Wexford County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Tourism
There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford county to check out. The Manistee National Forest is a great recreation site. The Manistee River is great for fisherman, kayakers and canoers, and other outdoor lovers.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 30,484 people, 11,824 households, and 8,383 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 54 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 14,872 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.29% 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...
, 0.19% 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...
, 0.74% 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...
, 0.42% 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...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
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% 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 1.09% from two or more races. 1.01% 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. 21.4% 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....
, 11.3% 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...
, 9.4% 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...
, 6.1% Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
, 5.8% Swedish and 5.3% 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...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.7% 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...
and 1.1% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as their first language.
There were 11,824 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% 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, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,363, and the median income for a family was $39,915. Males had a median income of $31,198 versus $21,733 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 $17,144. About 7.70% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health
Public 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.
Wexford 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...
: William Fagerman - 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....
: Gary A. Finstrom - County Clerk: Elaine L. Richardson
- 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:...
: Wendy S. Moore - Register of Deeds: Lorie Sorensen
- 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...
: Michael Solomon - County SurveyorCounty surveyor1. A county surveyor is a public official in many counties of the USA. At the bottom of this page are working "External Links" as at 4 November 2011 to websites of a selection of such County Surveyor's departments. Most of these officials are elected on the partisan ballot to four-year terms...
: Richard Wilcox
(information as of September 2005)
Presidential elections
The county is one of the only counties to have given majorities to the both the first Republican candidate, John C. FrémontJohn C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
, and to John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
. That stated, the county went for Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
twice.
Cities, villages, and townships
| Cities | Villages | | Unincorporated | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Buckley, Michigan Buckley is a village in Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 550 at the 2000 census. The village is located in the northwest part of Hanover Township on M-37... Harrietta, Michigan Harrietta is a village in Wexford County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 169. The village is on the boundary between Slagle Township on the west and Boon Township on the east, with about half of the village in each.-Village Infrastructure:Although... Mesick, Michigan Mesick is a village in Springville Township, Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 447 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:... |
|
Sherman, Michigan Sherman is a small unincorporated community in Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It was one of the earliest permanent settlements in Wexford County and was the first county seat.... |
| Townships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Antioch Township, Michigan Antioch Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 810.-Communities:*Buckley is a village in the northwest of the township.... Boon Township, Michigan Boon Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 670.-Communities:*Boon is an unincorporated community located in the Manistee National Forest at... Cedar Creek Township, Wexford County, Michigan Cedar Creek Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,489 at the 2000 census.-Geography:... Cherry Grove Township, Michigan Cherry Grove Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,328 at the 2000 census.Benson is a small unincorporated community in the township, located about one mile south of M-55 and about five miles west of Cadillac at .Cherry Grove Township is... |
Clam Lake Township, Michigan Clam Lake Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,238 at the 2000 census.-Geography:... Colfax Township, Wexford County, Michigan Colfax Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 763 at the 2000 census.Meauwataka is a small unincorporated community in the township at .... Greenwood Township, Wexford County, Michigan Greenwood Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 542.-Geography:... Hanover Township, Wexford County, Michigan Hanover Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,200 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*Buckley is a village at the northern edge of the township.... |
Haring Township, Michigan Haring Township is a charter township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,962 at the 2000 census.-Communities:... Henderson Township, Michigan Henderson Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 176.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.... Liberty Township, Wexford County, Michigan Liberty Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 800.-Geography:... Selma Township, Michigan Selma Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,915 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 of... |
Slagle Township, Michigan Slagle Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 569 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:... South Branch Township, Wexford County, Michigan South Branch Township is a civil township of Wexford County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 330. It is considered to be part of the Northern Michigan subregion.-Communities:... Springville Township, Michigan Springville Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,673 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*The village of Mesick is in the northeast of the township, at the junction of M-37, M-115, and M-42.... Wexford Township, Michigan Wexford Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 798 at the 2000 census. The township is in the northwest corner of the county.... |
Historical markers
There are ten recognized Michigan historical markers in the county: They are:- Battle of Manton
- Caberfae Ski Resort
- Cadillac Carnegie Library
- Charles T. Mitchell House
- Clam Lake Canal
- Cobbs & Mitchell Building
- Cobbs and Mitchell Mill No.1
- First Wexford County Courthouse
- Greenwood Disciples of Christ Church
- Shay LocomotiveShay locomotiveThe Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Wexford County, Michigan
Further reading
External links
- Wexford County
- Wexford County Fact Book
- Chapter XVII Wexford County in A history of northern Michigan and its people by Perry F. Powers ; assisted by H.G. Cutler. Powers, Perry Francis, 1857-1945. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. p. 404
- History of Wexford County, Michigan, comp. by John H. Wheeler, Logansport, Ind.:B. F. Bowen, 1903.