Montmorency County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Michigan State trunklines
M-32M-32 (Michigan highway)M-32 is a state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an east–west route running from M-66 in East Jordan to US Highway 23 in Alpena. It runs via Gaylord and Atlanta through forested terrain...
M-33M-33 (Michigan highway)M-33 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from Interstate 75 at Alger in Arenac County north to M-27 near Cheboygan. In between, the trunkline runs through rural sections of the northeastern Lower Peninsula including state and national forest areas...
Michigan State trunkline business loops
Business M-32 is short, disconnected route in the village of Hillman.
Montmorency County intercounty highways
-
F-01 -
F-21
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,315 people, 4,455 households, and 3,047 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 9,238 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.36% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.24% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.36% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 28.3% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 12.7% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 9.5% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 8.8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 7.6% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
and 7.4% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.1% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as their first language.
There were 4,455 households out of which 22.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.30% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 20.90% from 25 to 44, 29.10% from 45 to 64, and 23.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,005, and the median income for a family was $34,784. Males had a median income of $30,910 versus $19,299 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $16,493. About 9.80% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% 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 healthPublic health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
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.
Montmorency County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: Terrie Case - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Don Edwards - County Clerk: Cheryl A. Neilsen
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Wanda M. Teets - Register of Deeds: Teresa Walker
- Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: Jim Zavislak - Road Commissioners: Joseph R. LaFleche; Theodore Orm; Linda Hicks
(information as of August 2008)
Cities, villages and townships
- Albert TownshipAlbert Township, MichiganAlbert Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,695.-Geography:...
- AtlantaAtlanta, MichiganAtlanta is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan, along the 45th parallel. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and does not have any legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population was 757 at the 2000 census...
, CDPCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages... - Avery TownshipAvery Township, MichiganAvery Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 717.-Geography:...
- Briley TownshipBriley Township, MichiganBriley Township is a civil township of central Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,029....
- Canada Creek RanchCanada Creek Ranch, MichiganCanada Creek Ranch is an unincorporated community in Montmorency Township, Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place used for statistical purposes...
, CDPCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages... - Hillman TownshipHillman Township, MichiganHillman Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,267 at the 2000 census. The village of Hillman is located within the township.-Geography:...
- HillmanHillman, MichiganHillman is a village in Alpena and Montmorency counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 685 at the 2000 census. Nearly all of the village is located within Hillman Township , with only a tiny portion extending into Green Township .-Geography:According to the United States Census...
, village - LewistonLewiston, MichiganLewiston is an unincorporated community in Montmorency County, Michigan, United States. It is a census-designated place used for statistical purposes. The population was 990 at the 2000 census...
, CDPCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages... - Loud TownshipLoud Township, MichiganLoud Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 284 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census...
- Montmorency TownshipMontmorency Township, MichiganMontmorency Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,202 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Rust TownshipRust Township, MichiganRust Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census...
- Vienna TownshipVienna Township, Montmorency County, MichiganVienna Township is a civil township of Montmorency County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 572 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
Wheatfield was changed to Vienna. Avery and Loud Townships were added.
Recreation
- Montmorency County is noted as the "Elk Capital of Michigan".
- Rainbow troutRainbow troutThe rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, brook troutBrook troutThe brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
, steelhead, perchPerchPerch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
, bassBass (fish)Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
and other pan fish abound. The county is a hotbed of fly fishingFly fishingFly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
and anglingAnglingAngling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
on the edge of some world class streams and rivers. - As is true in some other rural parts of Michigan, White tail deer huntingHuntingHunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
is very popular local activity and the firearms deer opener (November 15) is noted as a holiday to some residents. Most of the land in Montmorency County is owned by state and federal government, making the county a popular hunting area. - Snow shoeing, cross-country skiingCross-country skiingCross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
and snow mobile riding are activities that fit right in to the local winter weather and topography. Also, the Sno*Drift rallying race is held on snowy surfaces in January. - Morel mushroom hunting is a big event here.
- There are many recurring events throughout the area.
ORV/ATV and snowmobile trails are considered some of the best in the state of Michigan. Montmorency county is one of a few counties that allow ATVs on public county roads. Thus creating access for fuel, food and various hotels to both Hillman and Atlanta. The main trail system incorporates a scenic Elk tour and various levels of ATV trails.
External links
- Atlanta, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, includes calendar of local events.
- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Montmorency County.
- Economic profiler, Montmorency County
- Elk Country Animal Shelter.
- Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.
- List and calendar of events throughout the county.
- Lewiston, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, includes calendar of local events and list of local official addresses, phone numbers.
- Montmorency County genealogical page.
- Montmorency County home page, including history of the county.
- Montmorency County prosecuting attorney.
- Montmorency County Tribune.
- Soil survey of Montmorency County -- lots of history and other current information, too -- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University Extension Service.