text:
Presque Isle County, Michigan

Presque Isle County is a county in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,982. The county seat is Rogers City. The county was authorized by state legislative action on April 1, 1840, but the county government was not established until 1871. The government was reorganized in 1875.

The name is an anglicisation of the French word presqu'île or presque-isle, which means a peninsula, or literally, "almost an island". A large part of Presque Isle Township consists of that peninsula, with Lake Huron on the east, Grand Lake on the west, and narrow strips of land connecting it to the mainland at the north and south ends. The community of Presque Isle is near the center of this peninsula.

History
Early Native Americans living in the area were nomadic, using the land as hunting grounds. To them the land between the Ocqueoc and Swan Rivers was sacred ground. The name "Presque Isle" was given to the area by French fur traders who portaged over the strip of land that attaches Presque Isle to the mainland.

Early development of the area was delayed because it had no navigable river. The Ocqueoc River was Presque Isle's largest river but it was shallow and crooked, with many rapids. In the spring of 1839 a surveying party, contracted by the state of Michigan, reported that the land of this area was worthless. This further discouraged development until the 1860s when the Crawford family settled into a quiet cove of Lake Huron, south of present-day Rogers City. They intended to develop a stone quarry, but found the stone too flaky to be used as building material. Turning to lumbering, they sold the wood to steamers traveling the Great Lakes.

In 1868 W.E. Rogers, an Army officer, organized a surveying party to Presque Isle, with Albert Molitor as supervisor. Seeing the huge forests, they attempted to purchase Crawford's Quarry but were refused. They formed the Molitor-Rogers Company purchasing the land at the site of Rogers City. The following year a large party of German and Polish immigrants arrived and settled in the area. The Molitor-Rogers Company built a sawmill, store, boarding house, and blacksmith shop. The small city was solely supplied by the company. After a difficult winter in 1870–71, the community began to thrive.

The county's original settlers were lumbermen, fishermen and farmers. In 1907 a mining engineer/geologist from New York, H.H. Hindshaw, visited Crawford's Quarry and found it to be rich in limestone. Following this discovery, the Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company of Calcite, Michigan, was founded. The company purchased 8000 acre at Calcite, the new name for Crawford's Quarry. Needing a means of shipping their product, the Bradley Transportation Company was formed. The company is known in the area for being the chief business, employing a significant portion of the area's residents. One of the darker aspects of the county's history involved the Bradley Transportation Company when one of their cargo ships, the Carl D. Bradley sank on Lake Michigan during a windstorm in November 1958 with the loss of 33 lives, 28 of whom resided in Presque Isle County (23 were from Rogers City, three were from Onaway and two were from Posen or Metz Township).

Today the world's largest limestone processing plant is in Rogers City, which is also a major Great Lakes Port. This is the best natural harbor on Lake Huron between Port Huron and Mackinaw City.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 2573 sqmi, of which 659 sqmi is land and 1914 sqmi (74%) is water. Although Presque Isle County is on Michigan's Lower Peninsula, it is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Geographic features

 * Ocqueoc Falls
 * Sacred Rock

Lakes

 * Grand Lake (Presque Isle, Michigan)
 * Long Lake (Preque Isle, Michigan)
 * Black Lake
 * Sunken Lake
 * Tomahawk Creek Flood
 * Rainy Lake
 * Ocqueoc Lake

Adjacent counties
By land

 * Alpena County (southeast)
 * Montmorency County (southwest)
 * Cheboygan County (west)

By water

 * Mackinac County (northwest)
 * Chippewa County (north)
 * Manitoulin District, Ontario, Canada (east)

Cities

 * Onaway
 * Rogers City (county seat)

Villages

 * Millersburg
 * Posen

Civil townships

 * Allis Township
 * Bearinger Township
 * Belknap Township
 * Bismarck Township
 * Case Township
 * Krakow Township
 * Metz Township
 * Moltke Township
 * North Allis Township
 * Ocqueoc Township
 * Posen Township
 * Presque Isle Township
 * Pulawski Township
 * Rogers Township

Census-designated place

 * Presque Isle Harbor

Other unincorporated communities

 * Hawks
 * Leroy
 * Liske
 * Manitou Beach
 * Metz

Demographics
At the 2000 United States census, of 2000, there were 14,411 people, 6,155 households, and 4,203 families residing in the county. In 2020, there were 12,982 people in the county.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $31,656, and the median income for a family was $37,426. Males had a median income of $31,275 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,363. About 6.80% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those over age 64.

Government
Voters in Presque Isle County have generally favored Republican Party nominees. Since 1884, the Republican nominee has garnered the county's vote 71% of the time (24 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: Kenneth A. Radzibon
 * Sheriff: Joseph Brewbaker
 * County Clerk: Ann Marie Main
 * County Treasurer: Bridget LaLonde
 * Register of Deeds: Vicky Kowalewsky
 * Drain Commissioner: Robert G. Macomber
 * County Surveyor: Norman J. Quaine Jr.

as of June 2021

Historical markers
There are ten recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:

 * Bearinger Union School
 * Burnham's Landing
 * Elowsky Mill
 * Forty Mile Point Lighthouse / Graveyard of Ships
 * Lake Huron
 * The Metz Fire
 * Old Presque Isle Lighthouse
 * Presque Isle Electric Cooperative Monument
 * Presque Isle Light Station
 * World's Largest Limestone Quarry

Newspapers

 * The Alpena News is the daily newspaper of record for much of the northeastern Lower Peninsula.
 * The Presque Isle County Advance is the weekly newspaper of Presque Isle County.

Television
The following television stations broadcast in Presque Isle County:
 * Channel 4: WTOM-TV "TV 7&4" (NBC) (Cheboygan; satellite of WPBN-TV, Traverse City)
 * Channel 6: WCML "CMU Public Television" (PBS) (Alpena; satellite of WCMU-TV, Mount Pleasant)
 * Channel 8: WGTQ "ABC 29&8" (ABC) (Sault Ste. Marie; satellite of WGTU, Traverse City)
 * Channel 10: WWUP-TV "9&10 News" (CBS) (Sault Ste. Marie; satellite of WWTV, Cadillac)
 * Channel 11: WBKB-TV "Channel 11 News" (CBS) (Alpena)
 * Channel 45: WFUP "Fox 32" (Fox) (Vanderbilt; satellite of WFQX-TV Cadillac).

Radio
The following radio stations can be heard in Rogers City
 * FM

 * AM

NOAA Weather Radio can be heard on 162.550 MHz (Call Sign KIG83, Alpena)
 * NOAA Weather Radio

Air
There is one county-owned airport in Presque Isle County, providing access to general aviation:
 * Presque Isle County Airport – located SW of Rogers City

The nearest commercial airline airports are Alpena County Regional Airport near Alpena, and Cherry Capital Airport near (Traverse City).

title: Presque Isle County, Michigan


text:
Talk:New Jersey

"Religion in New Jersey" is inconsistent
The section on "Religion in New Jersey seems internally inconsistent. The text states "By number of adherents, the largest religious traditions in New Jersey, according to the 2010 Association of Religion Data Archives, were the Roman Catholic Church with 3,235,290; Islam with 160,666; and the United Methodist Church with 138,052.[156]."  However, the graphic  to the right of this tells a different story, showing the largest groups as Catholic, Protestant, unaffiliated and Jewish, in descending order.  There might be some way to reconcile these two orderings, by carefully changing the classifications (splitting Jews and Christians into multiple subcategories), but this is still not a good look.  Per the graph, Muslims are 3% of the population; it would take an awful lot of subcategories of Protestant for each subcategory to be smaller than the Muslim population.  At the least, the text seems somewhat misleading.

Spencer Klein, Berkeley 2601:644:600:65F0:AE:C0EA:918F:12B9 (talk) 19:53, 22 December 2023 (UTC)

5th smallest state
Should be 4th smallest state 2A0D:6FC7:41F:9CDA:4371:768:E182:7CA4 (talk) 12:28, 20 March 2024 (UTC)
 * @2A0D:6FC7:41F:9CDA:4371:768:E182:7CA4 Source?? -Lemonaka  03:32, 15 June 2024 (UTC)
 * You'll need to give a source for this info. There are those who say that it's 4th-smallest by land area, but it's 5th-smallest by total area, which is what is generally used. Lindsey40186   (talk)  04:01, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request
In the History section, please remove the sentence “ Around 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, New Jersey bordered North Africa.” This is not mentioned in the source provided. Also please add the subheading of “Prehistoric era”. 2600:100C:A216:3864:78B2:C9B5:2A6A:71BA (talk) 22:06, 2 June 2024 (UTC)

 * ✅ ABG (Talk/Report any mistakes here) 02:31, 19 June 2024 (UTC)

First paragraph of history should not be there!
Why does it start 180 million years ago with geography? Does not belong. Every other state page starts with natives. Odd addition. Parrski (talk) 04:43, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

 * Why doesn't it belong? Is there a problem with the WP:RS? Kire1975 (talk) 07:17, 11 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Chronologically, it makes more sense to start with geography, since the lands formed before the people came. I've checked a few states and they each had sections talking about the geography of the area. Lindsey40186   (talk)  03:55, 15 June 2024 (UTC)

12th or 11th most populous?
The article currently claims that NJ is the 12th most populous state, although it recently said 11th. This is strange, given this claim links to the article showing states by population, which puts NJ at 11th. What's with the discrepancy? FiveInParticular (talk) 22:22, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

Citation missing in first paragraph
There should be a citation for the fact stated in the first paragraph of the article that New Jersey is the only state for which every county is deemed urban by the US Census Bureau. Is it certain that this fact is true? 73.153.196.210 (talk) 07:39, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

 * The citation for this is in the second paragraph of New_Jersey. Per MOS:LEADCITE, Because the lead usually repeats information that is in the body, editors should balance the desire to avoid redundant citations in the lead with the desire to aid readers in locating sources for challengeable material. Kire1975 (talk) 07:56, 8 July 2024 (UTC)
 * The archived citation that is linked for the fact that "New Jersey is the only state for which every count is deemed urban" is a page from 1999 that shows all the metropolitan areas and components within the US. I have two concerns:
 * 1. Is it true that if a county belongs to a metropolitan area that it is deemed urban? I believe that the Census Bureau has a separate designation for whether an area is deemed "urban," and these areas do not necessarily follow county lines. For example, here are the areas of Delaware that are designated as either an urban cluster or an urbanized area:
 * https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hp/files/ruralurban.pdf
 * Similarly, here is an interactive map that shows the urban areas in New Jersey:
 * https://njogis-newjersey.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/NJDOT::urbanized-areas/explore
 * Both of these maps show some amount of urban area in every county of both states.
 * 2. If we do indeed just want to use the fact that all of New Jersey's counties belong to some Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), then I notice in the archived citation from 1999 that all five counties in Rhode Island belong to the Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area. New Jersey is not the only state for which each county belongs to an MSA. 2600:6C50:427F:E093:B5C9:DD74:43BC:B478 (talk) 18:57, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

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

title: Talk:New Jersey


text:
Ottawa County, Michigan

Ottawa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the United States 2020 Census, the population was 296,200. The county seat is Grand Haven. The county is named for the Ottawa Nation, was set off in 1831 and organized in 1837. Ottawa County is included in the Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a significant Dutch American population.

History
Before European settlers arrived, this area was home to the Potawatomi and Ottawa people for centuries. The Grand River was used as a trade route into the interior of Michigan. Much of what we know about the Native American presence in Ottawa County comes from the excavation of archeological artifacts at places like the Battle Point Site.

The city dates its European-American founding to French colonial settlers. A fur trading outpost called Gabagouache was first established by Madeline La Framboise and her husband Joseph.

The first permanent settler of the county was a Presbyterian minister, William Montague Ferry, who settled in Grand Haven in 1834. Grand Haven quickly grew and became an important port for trade and travel. Ferry is often referred to as the "father" of Ottawa County.

Dutch settlers started arriving in the area in 1847, led by Albertus van Raalte. These Dutch Settlers moved into the Holland area. This area was already inhabited by many Odawa (Ottawa) people as well as the Old Wing Mission. Within just a few years, the new Dutch settlers had forced out the Ottawa people and the Old Wing Mission.

Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1631 sqmi, of which 563 sqmi is land and 1068 sqmi (65%) is water.

Bodies of water

 * Bass River
 * Black Lake (partially)
 * Grand River
 * Lake Macatawa
 * Lake Michigan
 * Macatawa River
 * Pigeon River
 * Spring Lake

Adjacent counties
By land By water
 * Allegan County – south
 * Kent County – east
 * Muskegon County – north

 * Milwaukee County, Wisconsin – northwest
 * Racine County, Wisconsin – southwest

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 296,203 people living in the county. 82.9% were non-Hispanic White, 2.1% Black or African American, 2.9% Asian, 0.6% Native American, and 2.2% of two or more races. 10.5% were Hispanic or Latino.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 263,801 people living in the county. 90.1% were White, 2.6% Asian, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.4% of some other race and 2.0% of two or more races. 8.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 31.0% were of Dutch, 14.2% German, 5.8% English and 5.7% Irish ancestry.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 238,314 people, 81,662 households, and 61,328 families in the county. The population density was 421 PD/sqmi. There were 86,856 housing units at an average density of 154 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 91.52% White, 1.05% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.48% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 7.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.3% reported being of Dutch, 14.6% German, 6.2% English, 5.6% Irish and 5.4% American ancestry, 91.5% spoke only English at home; 5.4% spoke Spanish.

There were 81,662 households, out of which 39.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.60% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.25.

The county has numerous seasonal residents during the summer. Port Sheldon Township has many lakefront homes and other inland retreats that serve as summer getaways for residents of Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago. No official statistics are compiled on seasonal residents.

In the county, 28.70% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.90% was from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks Ottawa County as Michigan's second-healthiest county, preceded only by the leisure-oriented Traverse City area.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,347, and the median income for a family was $59,896. Males had a median income of $42,180 versus $27,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,676. About 3.10% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.70% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

 * The Catholic Church has 11 churches and 24,700 members.
 * The Christian Reformed Church in North America has 67 churches and 33,700 members.
 * The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has two meetinghouses in the county.
 * The Protestant Reformed Churches have around 10 large congregations in the county.
 * The Reformed Church in America has 47 congregations and 33,300 members.

Government
Ottawa 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.

Most of the county's offices are located in either the city of Grand Haven or at the Fillmore complex in Olive Township.

Elected officials

 * County clerk/Register of Deeds – Justin F. Roebuck
 * County Commissioners
 * County Treasurer – Amanda Price
 * Prosecuting Attorney – Lee F. Fisher
 * Sheriff – Steve Kempker
 * Water Resources Commissioner – Joe Bush

(information as of September 2022) Since the late 19th century, the county has been strongly supportive of the Republican Party.

As of 2023, the county's board of commissioners, a majority of whom are members of the advocacy group Ottawa Impact, has been described as "far-right" by national and Michigan-based media organizations. After the 2022 elections in which they took power, the board appointed Trump administration official John Gibbs to serve as the county administrator. In February 2024, the Board of Commissioners voted 10–1 to fire Gibbs for cause.

Board of Commissioners
11 members, elected from districts (2 Democrats, 9 Republicans)

(information correct as of May 2024)

Local policies
Beginning in 2012, County Administrator Alan Vanderberg and the Board of Commissioners adopted the "Four Cs" Initiative including "Cultural Intelligence." At that time, Vanderberg asserted that there was discrimination in the county, and that it could adversely affect the future prosperity of the county. The county "rebranded" in 2017, adopting the slogan "Where you belong." Vanderberg said the slogan is intended to let everyone know they are welcome in Ottawa County, regardless of color, ethnic background, sexual identity, religion or other qualifier.

The county board made numerous changes at their first meeting when sworn in on January 3, 2023; the county slogan was changed to "Where Freedom Rings", the Diversity, equity, and inclusion office was dissolved, the head health official was replaced and a conservative law organization their main legal representative. The conservative group that promoted the new board members, according to Fox 17, was against the mandated COVID-19 safety measures and cultural diversity policies. Instability surrounding the county board raised concerns about the county's bond credit rating being lowered from its AAA status according to MLive. In May 2023 the county board passed a resolution declared that the county was a "constitutional county."

Politics
Ottawa County has long been one of the most consistently Republican counties in Michigan and the country. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was George B. McClellan in 1864. In 1912, incumbent Republican president William Howard Taft lost the county to "Bull Moose Party" candidate and former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt.

The county is very Republican even by the standards of traditionally Republican West Michigan. As a measure of how Republican the county has been since then, it has rejected Democratic presidential candidates even in national Democratic landslides. It was one of the few counties where Franklin Roosevelt was shut out in all four of his presidential bids, and was one of only three counties in the state to vote for Barry Goldwater over Lyndon Johnson in 1964; Johnson won 45% of the county's vote, the last time a Democrat won at least 40% of the county's vote. During the 1986 gubernatorial election, it was the only county not to back James Blanchard for a second term.

In 2008, it was one of the only two counties in Michigan where Barack Obama did not win 40 percent of the county's vote, and his weakest county, being the only one where John McCain received more than 60 percent of the vote, as he won it by 24 points while Obama carried the state by 16.5 points. In 2020, Joe Biden had the best performance of any Democratic presidential candidate in Ottawa County since 1964, though he still lost the county by 21 points. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, county officials and their families faced death threats following the introduction of mask mandates at public schools, with conservative groups influencing the 2022 Michigan elections to "preserve local heritage". A new county government that some described as holding Christian nationalist values was subsequently elected in the 2022 elections.

Perhaps the most prominent politician in Ottawa County History was Grand Haven's Thomas W. Ferry. Thomas Ferry served as an Ottawa County Clerk at age 21. He went on to become a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, the Michigan Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. While in the U.S. Senate, he served as President Pro Tempore (during the 44th and 45th congresses). As Pro Tempore, he became, upon the death of Vice President Henry Wilson on November 22, 1875, next in the line of presidential succession, and remained so until March 4, 1877.

Cities

 * Coopersville
 * Ferrysburg
 * Grand Haven (county seat)
 * Holland
 * Hudsonville
 * Zeeland

Village

 * Spring Lake

Charter townships

 * Allendale Charter Township
 * Georgetown Charter Township
 * Grand Haven Charter Township
 * Holland Charter Township
 * Jamestown Charter Township
 * Polkton Charter Township
 * Tallmadge Charter Township
 * Zeeland Charter Township

Census-designated places

 * Allendale
 * Beechwood
 * Jenison

Other unincorporated communities

 * Agnew
 * Bauer
 * Beaverdam
 * Big Spring
 * Blendon
 * Borculo
 * Conger
 * Conklin
 * Crisp
 * Crockery Lake
 * Dennison
 * Drenthe
 * Eastmanville
 * Finnasey
 * Forest Grove
 * Gooding
 * Grand Valley
 * Harlem Station
 * Harrisburg
 * Herrington
 * Jamestown
 * Lamont (called Steele's Landing 1851–1856)
 * Lisbon
 * Macatawa
 * Marne
 * Noordeloos
 * North Blendon
 * Nunica
 * Ottawa Center
 * Pearline (also called East Allendale)
 * Port Sheldon
 * Reno
 * Robinson
 * Spoonville
 * Tallmadge
 * Vriesland
 * West Olive
 * Wright

Townships

 * Blendon Township
 * Chester Township
 * Crockery Township
 * Olive Township
 * Park Township
 * Port Sheldon Township
 * Robinson Township
 * Spring Lake Township
 * Wright Township

title: Ottawa County, Michigan


text:
Otsego County, Michigan

Otsego County, formerly known as Okkuddo County, is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,091. The county seat is Gaylord. The county was founded in 1840 and organized in 1875.

Etymology
Otsego may be a Native American name meaning "place of the rock". However, an alternative theory is that it derives from a lake and a county in New York state, which are said to bear the name derived from a Mohawk Iroquoian word meaning either "clear water" or "meeting place." It may be a neologism coined by Henry Schoolcraft, who was a borrower of words and pieces of words from many languages (including Arabic, Greek, Latin, and various American Indian languages). See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

History
The county was created in 1840 as Okkuddo County (meaning "sickly water," although the reason for using a name with such a negative meaning is lost). The name was changed to Otsego in 1843 after the county in New York, with the name ultimately deriving from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning "place of the rock." It was organized in 1875. On May 20, 2022, an EF3 tornado struck the county seat of Gaylord killing 2 and injuring 44 while causing major damage to the downtown business district and severely damaging a mobile home park.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 526 sqmi, of which 515 sqmi is land and 11 sqmi (2.1%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county by total area in Michigan. Although it is located on Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Otsego County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Otsego County has more than 370 lakes, mostly in the southern part of the county. Otsego Lake is the county's largest and has a surface area of 1972 acre. Other large lakes in the southern part of the county include Big Lake, Big Bear Lake, Buhl Lake, Crapo Lake, Dixon Lake, Douglas Lake, Guthrie Lake, Heart Lake, Lake Tecon, Manuka Lake, Opal Lake, Pencil Lake, and Turtle Lake. The larger lakes in the northern part of the county are Five Lakes, Hardwood Lake, Lake Twenty Seven, and Pickerel Lake. Many of these are so-called 'kettle lakes,' formed by the melting of blocks of glacial ice, left as the glacier retreated, which created a depression in the soil.

Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. A large portion of the area is the Grayling outwash plain, a broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges; jack pine barrens, some white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action.

Headwaters of the Au Sable, Black, Manistee, Pigeon, and Sturgeon Rivers are in Otsego County. The Au Sable River watershed is the county's largest watershed.

Adjacent counties

 * Cheboygan County - north
 * Montmorency County - east
 * Oscoda County - southeast
 * Crawford County - south
 * Kalkaska County - southwest
 * Antrim County - west
 * Charlevoix County - northwest

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 23,301 people, 8,995 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 /mi2. There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 26 /mi2. As of 2020, its population grew to 25,091.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 97.51% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.1% were of German, 17.6% Polish, 10.5% Irish, 9.9% English and 9.4% American ancestry. 96.8% spoke English and 1.3% Polish as their first language.

There were 8,995 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% 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 3.00.

The county population contained 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $40,876, and the median income for a family was $46,628. Males had a median income of $34,413 versus $21,204 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,810. About 5.30% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Otsego County voters have been reliably Republican from the start. They have selected the Republican Party nominee in 88% of national elections (30 of 34).

Political Culture
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: Michael A. Rola
 * Sheriff: Matthew Nowicki
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Susan I. DeFeyter
 * County Treasurer: Diann M. Axford
 * County Surveyor: Ronald C. Brand

(information as of September 2005)

Media
The Gaylord Herald Times is the newspaper of record for Otsego County. It is published twice weekly, and is the oldest surviving business. It was founded in 1875, the year that the county was organized.

City

 * Gaylord (county seat)

Village

 * Vanderbilt

Civil townships

 * Bagley Township
 * Charlton Township
 * Chester Township
 * Corwith Township
 * Dover Township
 * Elmira Township
 * Hayes Township
 * Livingston Township
 * Otsego Lake Township

Unincorporated communities

 * Arbutus Beach
 * Elmira (partial)
 * Eyedylwild Beach
 * Farrar Landing
 * Green Timbers
 * Hetherton (partial)
 * Johannesburg
 * Lower Chub Landing
 * Oak Grove
 * Otsego Lake
 * Pearll City
 * Sparr
 * Vienna Corners (partial)
 * Waters
 * Whites Landing

State-maintained highways

 * is a north–south freeway the runs through central Otsego County, bypassing Gaylord to the west. The route serves as Michigan's major north–south thoroughfare, cities such as Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw with Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
 * is a loop route serving businesses and tourists in the city of Gaylord. It shares a short concurrency with M-32.
 * is an east–west route, running across much of the width of the northern Lower Peninsula. Including Gaylord, the highway serves communities such as East Jordan, Elmira, Johannesburg, Atlanta, Hillman, and Alpena.
 * is a former highway that was removed from Otsego County in 1961. The route has since been supplanted by I-75, and is today referred to as "Old 27".

County-designated highways

 * is an east–west route that connects the community of Otsego Lake to US Highway 131 (US 131) at Mancelona.
 * is an east–west route serving as a cutoff between M-32 near Gaylord and US 131 at Alba.
 * is an east–west route in northwest Otsego County, connecting Boyne Falls and eastern Charlevoix County to Old US 27 and Vanderbilt.
 * is a north–south route running along the Otsego–Montmorency county line.
 * is an east–west route serving southeastern Otsego County and the Montmorency County community of Lewiston.
 * serves as a southern bypass of Gaylord, running parallel to M-32.
 * parallels M-32 to the north, east of Gaylord.
 * is a north–south route that serves southern Otsego County, and extends south into Crawford, Roscommon, and Gladwin counties.

Airport
Gaylord Regional Airport – on SW edge of Gaylord, owned and operated by Otsego County, is a General Utility Airport. It is listed as a tier one airport in all categories of the Michigan Airport System Plan.

title: Otsego County, Michigan


text:
Talk:New Mexico

Please see new "Other" item at end
Hey folks ... NM native and Wikipedia newbie here. For anyone watching this page, please see the "Other" item that I added at the end of the article. I think it's relevant albeit amusing, but I'm open to discussing it. The geographic ignorance of NM isn't all that common these days, but I think it happens often enough to merit a mention. Thanks. Yesthatbruce (talk) 04:04, 21 June 2023 (UTC)

 * I think it's a worthy inclusion and have long enjoyed that segment! But the paragraph you added makes a number of claims ("Since 1970...", "...only state to do this...", "...so as not to be confused...") that should be cited. WP:CITE has some tips on what constitutes a good citation by Wiki standards, but mostly it should be independent (i.e. not written by the magazine itself) and reliable (i.e. not some crazy geocities site).
 * Thanks for contributing and keep up! SpookyTwenty (talk) 18:02, 21 June 2023 (UTC)

agriculture economic numbers
In the agriculture and food production section, the article says NM has an agricultural sector worth $40 billion annually. This would be >40% of the entire state economy. By comparison, the actual USA agricultural production is worth ~$380 billion/year (USDA figures), which is 1.4% of the economy. The $40 billion number is overstated by at least an order of magnitude. 2601:58A:887F:5E80:FCC6:64E5:9207:4D81 (talk) 20:12, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

 * Yes, multiple sources contradict that $40B number:
 * https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/economic-profiles/new-mexico/
 * https://www.statista.com/statistics/1065130/new-mexico-real-gdp-by-industry/
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20240114193756/https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Portals/0/DM/LMI/NM_Data_Focus_GDP.pdf
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20230515113308/https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Portals/0/Gross_Domestic_Product_of_New_Mexico.pdf
 * They all put agriculture+forestry+fishing+hunting at less than $2B.
 * - Wikkiwonkk (talk) 15:04, 18 February 2024 (UTC)

too long tag
is the longest section, perhaps it should be moved back to culture of New Mexico? Arlo James Barnes 16:19, 14 December 2023 (UTC)

I've posted a message to the Tea Room to ask how to go about editing the page so that it's consistent with other state pages.

Total page word count (minus footnotes) is ~21,000 words by copying and pasting the text into Word, using the Unformatted Text paste option. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gamboler (talk • contribs) 02:43, 8 January 2024 (UTC)

"Economic climate" claim is unverified
In the third paragraph (starts with "New Mexico's economy") it says that NM has a significant military presence "due to its large area and economic climate". First problem: "economic climate" is a vague term. Second problem: the cited source says nothing about New Mexico's economy being the reason for the significant military presence. Just the opposite (sort of) - it says that the significant military presence plays a key role in the state's economy. Perhaps the editor who wrote "economic climate" meant to say something about NM's climate (lots of clear sunny days? I don't know), but the source doesn't say anything about that either. - Wikkiwonkk (talk) 15:48, 18 February 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:New Mexico


text:
Oscoda County, Michigan

Oscoda County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,219, making it the least populous county in the Lower Peninsula, and the sixth-least populous county in the entire state. The county seat is Mio, an unincorporated community near the center of the county.

History
The county was established on April 1, 1840, by act of the Michigan State legislature. However, its governing structure was not completed until 1881. The name is a Henry Rowe Schoolcraft neologism, thought to be a combination of two Ojibwa words, "ossin" (stone) and "muskoda" (prairie) – hence 'pebbly prairie.' He served as the US Indian agent and was also a geographer, surveying and naming newly established counties and towns.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 572 sqmi, of which 566 sqmi is land and 5.9 sqmi (1.0%) is water. Oscoda County is part of Northern Michigan.

Geographic features
Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. Much of the area is the Grayling outwash plain, a broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges, jack pine barrens, white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action.
 * Mio is situated in the Au Sable River Valley.
 * The county is surrounded by the Huron National Forest and the Rifle River State Recreation Area.
 * The county is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the Grayling Fire Management Unit, which consists of Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties.
 * Much of the area sits on the "Grayling outwash plain", a unique habitat.
 * The Oscoda County Park offers a good vantage point.

Major highways

 * – runs north–south through the central part of the county. Passes Fairview and Mio.
 * – enters west end of county near its central part. Runs east to intersection with M-33 at Mio. Passes Luzerne. It is one of three true cross peninsular highways.
 * – runs east from Mio into Alcona County. Passes McKinley.

Adjacent counties

 * Montmorency County - north
 * Alpena County - northeast
 * Alcona County - east
 * Iosco County - southeast
 * Ogemaw County - south
 * Roscommon County - southwest
 * Crawford County - west
 * Otsego County - northwest

National protected area

 * Huron National Forest (part)

Communities
Oscoda County is the only county in Michigan with no incorporated communities.

Civil townships

 * Big Creek Township
 * Clinton Township
 * Comins Township
 * Elmer Township
 * Greenwood Township
 * Mentor Township

Census-designated place

 * Mio (county seat)

Other unincorporated communities

 * Biggs Settlement
 * Comins
 * Fairview
 * Kneeland
 * Luzerne
 * McKinley
 * Red Oak

Demographics
At the 2000 United States census, 9,418 people, 3,921 households, and 2,717 families resided in the county. The population density was 17 /mi2. There were 8,690 housing units at an average density of 15 /mi2. By 2020, the county had 8,219 residents.

In 2000, the county's racial makeup was 97.82% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30.2% were of German, 12.8% American, 9.6% English, 8.1% Polish, 6.8% French and 6.7% Irish ancestry. 94.1% spoke English, 2.8% German and 1.5% Pennsylvania Dutch as their first language.

In 2000, there were 3,921 households, out of which 25.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.85. The county population contained 23.30% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 28.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $28,228, and the median income for a family was $32,225. Males had a median income of $30,013 versus $20,202 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,697. About 10.30% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Oscoda County has been reliably Republican since its organization. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 85% (29 of 35) of the national elections through 2020.

Oscoda 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 – Kristi Mcgregor
 * Sheriff – Kevin R. Grace
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds – Ann Galbraith
 * County Treasurer – William Kendall
 * Commissioner Dist. 1 – Chuck Varner (Chairman)
 * Commissioner Dist. 2 – Tom McCauley
 * Commissioner Dist. 3 – Jackie Bondar
 * Commissioner Dist. 4 – Ted Handrich
 * Commissioner Dist. 5 – Libby Marsh

current as of January 2022

Recreation
The AuSable River, near Mio, provides opportunity for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing. The M-33 access north of Mio has a launch area and public facilities. A second launch area is at the Mio Dam Pond.

Oscoda County offers snowmobile trails, ATV trails, hiking trails, and cross country skiing trails. Snowmobile and ATV trails are located throughout Luzerne, McKinley, and Mio. There is a scramble area at Bull Gap in the Huron National Forest. The Loud Creek Trail offers 7 different routes with varying difficulty levels. The trail's total distance is 10 kilometers.

In Fairview, there is a horseback riding ranch and a golf course. Karefree Ranch Boarding Stables offers guided horseback rides in Huron National Forest. The Fairview Hills Golf Club is a 9-hole golf course on M-33.

title: Oscoda County, Michigan


text:
Osceola County, Michigan

Osceola County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 22,891. The county seat is Reed City.

History

When established by the Michigan Legislature on April 1, 1840, it was named Unwattin County, after Chief Unwattin of the local Ottawa people. As a representative of the Ottawa nation, he participated in negotiations for the Treaty of Washington (1836) that granted a vast expanse of Michigan to the US Federal Government. The name was changed March 8, 1843, to Osceola, after the Seminole chief who achieved renown in Florida.

The county was initially attached for administrative purposes to Ottawa County. In 1855, it was attached to Mason County; in 1857, to Newaygo County; and in 1859, to Mecosta County.

As the population increased, separate county government was organized in 1869, with Hersey designated as the county seat. Reed City became the official county seat in 1927. The county was developed initially for harvesting and processing lumber, and many European Americans came to work in lumbering and the mills.

Geography
The low rolling hills of Osceola County were completely wooded prior to settlement; at present about half of the area has been cleared and converted to agricultural or urban use. There are numerous small lakes and ponds scattered across the county; the largest is Rose Lake, northeast of LeRoy. The highest point on the terrain (1722 ft ASL) is Grove Hill, in Sherman Township. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 sqmi, of which 566 sqmi is land and 6.7 sqmi (6.7%) is water. The county is drained by the Muskegon River and branches of the Manistee River. Osceola County is part of Northern Michigan.

Adjacent counties

 * Wexford County − northwest
 * Missaukee County − northeast
 * Clare County − east
 * Isabella County − southeast
 * Mecosta County − south
 * Newaygo County − southwest
 * Lake County − west

Major highways

 * in Reed City
 * in Reed City
 * in Reed City

2000 census
At the 2000 United States Census, there were 23,197 people, 8,861 households and 6,415 families in the county. The population density was 41 /mi2. There were 12,853 housing units at an average density of 23 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.51% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.0% were of German, 11.9% English, 11.0% American, 8.8% Irish, 6.5% Dutch and 5.2% Polish ancestry. 96.8% spoke English, 1.1% German and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 8,861 households, of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

27.10% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median household income was $34,102 and the median family income was $39,205. Males had a median income of $29,837 compared with $22,278 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,632. About 9.50% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 10.30% 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.

Cities

 * Evart
 * Reed City (county seat)

Villages

 * Hersey
 * LeRoy
 * Marion
 * Tustin

Unincorporated communities

 * Ashton
 * Dighton
 * Highland
 * Ina
 * Orono
 * Park Lake
 * Pisgah Heights
 * Sears

Townships

 * Burdell Township
 * Cedar Township
 * Evart Township
 * Hartwick Township
 * Hersey Township
 * Highland Township
 * Le Roy Township
 * Lincoln Township
 * Marion Township
 * Middle Branch Township
 * Orient Township
 * Osceola Township
 * Richmond Township
 * Rose Lake Township
 * Sherman Township
 * Sylvan Township

Intermediate School District
The Mecosta–Osceola Intermediate School District, based in Big Rapids, services the majority of the students in the county (Evart and Reed City), while Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District covering services for the others (Marion and Pine River). The ISD offers regional special education services, a residential at-risk youth center, and technical career programs for students of its districts.

=== Public School Districts === Osceola County is served by the following regular public school districts:

 * Evart Public Schools
 * Marion Public Schools
 * Pine River Area Schools
 * Reed City Area Public Schools

=== Private Schools === Osceola County has the following private schools:

 * Trinity Lutheran School (Lutheran)

title: Osceola County, Michigan


text:
Ontonagon County, Michigan

Ontonagon County  is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,816, making it Michigan's third-least populous county. The county seat is Ontonagon. The county was set off in 1843, and organized in 1848. Its territory had been organized as part of Chippewa and Mackinac counties. With increasing population in the area, more counties were organized. After Ontonagon was organized, it was split to create Gogebic County. It is also the westernmost county in United States that lies within the Eastern Time Zone.

History
In 1843, Michigan's Upper Peninsula was divided into Mackinac, Chippewa, Marquette, Schoolcraft, Delta, and Ontonagon Counties. In 1845, a portion of Ontonagon County was partitioned to be part of Houghton County. In 1846, the village of Ontonagon was named as the county seat of Ontonagon County.

Ontonagon County is part of Copper Country, a region of the Upper Peninsula with prevalent copper mining from 1845 until the late 1960s. Prehistoric mining was conducted by local Native American populations. The first attempts by Europeans to mine copper in the area came in 1771 in the Ontonagon River. The Ontonagan Copper Boulder was removed from the west branch of the Ontonagon River and transported in 1842 to Detroit where it was weighed at 3708 pounds, thence to the Smithsonian Institute. The last copper mine in Copper Country was the White Pine mine, which closed in 1995.

Etymology
The county is named after the Ontonagon River. The name is said to be loosely derived from an Ojibwe language word noojitoon ziibi, meaning "hunting river." A French transliteration, Nantounagon, identified the river on a 1670 French map. Alternatively, and perhaps more accurately, it is said to be derived from the Ojibwa onagon, which means "dish" or "bowl." See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3741 sqmi, of which 1311 sqmi is land and 2430 sqmi (65%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Michigan by area.

Ontonagon County is located in the western Upper Peninsula, along the shore of Lake Superior. At a longitude of 89.5°W, it is the westernmost county in the United States contained entirely within the Eastern Time Zone.

Geographic features

 * Porcupine Mountains
 * Lake of the Clouds
 * Lake Superior
 * Lake Gogebic is the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula.
 * Corpse Pond
 * Ontonagon River
 * Firesteel River
 * Flintsteel River
 * Halfway Creek
 * Townline Creek
 * Maple Leaf Creek

Adjacent counties
By land

 * Houghton County (east)
 * Iron County (southeast; CST border)
 * Gogebic County (south, southwest; CST border)

By water

 * Ashland County, Wisconsin (west; CST border)
 * Cook County, Minnesota (northwest; CST border)
 * Keweenaw County (northeast)

National protected areas

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

Major highways

 * – runs north–south through east-central part of county. Enters south line from Watersmeet, passes Paulding, Bruce Crossing, and Rockland, ending at Ontonagon.
 * – enters east line of county at 12 mi south of NE county corner. Runs SW, passing Mass City and Lake Mine, to intersection with M-38 east of Rockland.
 * – runs east–west thru southern part of county. Enters 10.4 mi north of SE county corner. Runs westerly into Gogebic County.
 * – enters east line of county at a point east of Mass City. Runs west to Lake Mine, then WNW to terminus at Ontonagon.
 * – runs north–south through center part of county. Enters south line on west side of Lake Gogebic; runs north to Lake Superior shoreline. Runs NE along shoreline to terminus at Ontonagon.

Airport

 * Airport_Sign.svg Ontonagon County Airport (KOGM) serves the county and surrounding communities.

Demographics
The 2010 United States census indicated Ontonagon County had a population of 6,780. In 2010 there were 3,258 households and 1,954 families in the county. The population density was 6 /mi2. There were 5,672 housing units at an average density of 4 /mi2. At the 2010 census, 97.3% of the population were White, 1.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). By the publication of the 2020 census, its population declined to 5,816.

In 2010, there were 3,258 households, out of which 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.61. The county population contained 15.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 16.7% from 25 to 44, 37.0% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.7 years. The population is 51.6% male and 48.4% female.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $34,786, and the median income for a family was $46,845. The per capita income for the county was $22,195. About 9.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. At the 2021 census estimates, its median household income grew to $44,605.

Village

 * Ontonagon (county seat)

Civil townships

 * Bergland Township
 * Bohemia Township
 * Carp Lake Township
 * Greenland Township
 * Haight Township
 * Interior Township
 * Matchwood Township
 * McMillan Township
 * Ontonagon Township
 * Rockland Township
 * Stannard Township

Census-designated places

 * Bergland
 * Bruce Crossing
 * Ewen
 * Greenland
 * Lake Gogebic
 * Mass City
 * Rockland
 * White Pine

Unincorporated communities

 * Agate
 * Algonquin
 * Calderwood
 * Carp Lake
 * Craigsmere
 * Maple Grove
 * Matchwood
 * Paulding
 * Paynesville
 * Robbins
 * Trout Creek
 * Victoria

Ghost town

 * Adventure

Indian reservation

 * The Ontonagon Indian Reservation, a branch of the Lake Superior Chippewa, has a reservation in the northeastern section of Ontonagon Township on the shores of Lake Superior. The reservation occupies 3.775 sqmi of land but recorded no permanent population at the 2010 census.

Government
Ontonagon County is fairly balanced to Republican-leaning. Since 1876 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 62% (23 of 37) of the national elections through 2020.

Ontonagon 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: Michael D. Findlay
 * Sheriff: Dale Rantala
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Stacy C. Preiss
 * County Treasurer: Jeanne M. Pollard
 * Mine Inspector: Douglas Roberts

As of September 2018

title: Ontonagon County, Michigan


text:
Ogemaw County, Michigan

Ogemaw County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,770. The county seat is West Branch.

The county newspaper of record is the Ogemaw Herald.

History
Ogemaw County started as part of the Virginia Land owned by England. After the Revolutionary War, it broke up into smaller and smaller pieces. The county was originally created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 from unorganized territory, but was absorbed into Iosco County in 1867. It was re-created in 1873, and was finally organized in 1875. The county's name is an Anglicization of the Anishinaabemowin word ogimaa, meaning "chief". Ogemaw's name came from an eloquent, respected Native American orator named Little Elk. One of the first settlements in the county was Ogemaw Springs, the genesis of lumbering operations in the county. The settlement of Ogemaw Springs ended when the lumber industry in the region ended. (Due to the lumber industry, railways were built to transport the lumber, and towns often sprang up along the tracks. After timber supplies in the Midwest dwindled, loggers shifted westward to the Pacific Northwest to find new sources of lumber, and many of these fledgling settlements foundered.) With Ogemaw Springs in decline, the people flocked to West Branch, causing an economic boom, including the construction of its first hotel. This created even more growth, causing many restaurants, hotels, and businesses to be built, a vast majority of which still stand today.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 sqmi, of which 563 sqmi is land and 11 sqmi (2.0%) is water. Ogemaw County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Highways

 * – Runs SE across the southwest part of the county; passes south of West Branch.
 * – Enters from Gladwin County at 5.5 mi east of the SW corner of Ogemaw County; runs north and NE to intersection with M-55 near West Branch.
 * – Runs north–south through the middle of county; passes Rose City.
 * – Runs east–west across the lower part of county; enters from Iosco County at 6 mi north of SE corner of Ogemaw County; runs west to intersection with I-75, west of West Branch.

Adjacent counties

 * Oscoda County - north
 * Alcona County - northeast
 * Iosco County - east
 * Arenac County - southeast
 * Gladwin County - southwest
 * Roscommon County - west
 * Crawford County - northwest

National protected area

 * Huron National Forest (part)

State protected area

 * Au Sable State Forest (part)
 * Rifle River State Recreation Area

Cities

 * Rose City
 * West Branch (county seat)

Village

 * Prescott

Civil townships

 * Churchill Township
 * Cumming Township
 * Edwards Township
 * Foster Township
 * Goodar Township
 * Hill Township
 * Horton Township
 * Klacking Township
 * Logan Township
 * Mills Township
 * Ogemaw Township
 * Richland Township
 * Rose Township
 * West Branch Township

Census-designated places

 * Lupton
 * Skidway Lake

Other unincorporated communities

 * Camp Lu Lay Lea
 * Campbells Corners
 * Damon
 * Edwards
 * Elbow Lake
 * Fayettes Corner
 * Goodar
 * Greenwood
 * Ogemaw Springs
 * Selkirk
 * Shady Shores
 * South Branch

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 21,645 people, 8,842 households, and 6,189 families residing in the county. By the 2020 census, its population was 20,770.

Government
For many years, Ogemaw County has been reliably Republican. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 82% of the national presidential elections (28 of 35).

Ogemaw 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 – LaDonna A. Schultz
 * Sheriff – Brian D. Gilbert
 * County Clerk – Breck Gildner
 * County Treasurer – Caren Piglowski
 * Register of Deeds – Denise Simmons
 * Drain Commissioner – Michael DeMatio
 * Commissioner Dist. 1 – Craig Scott
 * Commissioner Dist. 2 – Mark Surbrook
 * Commissioner Dist. 3 – Ronald Vaughn
 * Commissioner Dist. 4 – Brad Neubecker
 * Commissioner Dist. 5 – Jenny David

(information as of February 2021)

title: Ogemaw County, Michigan


text:
Oceana County, Michigan

Oceana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 26,659. Its county seat and largest incorporated community is Hart.

Oceana County is located in the West Michigan region of the state's Lower Peninsula. The county has a shoreline along Lake Michigan, which has allowed for agriculture and tourism to flourish within the county. The county is also known as the "Asparagus Capital of the World", and is home to the National Asparagus Festival, in Hart.

History
Prior to European American settlement, Oceana County was part of the territory of the Ojibwe. Early European American settlers were attracted by access along the White River, which reaches its mouth on Lake Michigan in Muskegon County to the south.

The State of Michigan created the county of Oceana on April 1, 1840. The county was organized in 1855. The origin of the county's name is unclear, although there are two possibilities: the county may have been named for Lake Michigan, the freshwater "ocean," which forms its western border; or for the book Oceana, written by English author James Harrington in 1656.

In the 1850s about 1400 Odawa were relocated here from Ionia County, Michigan by the federal government.

The county economy was first built on the lumber trade, with logs floated downriver. It later was developed for agriculture. In the 21st century, it is known for its commodity crop of asparagus. Oceana County is famous as the "Asparagus Capital of the World" for its high production of asparagus. The annual Asparagus Festival includes a parade and crowning of the Asparagus Queen.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1306 sqmi, of which 512 sqmi is land and 794 sqmi (61%) is water. The county is considered to be part of West Michigan. The county's western border is formed by Lake Michigan.

Adjacent counties
By land By water
 * Mason County – north
 * Lake County – northeast
 * Newaygo County – east
 * Muskegon County – south
 * Ozaukee County, Wisconsin – southwest
 * Sheboygan County, Wisconsin – west

National protected area

 * Manistee National Forest (part)

Major highways

 * is a north–south freeway in the west of Oceana County. It passes Rothbury, New Era, Shelby, Mears, Hart, and Pentwater.
 * is a business spur serving downtown Hart.
 * is an east–west route in the south of the county. The highway's western terminus is at US 31 near New Era, and it continues easterly toward Hesperia, where it crosses into Newaygo County.
 * is a north–south highway that runs due north from the county tri-point with Muskegon and Newaygo counties to an intersection with M-20 at Hesperia.

County-designated highways

 * is a north–south county-designated highway that parallels the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The route enters the county from the south, and passes through Stony Lake and the Silver Lake area before ending at Pentwater.

Demographics
This rural county reached a peak of population in 2000. It has attracted Hispanic or Latino immigrants who mostly work as farm laborers; in 2010 nearly 14% of the population was Hispanic.

The 2010 United States Census indicates Oceana County had a 2010 population of 26,570. This decrease of 303 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a 1.1% population decrease in the decade. In 2010 there were 10,174 households and 7,239 families in the county. The population density was 51.9 per square mile (20.0 square kilometers). There were 15,944 housing units at an average density of 31.1 per square mile (12.0 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 13.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races.

There were 10,174 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were husband and wife families, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.8% were non-families, and 24.6% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04.

The county population contained 24.9% under age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $39,043 and the median income for a family was $46,816. Males had a median income of $21,774 versus $14,186 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,065. About 1.9% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under the age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

 * Oceana County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
 * Oceana County is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan.
 * Several Christian denominations are represented in the county population.
 * There is one meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oceana County as of 2018.

Tourism
The Electric Forest Festival (formerly the Rothbury Music Festival) has been held annually in Rothbury, Michigan since 2008, except 2020 and 2021, due to COVID.

Camping is a popular summer activity in Oceana County. Areas on the lakeshore such as Silver Lake, Pentwater, and Stony Lake are popular tourist sites.

Government
Oceana County has largely voted Republican through the years. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 82% (28 of 34) of the national elections through 2020.

Oceana 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: Joseph J. Bizon
 * Sheriff: Craig Mast
 * County administrator: Robert J. Sobie, Ph.D.
 * Animal control: Michael Garcia
 * Building inspector: Randy Miller
 * County clerk: Amy L. Anderson
 * Drain commissioner: Michelle Martin
 * Economic alliance: Ms. Jodi Nichols
 * Emergency management: James C. Duram
 * Equalization: Edward K. VanderVries, MMAO IV, PPE
 * Medical examiner: Dr. Rudy Ochs DO
 * Register of deeds: Richard A. Hodges
 * County treasurer: Mary Lou Phillips

(information as of May 2021)

Education
The West Shore Educational Service District, based in Ludington, services the districts in the county along with those of Mason and Lake counties. The intermediate school district offers regional special education and general education services, as well as technical career programs for its students.

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

 * Hart Public School District
 * Pentwater Public School District
 * Shelby Public Schools
 * Walkerville Public Schools

Oceana County has the following private schools:
 * New Era Christian School
 * Oceana Christian School (Baptist)

City

 * Hart (county seat)

Villages

 * Hesperia (partially)
 * New Era
 * Pentwater
 * Rothbury
 * Shelby
 * Walkerville

Census-designated place

 * Mears

Unincorporated communities

 * Bird
 * Collinsville
 * Corbin's Mill
 * Cranston
 * Crystal Valley
 * Elbridge
 * Elmwood
 * Elwood
 * Ferry
 * Flower Creek
 * Forest City
 * Gale
 * Silver Lake
 * Stony Lake

Townships

 * Benona Township
 * Claybanks Township
 * Colfax Township
 * Crystal Township
 * Elbridge Township
 * Ferry Township
 * Golden Township
 * Grant Township
 * Greenwood Township
 * Hart Township
 * Leavitt Township
 * Newfield Township
 * Otto Township
 * Pentwater Township
 * Shelby Township
 * Weare Township

title: Oceana County, Michigan


text:
Oakland County, Michigan

Oakland County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a principal county of the Detroit metropolitan area, containing the bulk of Detroit's northern suburbs. Its seat of government is Pontiac, and its largest city is Troy. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 1,274,395, making it the second-most populous county in Michigan (behind neighboring Wayne County), and the largest county in the United States without a city of 100,000 residents.

Founded in 1819 and organized the following year, Oakland County is composed of 62 cities, villages, and townships. In 2010, Oakland County was among the ten wealthiest counties in the United States to have over one million residents. It is also home to Oakland University, a large public institution that straddles the border between the cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills.

History
Founded by Territorial Governor Lewis Cass in 1819, sparsely settled Oakland was originally twice its current size. As was customary at the time, as populations increased, other counties were organized from its land area. Woodward Avenue and the Detroit and Pontiac Railroad helped draw settlers in the 1840s. By 1840, Oakland had more than fifty lumber mills, processing wood harvested from the region and the Upper Peninsula. Pontiac, located on the Clinton River, was Oakland's first town and became the county seat. After the Civil War, Oakland was still primarily a rural, agricultural county with numerous isolated villages. By the end of the 19th century, three rail lines served Pontiac, and the city attracted carriage and wagon factories. In the late 1890s streetcars were constructed here and to Detroit.

At that time, developers made southern Oakland County a suburb of Detroit; a Cincinnati firm platted a section of Royal Oak called "Urbanrest." Migration worked both ways. Several thousand people moved from Oakland County farms to Detroit as the city attracted factories. By 1910, a number of rich Detroiters had summer homes and some year-round residences in what became Bloomfield Hills. The auto age enveloped Pontiac in the early 1900s. The Oakland Motor Car Company was founded in 1907 and became a part of General Motors Corp., which was soon Pontiac's dominant firm.

In the 1950s, Oakland County's population boomed as the Detroiters began migrating to the suburbs. While the neighboring Macomb County was more inhabited by auto workers and other blue-collar workers, Oakland County's residents tended to be more affluent and generally white-collar (e.g. doctors, lawyers). Oakland County was for a time the fourth-wealthiest county in the United States, though its position has declined somewhat since the Great Recession. The median price of a home in Oakland County increased to $164,697, more than $30,000 above the national median. Oakland County is home to several super-regional shopping malls such as Oakland Mall, Somerset Collection, Twelve Oaks Mall, and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 907 sqmi, of which 868 sqmi is land and 40 sqmi (4.4%) is water.

Oakland County was originally divided into 25 separate townships, which are listed below. Each township is roughly equal in size at 6 mi by six miles, for a total township area of 36 sqmi. The roots of this design were born out of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the subsequent Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Oakland County itself is a prime example of the land policy that was established, as all townships are equal in size (save for slight variations due to waterways). Section 16 in each township was reserved for financing and maintaining public education, and even today many schools in Oakland County townships are located within that section.

Wayne County, where the city of Detroit is located, borders Oakland County to the south. 8 Mile Road, also known as "Baseline Road" in some areas, is the boundary between these counties. The baseline was used during the original surveying for Michigan, and it serves as the northern/southern boundaries for counties from Lake St. Clair to Lake Michigan. As more working and middle-class populations moved to the suburbs from the 1950s on, this divide (8 Mile Road) became historically known as an unofficial racial dividing line between what became the predominantly black city and almost exclusively white suburbs.

Since the late 20th century, the patterns of de facto segregation have faded as the suburbs have become more diverse. Middle-class African Americans have left Detroit, settling in inner-ring suburbs, notably Southfield (where the population is 75% Black), west of Woodward Avenue. Based on the 2010 Census, the following cities also have significant non-white populations: Farmington (25.3%), Farmington Hills (31.7%), Novi (30.12%), Oak Park (62.61%), Lathrup Village (72.97%), Orchard Lake Village (16.08%), Rochester Hills (20.94%), Troy (29.4%), Wixom (26.28%), West Bloomfield (24.0%), Bloomfield (18.28%), Bloomfield Hills (14.2%), Ferndale (17.2%), and Madison Heights (17.7%). Ferndale has a concentration of Arab Americans, who also live in nearby areas, and numerous Asian Americans, particularly Indians, have also settled in these areas.

Adjacent counties

 * Lapeer County (northeast)
 * Genesee County (northwest)
 * Macomb County (east)
 * Wayne County (southeast)
 * Washtenaw County (southwest)
 * Livingston County (west)

Demographics
As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people and 315,175 families residing in the county. 77.3% were White, 13.6% Black or African American, 5.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% of some other race and 2.2% of two or more races. 3.5% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). There were 527,255 housing units at an average density of 564 /mi2.

Regarding ancestry, in 2000 14.4% of the population were ethnically German, 9.0% Irish, 8.5% English, 8.5% Polish, 5.7% Italian and 5.5% American, 87.4% spoke only English at home; 2.0% spoke Spanish, 1.3% Syriac (Neo Aramaic) and 1.0% Arabic. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 /mi2. There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 /mi2.

The 2000 census showed two Native American tribes with more than 1,000 members in Oakland County. There were 2,095 Cherokee and 1,458 Chippewa.

The Jewish community of metropolitan Detroit, with a population of 72,000, is the 21st largest Jewish community in the nation. This community is concentrated in Oakland County, especially in Southfield, Oak Park, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Troy and Huntington Woods.

There were 471,115 households, of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.09.

Among Asian Americans, eight ethnic groups had more than 1,000 members in the county in 2000. The most numerous were those of Asian Indian descent, with 20,705. Next were those of Chinese heritage, numbering 10,018. Next were those of Japanese (5,589), Filipino (5,450) Korean (5,351), Vietnamese (1,687), Pakistani (1,458) and Hmong (1,210) ancestry.

In 2001, Oakland County had the 36th largest Asian population of any county in the country. In 2002, of the Oakland-Wayne-Macomb tricounty area, Oakland County had 49% of the tri-county area's Asian population.

In terms of age, 25.20% of the county's population was under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 32.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $86,567, making Oakland County the 71st wealthiest county in the United States. Males had a median income of $55,833 versus $35,890 for females. The per capita income for the county was $65,759. About 3.80% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The county government 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 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.

Service Center
Most county operations are based at the Oakland County Service Center, which straddles Telegraph Road, split between Pontiac and neighboring Waterford Township. The east campus (in Pontiac) consists mostly of the courthouse, jail, and Sheriff's Office, while the west campus (in Waterford) contains the county executive's office, Children's Village (the county's juvenile detention center), and the headquarters of Oakland Schools, the Road Commission, and a number of other departments.

In May 2023, the county government announced a plan to relocate select offices from the Service Center back to downtown Pontiac.

Elected officials

 * County Executive: Dave Coulter (D-Ferndale)
 * Prosecuting Attorney: Karen McDonald (D-Birmingham)
 * Sheriff: Mike Bouchard (R-Bloomfield Hills)
 * County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield)
 * County Treasurer: Robert Wittenberg (D-Huntington Woods)
 * Water Resources Commissioner: Jim Nash (D-Farmington Hills)
 * Board of Commissioners: 19 members, elected from districts (13 Democrats, 6 Republicans)

Law enforcement
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is the largest sheriff's department in the state of Michigan. In 2017 it had 859 uniformed officers, although in 2022 it had nearly 100 unfilled vacancies. Republican Michael Bouchard has served as the Oakland County Sheriff since 1999.

Ten townships, 3 cities, and 2 villages in the county do not have municipal police forces, but rather contract with the sheriff for police services specific to the municipalities. Those municipalities are Addison Township (including the village of Leonard), Brandon Township (including the village of Ortonville), Clarkston, Commerce Township, Highland Township, Independence Township, Lyon Township, Oakland Township, Orion Township, Oxford Township, Springfield Township, Pontiac, and Rochester Hills. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office also operates the county jail, a civil division, marine division, alcohol and traffic enforcement units, and an aviation division. The marine patrol and rescue unit patrols 450 lakes across the county.

Road Commission
Roads that are not maintained by a local community (city/village) are maintained by the independent Road Commission for Oakland County, which is governed by three board members appointed by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

Politics
Oakland County was historically a bastion of suburban conservatism, and was hence a longstanding stronghold of the Republican Party. In the 1990s it became highly competitive, and since 2008 it has increasingly shifted Democratic, giving over 50% of its votes to the Democratic candidate for president in each election. Republican strength is concentrated in the many exurban townships of the county, while Democratic strength is concentrated in suburbs such as Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield, and Southfield. Some suburbs, such as Novi, Troy, Birmingham, and Rochester, were historically strongly Republican but are now relatively split between the two parties, with younger adults tending to support Democrats and older residents tending to support Republicans.

In 1996, Bill Clinton became the first Democrat to carry Oakland County since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and only the fourth to do so since 1892. Al Gore and John Kerry also carried the county, by narrow margins of less than 7,000 and 3,000 votes respectively, against George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, respectively. In 2008, the county swung significantly to Barack Obama, who became the first Democrat to win a majority in the county since LBJ, and only the third to do so since 1884. (See table at right.) He again carried the county in 2012, though by a smaller margin. Hillary Clinton won a narrow majority in 2016. In 2020, Joe Biden won 56 percent of the vote. He received over 400,000 votes, and became the first Democrat to carry the county by a margin of over 100,000 votes.

While the Democratic Party has found increasing success in presidential elections in Oakland County, the state Republican Party has remained strong in some recent gubernatorial and state elections. The county favored Republican Rick Snyder by a 22-point margin in the 2010 Michigan gubernatorial election and again by a 12-point margin in the 2014 election; conversely, the county favored Democratic candidate Gretchen Whitmer by a 17-point margin in the 2018 election and again by a 23-point margin in the 2022 election. Republicans held a majority on the County Commission for most of its history, but following the 2018 elections, Democrats won a narrow 11-10 majority on the commission.

In the 118th Congress, Oakland County is represented by four Democrats: Debbie Dingell (6th), Elissa Slotkin (7th), Haley Stevens (11th), and Rashida Tlaib (12th) and two Republicans: John James (10th) and Lisa McClain (9th).

Air

 * Oakland County International Airport (PTK) (Waterford Township) – General aviation and charter passenger flights.
 * Oakland/Troy Airport (VLL) (Troy) – General aviation and charter passenger flights.

The following airports are located in neighboring counties:
 * Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) – Major commercial airport and hub for Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines located in Wayne County.
 * Bishop International Airport (FNT) – Commercial airport located in Genesee County.
 * Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET) – General aviation airport in Detroit.

Major highways

 * is the main north–south highway in the region, serving Flint, Pontiac, Troy, and Detroit, before continuing south (as the Fisher and Detroit-Toledo Freeways) to serve many of the communities along the shore of Lake Erie.
 * runs northwest–southeast through Oakland County and (as the Jeffries Freeway) has its eastern terminus in downtown Detroit.
 * runs north–south from I-75 in the south to the junction of I-96 and I-696 in the north, providing a bypass through the western suburbs of Detroit.
 * runs east–west from the junction of I-96 and I-275, providing a route through the northern suburbs of Detroit. Taken together, I-275 and I-696 form a semicircle around Detroit.
 * ends just outside of Clarkston at I-75. To the south, US 24 serves suburban Detroit and Monroe before entering Ohio. Much of US 24 in Oakland County is named Telegraph Road, and it is a major north–south road extending from Toledo, Ohio, through Monroe, Wayne, and Oakland Counties to Pontiac. It gained notoriety in a song (Telegraph Road) by the group Dire Straits.
 * has a northern terminus in Pontiac. The route continues southerly from Oakland County into the City of Detroit, ending downtown. The Detroit Zoo is located along M-1 in Oakland County. M-1 is also home to the Woodward Dream Cruise, a classic-car cruise from Pontiac to Ferndale that is held in August. It is the largest single-day classic-car cruise in America.
 * (Haggerty Connector) provides expressway access from Commerce and West Bloomfield Townships at Pontiac Trail to the I-96/I-275/I-696 interchange, then follows the Farmington bypass to Grand River Avenue west of Middlebelt Road, continuing along Grand River into downtown Detroit.
 * runs largely parallel to I-75 from Southfield to downtown Detroit. The service drives are named Northwestern Highway.
 * (Ortonville Road, Main Street in Clarkston)
 * has a southern terminus at I-75 northeast of Pontiac. To the north, the route continues to Lapeer and beyond. Note: M-24 and US 24 do not intersect at present, although this was the case until the 1950s.
 * runs north–south from I-94 in Allen Park to Southfield. North of Nine Mile Road, the freeway ends and continues as Southfield Road into Birmingham.
 * (Highland Road [from Pontiac westerly], Huron Street [within Pontiac] and Veterans Memorial Freeway [Pontiac to Utica]), continues east in Macomb County as Hall Road to Clinton Township and west to I-96 near Howell
 * Perhaps better known as 8 Mile Road, M-102 follows the Oakland–Wayne county line for most of its length. 8 Mile Road, known by many due to the film 8 Mile, forms the dividing line between Detroit on the south and the suburbs of Macomb and Oakland counties on the north. It is also known as Baseline Road outside of Detroit, because it coincides with the baseline used in surveying Michigan; that baseline is also the boundary for a number of Michigan counties. It is designated M-102 for much of its length in Wayne County.
 * serves as a spur highway from M-59 into the city of Rochester.
 * Grand River Avenue connects the suburbs of Brighton, Novi, and Farmington to downtown Detroit. The avenue follows the route of old US 16 before I-96 replaced it in 1962. It is one of the five roads planned by Judge August Woodward to radiate out from Detroit and connect the city to other parts of the state.

Intercity rail
Amtrak's thrice-daily Wolverine serves Oakland County, with stations in Pontiac, Troy, and Royal Oak, before continuing on to Detroit and west to Chicago.

Mile roads
Surface-street navigation in metro Detroit is commonly anchored by "mile roads," major east–west surface streets that are spaced at one-mile (1.6 km) intervals and increment as one travels north and away from the city center. Mile roads sometimes have two names, the numeric name (e.g., 15 Mile Road), used in Macomb County, and a local name (e.g., Maple Road), used in Oakland County (for the most part).

Bicycling
The conditions on most non-residential roads in Oakland County are not favorable to bicycling. Exceptions to this are primarily in the inner-ring suburbs within the southeast corner of the county. This is due to their street grid.

A primary reason for these unfavorable cycling conditions is the Road Commission for Oakland County has a policy of not accommodating bicycles on the road. As a result, some communities have designated sidepaths (locally called "safety paths") as bike routes which do not meet the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines for bicycling facilities and have been found to be less safe than on-road bike facilities.

As a result, there are no designated Bicycle Friendly Communities within Oakland County.

Only the city of Ferndale has a built comprehensive bicycle network of bike lanes and signed shared roadways.

Education
The County of Oakland counterpart in public education (K–12) is the Oakland Schools, an Intermediate school district. The county is also home to multiple renowned private elementary and high schools, including The Roeper School and Cranbrook.

Higher education

 * Oakland University
 * Oakland Community College
 * Lawrence Technological University
 * Baker College of Royal Oak
 * Rochester Christian University
 * Walsh College
 * Saint Mary's College of Madonna University
 * Cranbrook College of Art

K-12 education
School districts:

 * Almont Community Schools
 * Avondale School District
 * Berkley School District
 * Birmingham City School District
 * Bloomfield Hills School District
 * Brandon School District
 * Clarenceville School District
 * Clarkston Community School District
 * Clawson Public Schools
 * Farmington Public Schools
 * Fenton Area Public Schools
 * Ferndale Public Schools
 * Goodrich Area Schools
 * Grand Blanc Community Schools
 * Hazel Park City School District
 * Holly Area School District
 * Huron Valley Schools
 * Lake Orion Community Schools
 * Lamphere Public Schools
 * Madison Public Schools
 * Northville Public Schools
 * Novi Community School District
 * Oak Park City School District
 * Oxford Area Community Schools
 * Pontiac City School District
 * Rochester Community Schools
 * Romeo Community Schools
 * Royal Oak City School District
 * South Lyon Community Schools
 * Southfield Public School District
 * Troy School District
 * Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
 * Warren Consolidated Schools
 * Waterford School District
 * West Bloomfield School District

Sports
The NFL's Detroit Lions played their home games at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac from 1975 through 2001, when they moved to Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. The Detroit Pistons played at the Silverdome from 1978 to 1988. The Silverdome was also the site of Super Bowl XVI, where the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, the first of 5 Super Bowl titles for the 49ers. The Pontiac Silverdome also hosted various other sporting events, prior to being demolished in 2017.

From 1988 to 2017, prior to the move to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the Detroit Pistons played their home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills. The Palace of Auburn Hills was demolished in 2020.

Cities

 * Auburn Hills
 * Berkley
 * Birmingham
 * Bloomfield Hills
 * Clarkston
 * Clawson
 * Farmington
 * Farmington Hills
 * Fenton (mostly in Genesee County)
 * Ferndale
 * Hazel Park
 * Huntington Woods
 * Keego Harbor
 * Lake Angelus
 * Lathrup Village
 * Madison Heights
 * Northville (partially in Wayne County)
 * Novi
 * Oak Park
 * Orchard Lake Village
 * Pleasant Ridge
 * Pontiac (county seat)
 * Rochester
 * Rochester Hills
 * Royal Oak
 * South Lyon
 * Southfield
 * Sylvan Lake
 * Troy
 * Walled Lake
 * Wixom

Villages

 * Beverly Hills
 * Bingham Farms
 * Franklin
 * Holly
 * Lake Orion
 * Leonard
 * Milford
 * Ortonville
 * Oxford
 * Wolverine Lake

Charter townships

 * Bloomfield Charter Township
 * Brandon Charter Township
 * Commerce Charter Township
 * Highland Charter Township
 * Independence Charter Township
 * Lyon Charter Township
 * Milford Charter Township
 * Oakland Charter Township
 * Orion Charter Township
 * Oxford Charter Township
 * Royal Oak Charter Township
 * Springfield Charter Township
 * Waterford Charter Township
 * West Bloomfield Charter Township
 * White Lake Charter Township

Civil townships

 * Addison Township
 * Groveland Township
 * Holly Township
 * Novi Township
 * Rose Township
 * Southfield Township

Unincorporated communities

 * Andersonville
 * Austin Corners
 * Brandon Gardens
 * Campbells Corner
 * Charing Cross
 * Clintonville
 * Clyde
 * Commerce
 * Davisburg
 * Drayton Plains
 * East Highland
 * Elizabeth Lake
 * Five Points
 * Four Towns
 * Gingellville
 * Glengary
 * Goodison
 * Groveland Corners
 * Hickory Ridge
 * Highland
 * Huron Heights
 * Jossman Acres
 * Kensington
 * Lake Orion Heights
 * Lakeville
 * New Hudson
 * Newark
 * Oak Grove
 * Oakley Park
 * Oakwood
 * Oxbow
 * Perry Lake Heights
 * Rose Center
 * Rose Corners
 * Rudds Mill
 * Seven Harbors
 * Springfield
 * Thomas
 * Union Lake
 * Walters
 * Waterford Village
 * Waterstone
 * West Highland
 * Westacres
 * White Lake

Rivers and lakes
Oakland County contains 387 lakes, and four major rivers run through the county:

 * Clinton River
 * Huron River
 * Rouge River
 * Shiawassee River

The headwaters of each of these rivers lie in Oakland County.

title: Oakland County, Michigan