouth of the St. Joseph River (present-day site of St. Joseph) to serve indigenous peoples and French Canadian residents. Also during that time, Joseph Bertrand established a trading post on the river, in present–day Niles Charter Township. In December 1822, missionary Isaac McCoy moved his family and 18 Indian students from Indiana to the St. Joseph River near present-day Niles, Michigan, to open a religious mission (the Carey Mission) to the Potawatomi Indians, 160 km from the nearest White settlement.

In 1827 St. Joseph Township was organized as part of Wayne County, It included all lands acquired from the Native Americans by the 1821 Treaty of Chicago.

The boundary of Berrien County was delineated by the Michigan Territory Legislature on October 29, 1829, with its present limits. For purposes of revenue, taxation and judicial matters, it was attached to Cass County, and was designated as Niles Township. This assignation was terminated in 1831 when Berrien County's government was organized and initiated.

Berrien County began with three townships:
 * Berrien Township – consisted of present-day townships of Berrien, Oronoko, Baroda and Lake plus a two-mile strip north of that territory
 * St. Joseph Township – consisted of the area north of Berrien Township
 * Niles Township – consisted of the area south of Berrien Township.

In recent times, Berrien County, especially the coastal cities of New Buffalo and Lakeside, has received notice as a vacation destination for Chicago area residents and other Midwesterners. It has earned multiple nicknames in this capacity, including "Harbor Country" and "the Hamptons of the Midwest", with the latter recognized by the Wall Street Journal.

Politics
Berrien County has favored a Republican Party candidate in all but five elections since 1884.

Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages and vital records, oversees public health, and participates with the state in welfare and social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws and ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police, fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials
(information as of March 2024)
 * Prosecuting Attorney: Steve Pierangeli
 * Sheriff: Chuck Heit
 * County Clerk: Sharon Tyler
 * County Treasurer: Shelly Weich
 * Register of Deeds: Lora Freehling
 * Drain Commissioner: Christopher J. Quattrin
 * County Surveyor: John G. Kamer
 * 1st District County Commissioner: David Vollrath (R-Coloma)
 * 2nd District County Commissioner: Jon Hinkelman (R-Watervliet)
 * 3rd District County Commissioner: Chokwe Pitchford (D-Benton Harbor)
 * 4th District County Commissioner: Mamie Yarbrough (D-Benton Harbor)
 * 5th District County Commissioner: Rayonte Bell (D-St. Joseph)
 * 6th District County Commissioner: Julie Wuerfel (R-St. Joseph)
 * 7th District County Commissioner: Bob Harrison (R-Stevensville)
 * 8th District County Commissioner: Teri Freehling (R-Baroda)
 * 9th District County Commissioner: Alex Ott (R-Sawyer)
 * 10th District County Commissioner: Mac Elliot (R-Buchanan)
 * 11th District County Commissioner: Jim Curran (R-Niles)
 * 12th District County Commissioner: Michael Majerek (R-Niles)

Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1581 sqmi, of which 568 sqmi is land and 1014 sqmi (64%) is water.

The county borders the state of Indiana to the South and includes a portion of Lake Michigan to the West.

The St. Joseph River is a major geographical feature, flowing mostly north and west through the county from Niles to its mouth on Lake Michigan at St. Joseph. The southwest of the county is drained by the Galien River and its tributaries. Paw Paw Lake is in the north of the county, along with the Paw Paw River, which flows into the St. Joseph River just before it enters Lake Michigan. A tiny portion along the Indiana state line is drained by small tributaries of the Kankakee River, which ultimately flows into the Mississippi River. This is one of two areas of Michigan drained by the Mississippi River, the other being an area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula near the Wisconsin border.

Major highways

 * – runs north along the western edge of the county near Lake Michigan. Turns inland to skirt the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor urban area. Runs east to Kalamazoo. Business Loop 94 passes through downtown Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
 * – runs through St. Joseph and Benton Harbor.
 * – from its intersection with I-94 east of Benton Harbor, runs north to Holland, then east to Grand Rapids.
 * – runs east–west through the southern portion of the county from south of Niles through Three Oaks to New Buffalo and Michiana, Michigan. From Berrien County it connects with Michigan City, Indiana.
 * – running north from South Bend, Indiana, enters the southeast county as the St. Joseph Valley Parkway, near Niles, and joins I-94 then I-196 before leaving the county.
 * – enters from Indiana as a continuation of State Road 933. Runs north through Niles, then northeast toward Dowagiac, Michigan.
 * – runs east from Niles to I-94 at Jackson.
 * – from its intersection with M-140, runs east toward Dowagiac, Michigan.
 * – from its intersection with M-139 (formerly US 31) in Scottdale, runs northwest into St. Joseph, then northeast to intersection with US 31/I-196 near the county line.
 * – from its intersection with US 12 southwest of Niles, runs northeasterly into downtown Niles, then follows the former route of US 31/US 33 northwesterly through Berrien Springs to Scottdale, then north near St. Joseph and Benton Harbor to an intersection with Business Loop I-94.
 * – from Niles, runs north through the eastern part of the county toward South Haven, Michigan.
 * – its 1.1 mi length links I-94 at Exit 1 near New Buffalo to State Road 39 north of LaPorte, Indiana.
 * – Berrien County's only signed county highway. Begins in Hagar Shores at M-63 and I-196. It follows the Lake Michigan shoreline and continues to South Haven, Michigan.

Adjacent counties
By land By water
 * Van Buren County – north and northeast
 * Cass County – east
 * St. Joseph County, Indiana – southeast
 * LaPorte County, Indiana – south
 * Porter County, Indiana – southwest
 * Cook County, Illinois – west
 * Lake County, Illinois – northwest

Demographics
The 2010 United States Census indicates Berrien County had a 2010 population of 156,813. This is a decrease of 5,640 people from the 2000 United States Census, or a 3.5% population decrease. In 2010 there were 63,054 households and 41,585 families in the county. The population density was 276.2 per square mile (106.6 square kilometers). There were 76,922 housing units at an average density of 135.5 per square mile (52.3 square kilometers). 78.3% of the population were White, 15.3% Black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% of some other race and 2.4% of two or more races. 4.5% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 29.0% were of German, 7.4% Irish, 6.8% English and 5.5% American ancestry.

There were 63,054 households, 29.6% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were husband and wife families, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.0% were non-families, and 28.7% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 23.4% under age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $40,329 and the median income for a family was $51,305. Males had a median income of $26,745 versus $16,289 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,337. About 12.1% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under the age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

State parks

 * Grand Mere State Park
 * Warren Dunes State Park
 * Warren Woods State Park

County parks

 * Galien River County Park Preserve
 * Love Creek County Park
 * Madeline Bertrand County Park
 * Paw Paw River County Park
 * Rocky Gap County Park
 * Silver Beach County Park

Other parks

 * Expo Arena – at Berrien County Fairgrounds
 * Kiwanis Park – St. Joseph
 * Riverview Park – St. Joseph

Resorts and beaches

 * Hagar Park – Hagar Township
 * Jean Klock Park - Benton Harbor
 * Lion's Park Beach – St. Joseph
 * New Buffalo Beach Park – New Buffalo
 * Paw Paw Lake
 * Rocky Gap Beach Park - Benton Harbor
 * Silver Beach - St. Joseph
 * Tiscornia Park
 * Weko Beach - Bridgman

Golf courses

 * The Golf Club at Harbor Shores - Benton Harbor
 * Blossom Trails Golf Club – Benton Harbor
 * Brookwood Golf Course - Buchanan
 * Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club - Benton Harbor
 * Lost Dunes Golf Club - Bridgman
 * Milan Creek Golf Club - Baroda
 * Orchard Hills Country Club - Buchanan
 * Paw Paw Lake Golf Club - Coloma/Watervliet
 * Pebblewood Country Club - Bridgman
 * Pipestone Creek Golf Course - Eau Claire
 * Point O'Woods Golf & Country Club - Benton Harbor

Cities

 * Benton Harbor
 * Bridgman
 * Buchanan
 * Coloma
 * New Buffalo
 * Niles
 * St. Joseph (county seat)
 * Watervliet

Villages

 * Baroda
 * Berrien Springs
 * Eau Claire
 * Galien
 * Grand Beach
 * Michiana
 * Shoreham
 * Stevensville
 * Three Oaks

Charter townships

 * Benton Charter Township
 * Coloma Charter Township
 * Lake Charter Township
 * Lincoln Charter Township
 * Niles Charter Township
 * Oronoko Charter Township
 * St. Joseph Charter Township
 * Watervliet Charter Township

Civil townships

 * Bainbridge Township
 * Baroda Township
 * Berrien Township
 * Bertrand Township
 * Buchanan Township
 * Chikaming Township
 * Galien Township
 * Hagar Township
 * New Buffalo Township
 * Pipestone Township
 * Royalton Township
 * Sodus Township
 * Three Oaks Township
 * Weesaw Township

Census-designated places

 * Benton Heights
 * Fair Plain
 * Lake Michigan Beach
 * Millburg
 * New Troy
 * Paw Paw Lake
 * Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert

Other unincorporated communities

 * Berrien Center
 * Bethany Beach
 * Birchwood
 * Dayton
 * Glendora
 * Harbert
 * Hazelhurst
 * Hinchman
 * Lakeside
 * Millburg
 * Riverside
 * Sawyer
 * Scottdale
 * Shorewood Hills
 * Tower Hill Shorelands
 * Union Pier

Indian reservation

 * The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has a reservation occupying a portion of the southeastern corner of Berrien County. The tribe also occupies areas in Allegan, Cass, and Van Buren counties, as well as extending south into the state of Indiana. The reservation headquarters are located in neighboring Cass County in the city of Dowagiac. The Berrien County reservation surrounds the entire portion of the city of Niles that lies within the county, as well as portions of Bertrand Township and Niles Charter Township along the St. Joseph River.

title: Berrien County, Michigan


text:
Benzie County, Michigan

Benzie County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,970. The county seat is Beulah. The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869. At 321 mi2, Benzie County is the smallest of the 83 counties in Michigan in terms of land area.

Benzie County is part of the Traverse City metropolitan area. Part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located within the county. It is also home to Crystal Mountain, one of Michigan's top-rated ski resorts.

History
Today's Benzie County was originally part of Leelanau County. Leelanau County was separated from Michilimackinac County in 1840, and was attached to Grand Traverse County. In 1863, The northern section of Leelanau County was organized, and the southern section, now named Benzie County, was left attached to Grand Traverse County. Benzie County was organized in its own right in 1869.

Etymology
The name "Benzie" is derived from the French la rivière aux Bec-scies, "the river of sawbills", bec-scie ("bill-saw") being a type of ducks. Americans altered the pronunciation of the river's name, which became known as the "Betsie River". A similar alteration in pronunciation produced "Benzie".

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 860 sqmi, of which 320 sqmi is land and 540 sqmi (63%) is water. It is the smallest county in Michigan by land area.

Benzie County is located in the northwest of the Lower Peninsula, in the "little finger" position of the mitten-shaped peninsula and is considered to be part of the Northern Michigan region. Lake Michigan is to the west, Leelanau County and the Leelanau Peninsula are to the north. Grand Traverse County and Traverse City are to the east. Wexford County is to the southeast and Manistee County to the south. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore extends into the northwest portion of the county. Crystal Lake is a prominent physical feature of the area. The Platte River rises out of a lake district around Lake Ann in the northeast of the county and flows southwest and the northwest into Big Platte Lake before emptying into Lake Michigan at Platte River Point. The Betsie River rises in neighboring Grand Traverse County, flowing southwest across the southeast corner of the county into Manistee County, where it bends northwest until just south of Benzonia where it receives the outflow of Crystal Lake and then flows mostly west through Elberta and Frankfort and into Lake Michigan.

Portions of the Pere Marquette State Forest lie within the county and offer several trails including a 10 mi route along the Betsie River and a 5.8 mi trail near Lake Ann. There are state forest campgrounds at Platte River and Lake Ann. The Betsie River State Game Area is located just east of Elberta. 50 mi of the Betsie River is a state-designated Natural River from Grass Lake, just west of the Grand Traverse County line, to its inlet into Lake Betsie just east of Elberta. The natural and scenic richness of the area has made it a host to a variety of conservation, education, and recreation programs, including Crystalaire, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and others.

Major highways
Previously, an additional highway, M-168, ran in the village of Elberta, serving the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks. The route was handed back to local control in 2012.
 * enters the county from the south, passes through Benzonia and Beulah on the south end of Crystal Lake before turning to exit the county to the east.
 * traverses the western edge of the county, providing a scenic drive along the shore of Lake Michigan.
 * enters the county from the south, angling northwest, and merges with US 31 for a couple of miles until Benzonia where M-115 continues west to end in Frankfort.

Adjacent counties
By land
 * Leelanau County - north
 * Grand Traverse County - east
 * Manistee County - south
 * Wexford County - adjacent at the southeast corner

By water
 * Door County, Wisconsin - northwest across Lake Michigan
 * Kewaunee County, Wisconsin - southwest across Lake Michigan

City

 * Frankfort

Villages

 * Benzonia
 * Beulah (county seat)
 * Elberta
 * Honor
 * Lake Ann
 * Thompsonville

Census-designated places

 * Bendon
 * Crystal Downs Country Club
 * Crystal Mountain
 * Hardwood Acres
 * Maple Grove
 * Nessen City
 * Pilgrim

Other unincorporated communities

 * Crystallia
 * Inland Corners
 * Platte River
 * Wallin
 * Weldon

Ghost towns

 * Aral
 * Cedar Run
 * Watervale

Townships

 * Almira Township
 * Benzonia Township
 * Blaine Township
 * Colfax Township
 * Crystal Lake Township
 * Gilmore Township
 * Homestead Township
 * Inland Township
 * Joyfield Township
 * Lake Township
 * Platte Township
 * Weldon Township

Indian reservations

 * The Grand Traverse Indian Reservation, which has territory in five counties, occupies a small area in southern Joyfield Township in Benzie County.

Ghost towns

 * Allyn Station (Pratts)
 * Almira
 * Aral
 * Cedar Run
 * Edgewater
 * Gilmore
 * Grant House (Homestead)
 * Homestead
 * Inland
 * Joyfield
 * Kentville
 * Melva
 * Osborn
 * Oviat
 * Platte
 * Playtte River (Melva)
 * Pratts
 * Stormer
 * Success (Ransom Creek)
 * Wallin
 * Weldon

Source:

Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. By 2020, its population was 17,970.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $37,350, and the median income for a family was $42,716. Males had a median income of $30,218 versus $21,730 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,524. About 4.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government
For most of its history, Benzie County has primarily supported Republican presidential candidates, with the only times they failed to carry to the county prior to 1992 being in 1912 & 1964. Starting with the 1992 election, the county has become a Republican leaning swing county, with 2012 and 2020 being the only two presidential elections it did not vote for the national winner from 1980 on as of 2020.

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Sara Swanson
 * Sheriff: Kyle Rosa
 * County Clerk: Dawn Olney
 * County Treasurer: Michelle L. Thompson
 * Register of Deeds: Amy Bissell
 * Drain Commissioner: Edward Hoogterp
 * County Surveyor: John Smendzuik

(information as of September 2005)

Education
The Northwest Educational Services, based in Traverse City, services the students in the county along with those of Antrim, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services, early education and English learner programs, and technical career pathways for students of its districts.

Benzie County is served by the following regular public school districts:

 * Benzie County Central Schools, which serves most of the county, including Benzonia, Beulah, Honor, Lake Ann, and Thompsonville
 * Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, which serves the west of the county, including Frankfort and Elberta
 * Glen Lake Community Schools, which serves a small portion of Platte Township
 * Traverse City Area Public Schools, which serves a small portion of Almira Township

Benzie County has one private school, the New Covenant Christian Academy (Christian).

title: Benzie County, Michigan


text:
Bay County, Michigan

Bay County is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 103,856. The county seat is Bay City.

Bay County comprises the Bay City, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Combined Statistical Area in the Mid/Central Michigan region.

19th century
Bay County was created in 1857 from portions of Midland County, Saginaw County, and Arenac County. Its name references that it "surrounds Saginaw Bay." Being only sparsely populated at that time, Arenac County government was unorganized and was attached to Saginaw County for administrative purposes. There was considerable opposition to the creation of Bay County from elected officials in both Saginaw and Midland counties. In 1854, a bill introduced to the state legislature to create Bay County was defeated by a small majority.

In 1857, a new bill was introduced into the legislature. After initial opposition from the representatives of Saginaw and Midland counties, a compromise revision that would present the matter for ratification to the voters of "in said county" was passed by the legislature on February 17, 1857. The matter was put before all the voters of Saginaw and Midland counties and was soundly defeated. However, the population within the boundaries proposed for Bay County approved the measure. The bill passed by the legislature included phrasing, which was deliberately included by the Bay City lawyer Chester H. Freeman, that allowed Bay County to claim ratification. Under the act, the county was to become effective April 20, 1857.

Residents of Bay County held elections for county officials in June 1857. However, Saginaw County did not recognize the organization of the new county government. In the winter of 1858, Freeman secured passage of a bill in the legislature that would have confirmed the organization of Bay County. But the bill was vetoed by the governor. However, a case that went before the Michigan Supreme Court in its May 1858 term settled the matter. In the case, a defendant was tried in a Saginaw County court, but filed a plea for abatement, claiming that the supposed offense was committed in Bay County and was not in the jurisdiction of the Saginaw County court. Freeman had represented the defendant and prepared arguments, but became incapacitated due to illness. At the request of Freeman's wife, Colonel William M. Fenton argued the case before the Michigan Supreme Court, with the result that Bay County was declared a fully organized county.

20th century
During World War II, shipyards in Bay County were used to produce US Destroyers and missile vessels.

In 1978, Bay County became the second Michigan county (after Oakland County) to adopt a County Executive form of government. Act 139 of 1973 provides for an optional unified form of county government under an appointed County Manager or an elected County Executive. With the County Executive, all departments of the county government that are not headed by a separate elected official (e.g. Treasurer, Clerk, Sheriff, etc.) are under the direction of the County Executive. The County Executive also has veto power over the motions and resolutions passed by the County Commission.

Since the adoption of this form of government, Bay County has had four County Executives: Gary Majeske (R) (1979–1989), Kim Higgs (D) (1989–1993), Thomas Hickner (D) (1993–2016), and James Barcia (D).

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 631 sqmi, of which 442 sqmi is land and 188 sqmi (30%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Michigan by land area.

The Saginaw River flows through Bay City while the Kawkawlin River drains much of the central portion of the county. The Pinconning River and Saganing Creek drain the northern portion. The Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron lies to the east, giving the county its name.

Major highways

 * in Midland
 * in Midland
 * in Midland
 * in Midland

Interstate 75 (I-75) and U.S. Highway 23 (US 23), which are concurrent within the county, are the major north–south route. North of Bay City, M-13 follows a parallel route a few miles to the east. US 10 has its eastern terminus in Bay City. M-25, M-15, and M-84 enter Bay City from the east, southeast and southwest respectively and terminate in or near the city. M-20 and Business US 10 end at US 10 as they enter the county.

Adjacent counties

 * Arenac County (north)
 * Gladwin County (northwest)
 * Tuscola County (southeast)
 * Midland County (west)
 * Saginaw County (south)

Demographics
The 2010 United States Census indicates Bay County had a 2010 population of 107,771. This is a decrease of -2,386 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -2.2% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 44,603 households and 29,116 families in the county. The population density was 243.7 per square mile (94.1 square kilometers). There were 48,220 housing units at an average density of 109.0 per square mile (42.1 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 91.2% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races.

There were 44,603 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were husband and wife families, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.7% were non-families, and 29.3% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $45,451 and the median income for a family was $52,784. Males had a median income of $31,035 versus $18,294 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,378. About 11.2% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under the age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Religion
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.

Economy
According to Bay Future, Inc. the top employers in the county are:

Government
From 1932 to 2012, Bay County voted for the Democratic Party candidate in every Presidential election except for five national Republican landslides: 1952, 1956, 1972, 1980 and 1984. However, the county has turned increasingly Republican in recent elections. The November 2022 election resulted in the first majority Republican Board of Commissioners ever sitting in Bay County since the adoption of the Optional Unified Form of County Government (Act 139). Despite this, Bay County had voted Democratic in all 3 statewide races in 2022, and Democrat James Barcia remains as County Executive.

Bay County government is set up under Public Act 139 of 1973. This format provides for an elected County Executive who, as chief administrator, has influence over all departments, except those headed by other elected officials. In that manner, the County Executive appoints and supervises all department heads. It is the duty of the County Executive to coordinate all county activities and unify the management of county affairs, enforce all orders, rules and ordinances passed by the Board of Commissioners and all laws enacted by the state. In addition, the County Executive must submit to the Board of Commissioners a recommended budget each year. The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county Board of Commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. Bay County has a Board of Road Commissioners, which consists of three commissioners who are elected and serve six-year staggered terms (one road commissioner elected every two years). The Board is the policy-making body of the Bay County Road Commission and is responsible for establishing budget priorities and managing the annual budget. 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.

Elected officials

 * County Executive: James Barcia
 * Prosecuting Attorney: Nancy E. Borushko
 * Sheriff: Troy R. Cunningham
 * County Clerk: Kathleen Zanotti
 * County Treasurer: Weston Prince
 * Register of Deeds: Brandon Krause
 * Drain Commissioner: Michael Rivard
 * Road Commissioners: William Schumacher, William Jordan, Kevin Shark

Board of Commissioners
7 members, elected from districts (three Democrats, four Republicans)

Cities

 * Auburn
 * Bay City (county seat)
 * Essexville
 * Pinconning
 * Midland (partial)

Charter townships

 * Bangor Charter Township
 * Hampton Charter Township
 * Monitor Charter Township
 * Portsmouth Charter Township
 * Williams Charter Township

Civil townships

 * Beaver Township
 * Frankenlust Township
 * Fraser Township
 * Garfield Township
 * Gibson Township
 * Kawkawlin Township
 * Merritt Township
 * Mount Forest Township
 * Pinconning Township

Unincorporated communities

 * Almeda Beach
 * Amelith
 * Aplin Beach
 * Arn
 * Beaver
 * Bentley
 * Brissette Beach
 * Brooks
 * Crump
 * Donahue Beach
 * Duel
 * Fisherville
 * Frankenlust
 * Kawkawlin
 * Killarney Beach
 * Lagoon Beach
 * Linwood
 * Linwood Beach
 * Little Killarney Beach
 * Loehne
 * Meyers Beach
 * Mount Forest
 * Munger
 * Nine Mile
 * North Williams
 * Seidlers
 * Three Churches Corner
 * Tobico Beach
 * Willard
 * Woodville
 * University Center

Former city

 * West Bay City

title: Bay County, Michigan


text:
Barry County, Michigan

Barry County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 62,423. The county seat is Hastings.

History
Before the present era, the Michigan peninsula was long occupied by bands of the Potowatomi and Ojibwe of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. The United States government forced the tribes to cede their extensive territories to the federal government, in exchange for annuities and small reservations. The federally recognized Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottowatomi has a reservation in Allegan County, just west of Barry County.

Barry County was described and delineated by act of the Territorial legislature on April 29, 1829, carved out of previously unorganized lands in the Territory. It was named to honor William Taylor Barry, who was serving as United States Postmaster General at the time of the county's proclamation. Barry was one of US President Andrew Jackson's cabinet members who were memorialized in names of ten Michigan counties, the "cabinet counties".

By 1839, the Territory had been admitted into the Union as Michigan State. In 1839, the Michigan State Legislature approved the organization of Barry County as an independent entity.

In the early years of the twentieth century, petroleum deposits of varying magnitudes were discovered and developed in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This discovery was made in Barry County in 1939; similar discoveries in adjacent counties ranged from 1937 (Allegan County) to 1972 (Eaton County). Identifiable petroleum deposits had been identified in every county adjacent to Barry by 1972.

Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 sqmi, of which 553 sqmi is land and 24 sqmi (4.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

 * Ionia County – northeast
 * Eaton County – east
 * Calhoun County – southeast
 * Kalamazoo County – southwest
 * Allegan County – west
 * Kent County – northwest

Major highways

 * – enters NW part of county running south from Kent County. Runs S and SE to Hastings; runs south and SSE from Hastings to Calhoun County.
 * – enters from Kalamazoo. Runs north and east through Delton, Hastings and Carlton to intersection with M43, east of Woodland in NE corner of Barry County.
 * – enters NE tip of county at Woodbury. Runs west and north to Ionia County.
 * – enters SE corner of county running N from Calhoun County. Runs north and NE through eastern portion of county. Passes Nashville to NE corner of county; exits to Eaton County at Woodbury running east.
 * – runs SW across extreme southeastern tip of county, entering from Eaton County, exiting to Calhoun County.
 * – runs west from its intersection with M66 at Nashville to its intersection with M37, SE of Hastings.
 * – runs SE across the southwestern tip of county, from Allegan County to Kalamazoo County.
 * – enters west portion of county from Allegan County. Runs east to Hastings.

Railroads
There were once several minor railroads through the county; at present, there are none. The only railroad left in the county is a two-mile section owned by CSX Transportation, running through the northeastern corner of Woodland Township.

Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,173 people living in the county. 96.9% were White, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 2.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 19.8% were of German, 13.5% American, 12.1% English, 11.2% Dutch and 8.1% Irish ancestry.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 56,755 people, 21,035 households, and 15,986 families living in the county. The population density was 102 PD/sqmi. There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of 43 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.39% White, 0.24% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.8% were of German, 13.6% English, 12.5% Dutch, 12.4% American and 9.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.2% spoke only English at home.

There were 21,035 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 19.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.06.

The county population contained 27.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,820, and the median income for a family was $51,794. Males had a median income of $38,991 versus $26,387 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,636. About 3.90% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Elections
Barry County has been strongly Republican from its start. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 91% of the elections (31 of 34 elections).

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.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Julie Nakfoor-Pratt
 * Sheriff: Dar Leaf
 * County Clerk: Pam Palmer
 * County Treasurer: Susan L. Vandecar
 * Register of Deeds: Barbara D. Hurless
 * Drain Commissioner: James Dull
 * County Surveyor: Brian Reynolds
 * County Board of Commissioners: 7 Members (7 Republicans, 0 Democrats)

(information )

In an October 2020 interview with Fox 17 News, Sheriff Dar Leaf stated that the individuals charged in a plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer may have been attempting to effectuate a lawful arrest on Whitmer as opposed to a kidnapping. The Sheriff had shared a stage with one of those charged at a protest of the Governor's stay-at-home order in May.

Education
Public schools in Barry County:
 * Hastings – 7 public schools, 2 private schools, 1 community college (extension of Kellogg Community College) (see Hastings, Michigan)
 * Delton – 3 public schools, 3 private schools (see Delton, Michigan)
 * Middleville – 5 public schools (see Middleville, Michigan)

Sports
Barry County is the host of the annual Barry-Roubaix cycling race.

Arts and culture
The annual Barry County Artists Exhibition highlights local art each summer.

City

 * Hastings (county seat)

Villages

 * Freeport
 * Middleville
 * Nashville
 * Woodland

Census-Designated Places

 * Delton
 * Dowling
 * Hickory Corners

Unincorporated communities

 * Assyria
 * Banfield
 * Cedar Creek
 * Cloverdale
 * Coats Grove
 * Irving
 * Lacey
 * Maple Grove
 * Orangeville
 * Prairieville
 * Quimby
 * Schultz

Townships

 * Assyria Township
 * Baltimore Township
 * Barry Township
 * Carlton Township
 * Castleton Township
 * Hastings Charter Township
 * Hope Township
 * Irving Township
 * Johnstown Township
 * Maple Grove Township
 * Orangeville Township
 * Prairieville Township
 * Rutland Charter Township
 * Thornapple Township
 * Woodland Township
 * Yankee Springs Township

title: Barry County, Michigan


text:
Baraga County, Michigan

Baraga County is a county in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,158, making it Michigan's fifth-least populous county. The county seat is L'Anse. The county is named after Bishop Frederic Baraga, a Catholic missionary who ministered to the Ojibwa Indians in the Michigan Territory.

The L'Anse Indian Reservation of the Ojibwa is within Baraga County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1069 sqmi, of which 898 sqmi is land and 171 sqmi (16%) is water.

The county is located in the state's Upper Peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior, at the southeast base of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The villages of Baraga and L'Anse are located at the base of Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay. Point Abbaye projects north into the lake, enclosing Huron Bay. The eastern two-thirds of the county includes much of the Huron Mountains, including Mount Arvon—the highest natural point in Michigan at 1,979 ft.

Major highways

 * : runs north–south through the upper central part of county. The highway enters at the northeast corner of the county on the west shore of Keweenaw Bay and runs south along the shoreline to Baraga and L'Anse, then turns inland (south) past Alberta, then east through Nestoria and Three Lakes. It exits into Marquette County at Imperial Heights.
 * : runs south from its intersection with US-41 south of Alberta into Iron County.
 * : enters the west side of the county then runs east and east-northeast to the intersection with US-141 at Covington.
 * : runs east–west through the northwest corner of county. It enters from Alston in Houghton County, then runs east to intersection with US-41 at Baraga.

Adjacent counties

 * Marquette County (east)
 * Iron County (south)
 * Houghton County (west)

National protected areas

 * Keweenaw National Historical Park (part)
 * Ottawa National Forest (part)

Villages

 * Baraga
 * L'Anse (county seat)

Civil townships

 * Arvon Township
 * Baraga Township
 * Covington Township
 * L'Anse Township
 * Spurr Township

Census-designated places

 * Covington
 * Pelkie
 * Skanee
 * Three Lakes
 * Zeba

Other unincorporated communities

 * Alberta
 * Arnheim
 * Arvon
 * Assinins
 * Aura
 * Bear Town
 * Beaufort Lake
 * Bovine
 * Herman
 * Huron Bay
 * Imperial Heights
 * Keweenaw Bay
 * Laughs Lake
 * McComb Corner
 * Nestoria
 * Pequaming
 * Saint Cyr
 * Summit
 * Tioga
 * Tunis
 * Vermilac
 * Watton

Indian reservations

 * The L'Anse Indian Reservation occupies two sections of Baraga County within portions of Baraga, L'Anse, and Arvon townships. The reservation also has very small portion in Chocolay Charter Township in neighboring Marquette County to the east.

Demographics
The 2010 United States census indicated Baraga County had a population of 8,860. This was an increase of 114 people from 2000. In 2010 there were 3,444 households and 2,209 families in the county. The population density was 10 /mi2. There were 5,270 housing units at an average density of 6 /mi2. Among the county, 75.0% of the population was White, 13.1% Native American, 7.2% Black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 4.4% of two or more races; 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Additionally, 22.5% were of Finnish, 9.1% German, 8.8% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 5.6% English and 5.5% Irish ancestry. By the 2020 census, its population was 8,158.

In 2010, there were 3,444 households, out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. Of all households, 31.6% were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.82. The age distribution of the county population was the following: 20.2% were under the age of 18, 7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years; 54.9% of the population was male, 45.1% was female.

As of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $40,115, and the median income for a family was $50,996. The per capita income for the county was $19,076. About 9.5% of families and 13% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. By the 2021 census estimates, its median household income was $45,792.

Government
Baraga County has tended to support Republican candidates. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 64% (22 of 35) of the national elections through 2020, and in all presidential elections since 2000.

Baraga County operates the county 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.

title: Baraga County, Michigan


text:
Arenac County, Michigan

Arenac County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 15,002. The county seat is Standish.

History
Arenac County was organized in 1883. The name Arenac, coined by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, a US Indian Agent and ethnologist, is a derivation of the Latin arena and the Native American ac. The combined words mean “A sandy place for a good footing.”

The county includes some off-reservation trust lands held by the federal government for the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation, which is based in Isabella County. In early 2007, plans were confirmed for a casino to be constructed outside of the city of Standish with a scheduled opening by the end of the year. It is owned and operated by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe. The Saganing Eagles Landing Casino grand opening was held on January 24, 2008.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 681 sqmi, of which 363 sqmi is land and 317 sqmi (47%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in Michigan by land area. Arenac County can be considered a part of either Northern Michigan or Central Michigan.

Geographic features

 * Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron
 * Au Gres River
 * Rifle River
 * Pine River (Arenac County)

Adjacent counties
By land

 * Iosco County (northeast)
 * Bay County (south)
 * Gladwin County (west)
 * Ogemaw County (northwest)

By water

 * Tuscola County (south)
 * Huron County (southeast)

National protected area

 * Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 17,269 people, 6,710 households, and 4,717 families in the county. The population density was 47 /mi2. There were 9,563 housing units at an average density of 26 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.38% White, 1.82% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 1.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.0% were of German, 14.1% Polish, 11.6% French, 10.6% American, 7.9% English, 6.8% Irish and 5.3% French Canadian ancestry. 96.9% spoke English and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 6,710 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.92.

The county population contained 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,805, and the median income for a family was $39,033. Males had a median income of $31,205 versus $20,363 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,300. About 11.30% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.70% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

 * The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.
 * There are no meetinghouses of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located within Arenac County.

Government
Arenac County could be described as slightly Republican-leaning. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 53% of the elections (18 of 34 elections). Due to 3 elections won by independent candidates during that period, the Democratic record is only 38% (13 of 34).

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.

Elected officials

 * Prosecuting Attorney: Curtis Broughton
 * Sheriff: Jim Mosciski
 * County Clerk: Ricky R. Rockwell
 * County Treasurer: Dennis Stawowy
 * Register of Deeds: Darlene Mikkola
 * Drain Commissioner: Jeff Trombley
 * Road Commissioners: Blair Dyer-Superintendent; Ken Stawowy-V. Chair; Lewis Ostrander; Olen Swartz-Chair

(information as of March 2009)

Cities

 * Au Gres
 * Omer
 * Standish (county seat)

Villages

 * Sterling
 * Turner
 * Twining

Civil townships

 * Adams Township
 * Arenac Township
 * Au Gres Township
 * Clayton Township
 * Deep River Township
 * Lincoln Township
 * Mason Township
 * Moffatt Township
 * Sims Township
 * Standish Township
 * Turner Township
 * Whitney Township

Unincorporated communities

 * Alger
 * Delano
 * Maple Ridge
 * Melita
 * Pine River

Indian reservation

 * Arenac County contains off-reservation trust land belonging to the Isabella Indian Reservation. They occupy three small parcels of land located within Standish Township.

Events

 * Sunrise Side Heritage Bike Ride, first weekend in September. Ride Along Lake Huron Shoreline (US 23) from the Arenac County fairgrounds to Mackinac Bridge then South to West Branch on M-33 and M-55 . This is a 400-mile long organized ride.

title: Arenac County, Michigan