Mackinac County, Michigan

Mackinac County, Michigan
Map of Michigan highlighting Mackinac County
Location in the state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded October 26, 1818
organized 1849[1][2]
Named for Straits of Mackinac
Seat St. Ignace
Largest city St. Ignace
Area
 • Total 2,101 sq mi (5,442 km2)
 • Land 1,022 sq mi (2,647 km2)
 • Water 1,079 sq mi (2,795 km2), 51%
Population
 • (2010) 11,113
 • Density 11/sq mi (4/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.mackinaccounty.net

Mackinac County is a county located in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,113.[3] The county seat is St. Ignace.[4] Formerly known as Michilimackinac County, in 1818 it was organized as one of the first counties of the Michigan Territory, as it had long been a center of French and British colonial fur trading, a Catholic church and Protestant mission, and associated settlement.[1]

The county's name is believed to be shortened from the French term "Michilimackinac," which referred to the Straits of Mackinac area as well as the French settlement at the tip of the lower peninsula.[1]

History

An 1835 Map Of Michigan shows the "Township of Michilimackinac" encompassing the Upper Peninsula and the entirety of Northern Michigan.

An 1835 Map Of Michigan shows the "Township of Michilimackinac" encompassing the Upper Peninsula and the entirety of Northern Michigan.

As settlers arrived between 1840 and 1853, the state broke up the single Michilimackinac County and established platted counties across Northern Michigan.

As settlers arrived between 1840 and 1853, the state broke up the single Michilimackinac County and established platted counties across Northern Michigan.

Michilimackinac County was created on October 26, 1818, by proclamation of territorial governor Lewis Cass. The county originally encompassed the Lower Peninsula of Michigan north of Macomb County and almost the entire present Upper Peninsula. As later counties were settled and organized, they were divided from this territory.

At the time of founding, the county seat was the community of Michilimackinac Island on Michilimackinac Island, later known as Mackinac Island, Michigan. This has been an important center for fur trading before the 1830s, when European demand declined. The county was organized in 1849 as Mackinac County. In 1882 the county seat was moved from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace, Michigan, which had been founded as a French Jesuit mission village during the colonial years.

Mackinac County is home to the Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, a Native American tribe located in St. Ignace.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,101 square miles (5,440 km2), of which 1,022 square miles (2,650 km2) is land and 1,079 square miles (2,790 km2) (51%) is water.[5] Mackinac County lies at the boundary of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

St. Ignace is the northern terminus of the Mackinac Bridge. Mackinac Island is within the county.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Transportation

Airports

The Mackinac County Airport in St. Ignace and Mackinac Island Airport on Mackinac Island are located within Mackinac County. The nearest airports with scheduled passenger service are Chippewa County International Airport in Sault Ste. Marie, Pellston Regional Airport,[6] Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport, and Alpena County Regional Airport.

Highways

M-185 does not allow motor vehicles with the exception of emergency vehicles.

County-designated highways

Ferry

Numerous companies operate ferries to Bois Blanc Island and Mackinac Island. Ferries to and from Mackinac Island sail from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, while the Bois Blanc Island ferry sails from Cheboygan.

Rail

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830877—
18409235.2%
18503,598289.8%
18601,938−46.1%
18701,716−11.5%
18802,90269.1%
18907,830169.8%
19007,703−1.6%
19109,24920.1%
19208,026−13.2%
19308,7839.4%
19409,4387.5%
19509,287−1.6%
196010,85316.9%
19709,660−11.0%
198010,1785.4%
199010,6744.9%
200011,94311.9%
201011,113−6.9%
Est. 201510,890[7]−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[3]

The 2010 United States Census[12] indicates Mackinac County had a population of 11,113. This is a decrease of 830 people from the 2000 United States Census. This is a -6.9% change in population. In 2010 there were 5,024 households, and 3,219 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 persons per square mile (5/km²). There were 11,010 housing units at an average density of 11/sq mi (4/km²). 76.5% of the population were White, 17.3% Native American, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 5.3% of two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 18.5% were of German, 8.8% English, 8.0% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 7.6% Irish and 5.1% Polish ancestry.[13]

There were 5,024 households out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.7.

In the county the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 34.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. The population was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,055, and the median income for a family was $50,984. The per capita income for the county was $22,195. About 10.5% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Mackinac County is home to the Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, a Native American tribe located in St. Ignace.

Religion

Mackinac County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette.[14][15]

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.

Elected officials

(information as of April 2015)[16][17]

Historical markers

There are 34 official state historical markers in the County:[18]

Media

Newspapers

Television

The following television stations can be received in St. Ignace:

Radio

The following stations can be heard in St. Ignace:

FM

Call Sign Frequency City Broadcast From
WIAB 88.5 Mackinaw City
WYPV 94.5 Mackinaw City
WLXT 96.3 Petoskey
WOEZ 106.3 Cheboygan
WKLZ 98.9 Petoskey
WCBY - W264CF 100.7 St.Ignace, Michigan
WMKC 102.9 Indian River
WCMW 103.9 Harbor Springs
WKHQ 105.9 Petoskey

AM

Call Sign Frequency City Broadcast From
WTCM 580 Traverse City
WARD 750 Petoskey
WIDG 940 St. Ignace
WJML 1100 Petoskey
WCBY 1240 Cheboygan

Attractions

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Bibliography on Mackinac County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Mackinac Early History". Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Pellston Regional Airport Serving Northern Michigan Emmet County". pellstonairport.com.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2010 American Fact Finder". Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder"
  14. ↑ Floline Media LLC. "Diocese of Marquette :: home". dioceseofmarquette.org.
  15. ↑ David M. Cheney. "Marquette (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". catholic-hierarchy.org.
  16. ↑ http://www.mackinaccounty.net/departments/
  17. ↑ Michigan Bar Journal. State Bar of Michigan. April 2015. p. 107.
  18. ↑ "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com.
  19. ↑ "Wawashkamo Golf Club Mackinac Island". Wawashkamo Golf Club Mackinac Island.

Bibliography

External links

 Luce County Chippewa County Chippewa County
Schoolcraft County Chippewa County
   Mackinac County  
Lake Michigan; Charlevoix County Emmet County / Cheboygan County Lake Huron; Presque Isle County

Coordinates: 46°01′N 85°01′W / 46.01°N 85.01°W / 46.01; -85.01

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