List of counties in Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are 83 counties in the U.S. state of Michigan.
Contents |
List of counties [change]
| County | FIPS Code[1] | County seat | Created | Origin | Meaning of name | Population |
Area |
Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona County | 001 | Harrisville | 1840 (boundaries declared) 1869 (organised) |
From unorganized territory. Was named Negwegon County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 10,942 | 1,791 sq mi (4,639 km²) |
 |
| Alger County | 003 | Munising | 1885 | From part of Schoolcraft County. | Russell A. Alger, (1836-1907): Governor of Michigan; Senator; and Secretary of War during the McKinley Administration |
9,601 | 5,049 sq mi (13,077 km²) |
 |
| Allegan County | 005 | Allegan | 1831 (boundaries declared) 1835 (organised) |
From part of Barry County and unorganized territory. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 111,408 | 1,833 sq mi (4,747 km²) |
 |
| Alpena County | 007 | Alpena | 1840 (boundaries declared) 1857 (organized) |
From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Anamickee County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 29,598 | 1,695 sq mi (4,390 km²) |
 |
| Antrim County | 009 | Bellaire | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Meegisee County until 1843. | County Antrim, Ireland | 23,598 | 602 sq mi (1,559 km²) |
 |
| Arenac County | 011 | Standish | 1831 | From unorganized territory. Annexed to Bay County in 1857 and reinstated in 1883. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 15,899 | 681 sq mi (1,764 km²) |
 |
| Baraga County | 013 | L'Anse | 1875 | From part of Houghton County. | Frederic Baraga (1797-1868): Catholic missionary and first Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie | 8,860 | 1,069 sq mi (2,769 km²) |
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| Barry County | 015 | Hastings | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | William T. Barry (1784-1835): Postmaster General in the Jackson Administration | 59,173 | 577 sq mi (1,494 km²) |
 |
| Bay County | 017 | Bay City | 1857 | From parts of Arenac County, Midland County and Saginaw County. | Saginaw Bay | 107,771 | 631 sq mi (1,634 km²) |
 |
| Benzie County | 019 | Beulah | 1863 | From part of Leelenau County. | French: Riviere Aux-Bec-Scies | 17,525 | 860 sq mi (2,227 km²) |
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| Berrien County | 021 | St. Joseph | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John M. Berrien (1781-1856): Attorney General in the Jackson Administration | 156,813 | 1,581 sq mi (4,095 km²) |
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| Branch County | 023 | Coldwater | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John Branch (1782-1863): Secretary of the Navy in the Jackson Administration | 45,248 | 507 sq mi (1,313 km²) |
 |
| Calhoun County | 025 | Marshall | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John C. Calhoun (1782-1850): Vice President of the United States in the Jackson Administration | 136,146 | 718 sq mi (1,860 km²) |
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| Cass County | 027 | Cassopolis | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Lewis Cass (1782-1866): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration | 52,293 | 508 sq mi (1,316 km²) |
 |
| Charlevoix County | 029 | Charlevoix | 1869 | From parts of Antrim County, Emmet County and Otsego County. | Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682-1761): Jesuit traveller and historian of New France | 25,949 | 1,391 sq mi (3,603 km²) |
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| Cheboygan County | 031 | Cheboygan | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | Cheboygan River | 26,152 | 885 sq mi (2,292 km²) |
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| Chippewa County | 033 | Sault Ste. Marie | 1827 | From part of Mackinac County. | Ojibwa Native American tribe, also known as the Chippewa | 38,520 | 2,698 sq mi (6,988 km²) |
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| Clare County | 035 | Harrison | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Kaykakee County until 1843. | County Clare, Ireland | 30,926 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
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| Clinton County | 037 | St. Johns | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828): Governor of New York. | 75,382 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
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| Crawford County | 039 | Grayling | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Shawano County until 1843. | William Crawford, (1732-82), American Revolutionary War colonel western surveyor | 14,074 | 563 sq mi (1,458 km²) |
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| Delta County | 041 | Escanaba | 1843 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Greek letter Delta, it refers to the triangular shape of the original county which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties | 37,069 | 1,992 sq mi (5,159 km²) |
 |
| Dickinson County | 043 | Iron Mountain | 1891 | From parts of Iron County, Marquette County and Menominee County. | Donald M. Dickinson (1846-1917): Postmaster General in the Cleveland Administration | 26,168 | 777 sq mi (2,012 km²) |
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| Eaton County | 045 | Charlotte | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | John Eaton (1790-1856): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration | 107,759 | 579 sq mi (1,500 km²) |
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| Emmet County | 047 | Petoskey | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Tonegadana County until 1843. | Robert Emmet (1778-1803): Irish nationalist and rebel leader | 32,694 | 882 sq mi (2,284 km²) |
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| Genesee County | 049 | Flint | 1835 | From parts of Lapeer County, Saginaw County and Shiawassee County. | Seneca word, "je-nis-hi-yeh," meaning "beautiful valley": named after western New York State valley from which many settlers came | 425,790 | 649 sq mi (1,681 km²) |
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| Gladwin County | 051 | Gladwin | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | Major Henry Gladwin, British commander of the fort at Detroit during the siege by Chief Pontiac in 1763-64. | 25,692 | 516 sq mi (1,336 km²) |
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| Gogebic County | 053 | Bessemer | 1887 | From part of Ontonagon County. | Probably from the Chippewa "bic" which most references interpret as "rock." | 16,427 | 1,476 sq mi (3,823 km²) |
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| Grand Traverse County | 055 | Traverse City | 1851 | From part of Omeena County. | French phrase "grande travers," which means "long crossing." It was given first to Grand Traverse Bay by French voyageurs. | 86,986 | 601 sq mi (1,557 km²) |
 |
| Gratiot County | 057 | Ithaca | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | Captain Charles Gratiot (1788-1855), built Fort Gratiot at the present site of Port Huron | 42,476 | 572 sq mi (1,481 km²) |
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| Hillsdale County | 059 | Hillsdale | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | From its terrain, made up of hills and dales.[2] | 46,688 | 607 sq mi (1,572 km²) |
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| Houghton County | 061 | Houghton | 1845 | From parts of Marquette County and Ontonagon County. | Dr. Douglass Houghton (1809-1845), first state geologist of Michigan, physician and surgeon, mayor of Detroit (1842-1843) | 36,628 | 1,502 sq mi (3,890 km²) |
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| Huron County | 063 | Bad Axe | 1840 | From part of Sanilac County. | Lake Huron. The French named "Lac des Hurons" for the Native American tribe they called "hure" (meaning "head") when they saw the fantastic way they dressed their hair. | 33,118 | 2,136 sq mi (5,532 km²) |
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| Ingham County | 065 | Mason | 1829 (boundaries declared) 1838 (organised) |
From parts of Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. | Samuel D. Ingham (1779-1860), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in the Jackson Administration | 280,895 | 561 sq mi (1,453 km²) |
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| Ionia County | 067 | Ionia | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Province in ancient Greece | 63,905 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km²) |
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| Iosco County | 069 | Tawas City | 1840 | From unorganized territory. Was named Kanotin County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 25,887 | 1,891 sq mi (4,898 km²) |
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| Iron County | 071 | Crystal Falls | 1885 | From parts of Marquette County and Menominee County. | For the iron deposits and mines found in the county | 11,817 | 1,211 sq mi (3,136 km²) |
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| Isabella County | 073 | Mt. Pleasant | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Queen Isabella I (1451-1504) of Spain, under whose patronage Columbus undertook his voyages. | 70,311 | 578 sq mi (1,497 km²) |
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| Jackson County | 075 | Jackson | 1829 (boundaries declared) 1832 (organised) |
From part of Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. | Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), 7th President of the United States and President when Michigan was admitted to the Union | 160,248 | 724 sq mi (1,875 km²) |
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| Kalamazoo County | 077 | Kalamazoo | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Named for the Kalamazoo River. | 250,331 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km²) |
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| Kalkaska County | 079 | Kalkaska | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Wabassee County until 1843. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 17,153 | 571 sq mi (1,479 km²) |
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| Kent County | 081 | Grand Rapids | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | New York jurist James Kent, who represented the Michigan Territory in its dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip. | 602,622 | 872 sq mi (2,258 km²) |
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| Keweenaw County | 083 | Eagle River | 1861 | From part of Houghton County. | Ojibwe word gakiiwe-wewaning meaning portage | 2,156 | 5,966 sq mi (15,452 km²) |
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| Lake County | 085 | Baldwin | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Aischum County until 1843. | Has several small lakes and lies near Lake Michigan | 11,539 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
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| Lapeer County | 087 | Lapeer | 1822 | From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County. | An Americanization of the French la pierre meaning flint | 88,319 | 663 sq mi (1,717 km²) |
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| Leelanau County | 089 | Suttons Bay Township | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 21,708 | 2,532 sq mi (6,558 km²) |
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| Lenawee County | 091 | Adrian | 1822 | From part of Monroe County. | A Henry Schoolcraft neologism signifying a Native American word for man -- either from the Delaware "leno or lenno" or the Shawnee "lenawai" | 99,892 | 761 sq mi (1,971 km²) |
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| Livingston County | 093 | Howell | 1833 (boundaries declared) 1836 (organised) |
From parts of Shiawassee County and Washtenaw County. | Edward Livingston (1764-1836): second Secretary of State in the Andrew Jackson administration | 180,967 | 585 sq mi (1,515 km²) |
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| Luce County | 095 | Newberry | 1887 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | Named for Michigan Governor Cyrus G. Luce | 6,631 | 1,912 sq mi (4,952 km²) |
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| Mackinac County | 097 | St. Ignace | 1818 | From part of Wayne County. Was named Michilimackinac County until 1837. | Was originally Michilimackinac, believed to be a French interpretation of the Native American name for the place | 11,113 | 2,101 sq mi (5,442 km²) |
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| Macomb County | 099 | Mt. Clemens | 1818 | From part of Wayne County. | Named for U.S. General Alexander Macomb, a notable officer of the War of 1812 | 840,978 | 570 sq mi (1,476 km²) |
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| Manistee County | 101 | Manistee | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | Named for the Manistee River, which in turn is from the Ojibwe name, ministigweyaa meaning (river) at whose mouth there are islands | 24,733 | 1,281 sq mi (3,318 km²) |
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| Marquette County | 103 | Marquette | 1843 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | Named for French Jesuit missionary Pere Jacques Marquette | 67,077 | 3,425 sq mi (8,871 km²) |
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| Mason County | 105 | Ludington | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Notipekago County until 1843. | Named for Michigan Governor Stevens T. Mason | 28,705 | 1,242 sq mi (3,217 km²) |
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| Mecosta County | 107 | Big Rapids | 1840 | From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County. | Named for Mecosta, a Native American leader | 42,798 | 571 sq mi (1,479 km²) |
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| Menominee County | 109 | Menominee | 1861 | From part of Delta County. Was named Bleeker County until 1863. | Named for the Menominee Native American people | 24,029 | 1,338 sq mi (3,465 km²) |
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| Midland County | 111 | Midland | 1831 | From part of Saginaw County and unorganized territory. | Located near the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula | 83,629 | 528 sq mi (1,368 km²) |
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| Missaukee County | 113 | Lake City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | Named for Missaukee, an Ottawa leader who signed land-grant treaties in 1831 and 1833 | 14,849 | 574 sq mi (1,487 km²) |
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| Monroe County | 115 | Monroe | 1817 | From part of Wayne County. | Named for James Monroe, the fifth U.S. President | 152,021 | 680 sq mi (1,761 km²) |
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| Montcalm County | 117 | Stanton | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Named for the Marquis de Montcalm, a French military commander in Quebec | 63,342 | 721 sq mi (1,867 km²) |
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| Montmorency County | 119 | Atlanta | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Cheonoquet County until 1843. | House of Montmorency, influential in the history of French Canada | 9,765 | 562 sq mi (1,456 km²) |
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| Muskegon County | 121 | Muskegon | 1859 | From parts of Oceana County and Ottawa County. | Muskegon River running through county, from the Ojibwa/Chippewa word "mashkig" meaning "swamp" or "marsh." | 172,188 | 1,459 sq mi (3,779 km²) |
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| Newaygo County | 123 | White Cloud | 1840 | From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County. | Named for a Chippewa leader who signed the Saginaw Treaty of 1819[3] | 48,460 | 861 sq mi (2,230 km²) |
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| Oakland County | 125 | Pontiac | 1819 (boundaries declared) 1820 (organized) |
From part of Macomb County. | Named for the numerous "oak openings" in the county. Dr. Bela Hubbard, surveyor of Michigan, described an "oak opening" as "a majestic orchard of oaks and hickories varied by small prairies, grassy lawns and clear lakes." | 1,202,362 | 908 sq mi (2,352 km²) |
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| Oceana County | 127 | Hart | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County. | Borders Lake Michigan, the fresh water "ocean." | 26,570 | 1,307 sq mi (3,385 km²) |
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| Ogemaw County | 129 | West Branch | 1840 | From unorganized territory. Annexed to Iosco County in 1867 and reinstated in 1873. | Named for the Ojibwe word ogimaa, meaning chief or leader | 21,699 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km²) |
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| Ontonagon County | 131 | Ontonagon | 1843 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | Named for the Ontonagon River, called "Nantounagon" on a 1670 French map. The Ojibwa word "onagon" means "dish" or "bowl." | 6,780 | 3,741 sq mi (9,689 km²) |
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| Osceola County | 133 | Reed City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Unwattin County until 1843. | Osceola (1800?-1838), Seminole chief | 23,528 | 573 sq mi (1,484 km²) |
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| Oscoda County | 135 | Mio | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 8,640 | 572 sq mi (1,481 km²) |
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| Otsego County | 137 | Gaylord | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Okkudo County until 1843. | Named for Otsego County, New York | 24,164 | 526 sq mi (1,362 km²) |
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| Ottawa County | 139 | Grand Haven | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Named for the Native American Ottawa people. | 263,801 | 1,632 sq mi (4,227 km²) |
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| Presque Isle County | 141 | Rogers City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | A derivation of the French phrase for "peninsula", literally "almost an island." | 13,376 | 2,573 sq mi (6,664 km²) |
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| Roscommon County | 143 | Roscommon | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Mikenauk County until 1843. | County Roscommon, Ireland | 24,449 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km²) |
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| Saginaw County | 145 | Saginaw | 1822 | From part of Oakland County. | A Native American term, perhaps having reference to the Sauk tribe who lived at the mouth of the river[4] | 200,169 | 816 sq mi (2,113 km²) |
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| St. Clair County | 147 | Port Huron | 1820 | From part of Macomb County. | Either named for Arthur St. Clair, first governor of the Northwest Territory, or for Saint Clair on whose feast day Lake St. Clair was discovered | 163,040 | 837 sq mi (2,168 km²) |
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| St. Joseph County | 149 | Centreville | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | The St. Joseph River, which gains much of its volume within the county.[5] | 61,295 | 521 sq mi (1,349 km²) |
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| Sanilac County | 151 | Sandusky | 1822 | From part of St. Clair County. | Sanilac, a Wyandotte chief | 43,114 | 1,590 sq mi (4,118 km²) |
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| Schoolcraft County | 153 | Manistique | 1843 | From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, (1793-1864): American geographer and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Michigan |
8,485 | 1,884 sq mi (4,880 km²) |
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| Shiawassee County | 155 | Corunna | 1822 | From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County. | Named for the Shiawassee River, and means 'river that twists about.[6] | 70,648 | 541 sq mi (1,401 km²) |
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| Tuscola County | 157 | Caro | 1840 | From part of Sanilac County. | Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft | 55,729 | 914 sq mi (2,367 km²) |
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| Van Buren County | 159 | Paw Paw | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Martin Van Buren (1782-1862): Secretary of State in the Jackson Administration, later Vice President and eighth President of the United States | 76,258 | 1,090 sq mi (2,823 km²) |
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| Washtenaw County | 161 | Ann Arbor | 1822 (boundaries declared) 1826 (organised) |
From parts of Oakland County and Wayne County | Native American people called the area west of Detroit "Wash-ten-ong," meaning "further district" or "land beyond." | 344,791 | 723 sq mi (1,873 km²) |
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| Wayne County | 163 | Detroit | 1815 | All lands within Michigan Territory that had been ceded by Native Americans through the 1807 Treaty of Detroit. | "Mad" Anthony Wayne, (1745-1796): United States Army general and statesman |
1,820,584 | 672 sq mi (1,740 km²) |
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| Wexford County | 165 | Cadillac | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was named Kautawaubet County until 1843. | County Wexford, Ireland | 32,735 | 576 sq mi (1,492 km²) |
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Former counties [change]
- Brown County: formed in 1818 from unorganized territory. Given to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Brown County, Wisconsin.
- Keskkauko County: formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Renamed Charlevoix County in 1843. Annexed to Emmet County in 1853. Reformed as Charlevoix County from Emmet County in 1869.
- Crawford County: formed in 1818 from unorganized territory when Michigan Territory was expanded to include area west of Lake Michigan upon formation of ths state of Illinois. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Crawford County, Wisconsin.
- Des Moines County: formed in 1834 from unorganized territory. Given to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Des Moines County, Iowa.
- Dubuque County: formed in 1834 from unorganized territory. Given to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Dubuque County, Iowa.
- Iowa County: formed in 1830 from part of Crawford County. Given to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Iowa County, Wisconsin.
- Isle Royale County: formed in 1875 from part of Keweenaw County. Returned to it in 1897.
- Manitou County: formed in 1855 from parts of Emmet County and Leelenau County. County was ended in 1895 and added to Charlevoix County and Leelanau County.
- Milwaukee County: formed in 1834 from part of Brown County. Given to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
- Omeena County: formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Added to Grand Traverse County in 1853.
- Wyandot County: formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Added to Cheboygan County in 1853.
References [change]
- ↑ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA. http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/mi.html. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ↑ Dan Bisher (1999). "A Brief History of 'Hillsdale County'". http://www.co.hillsdale.mi.us/hc-history.htm. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
- ↑ Clarke Historical Library bibliographic entry for Newaygo County
- ↑ Clarke Historical Library bibliographic entry for Saginaw County
- ↑ John Marvin. "Background History on St. Joseph County". Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080615054954/http://www.stjosephcountymi.org/history/. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
- ↑ Clarke Historical Library bibliographic entry for Shiawassee County
More reading [change]
- Armitage, B. Phyllis. (Oct-Dec 1943). "A Study of Michigan's Place-Names". Michigan History magazine 27: 626–637.
- County histories published in Michigan History Magazine. Some back issues that include these histories are still available for purchase.
- Jenks, William L. (1912). "History and Meaning of the County Names of Michigan". Collections and Researches of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society 38: 439–478.
- Michigan Manual (the "Red Book") published biennially by the Legislative Service Bureau under the direction of the. Legislative Council, State of Michigan.
- Powers, Perry F.; Cutler, H.G., assisting (1912). A History of Northern Michigan and its People. http://books.google.com/books?id=L3t5AAAAMAAJ&lpg=PA961&dq=Powers%2C%20Perry%20F.%3B%20Cutler%2C%20H.G.%2C%20assisting%20(1912).%20A%20History%20of%20Northern%20Michigan%20and%20its%20People.&pg=PA961#v=onepage&q&f=false. at Google books
- Reports of Counties, Towns and Districts. I (2nd ed.). Lansing, Michigan: Robert Smith Printing Co.. 1874-6 (1900). pp. 94–520..
- Romig, Walter; Massie, Larry B (Designer) (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6.
- Vogel, Virgil J. (1986). Indian Names in Michigan. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. pp. 244, 8 B&W photographs & 3 maps. ISBN 978-0-472-06365-9.
