Chippewa County, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chippewa County
U.S. county
Chippewa County Courthouse, Sault Ste. Marie
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	December 22, 1826
Named for	Ojibwe people
Seat	Sault Ste. Marie
Largest city	Sault Ste. Marie
Area
• Total	2,698 sq mi (6,990 km2)
• Land	1,558 sq mi (4,040 km2)
• Water	1,140 sq mi (3,000 km2)  42%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	36,785
• Density	25/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st

Chippewa County, Michigan from 1904 Michigan County Maps

Chippewa County (say it: CHIH-puh-wah) is a county located in the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 36,785 people lived here. The main town and government center is Sault Ste. Marie.

The county got its name from the Ojibwe people, also known as the Chippewa. It was officially created and started its government in 1826. Chippewa County is part of the Sault Ste. Marie area, which is a "micropolitan" area. This means it's a smaller city area with close ties to nearby towns.

Chippewa County has coastlines on both Lake Huron and Lake Superior. This makes it one of only two counties in the U.S. that touch two of the Great Lakes. The other is its neighbor, Mackinac County. The county's shape follows the border with Canada, which runs along the St. Marys River. Drummond Island is also a part of Chippewa County.

Exploring Chippewa County's Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Chippewa County covers a total area of 2,698 square miles. About 1,558 square miles of this is land, and 1,140 square miles (42%) is water. This makes it the second-largest county in Michigan by land area. It is also the fifth-largest by total area.

A special line called the Michigan Meridian runs through the eastern part of the county. This line helps surveyors measure land. For example, part of M-129 (Meridian Road) follows this line. In Sault Ste. Marie, Meridian Street also follows it.

Neighboring Areas: Land and Water

Chippewa County shares borders with other counties and districts.

Counties by Land

• Mackinac County (to the south)
• Luce County (to the west)

Areas by Water

• Presque Isle County (to the south)
• Algoma District, Ontario, Canada (to the north)
• Manitoulin District, Ontario, Canada (to the east)

Protected Natural Areas

Chippewa County is home to several important natural areas. These places help protect wildlife and nature.

• Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Part of the Hiawatha National Forest
• The Whitefish Point Unit of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Fun in Game Areas

The Munuscong Bay is a great spot for outdoor activities. You can go hunting, boating, and watch birds there. It's especially known for duck hunting, with many types of ducks like mallards and green-winged teal. The Bay is also very popular for ice fishing in winter. During the start of duck season in late September, many hunters visit the Bay. This area is a key stop for many waterfowl during their yearly migrations.

Communities in Chippewa County

U.S. Census map showing towns and cities in Chippewa County. Shaded areas are cities.

Chippewa County has different types of communities.

The Main City

• Sault Ste. Marie is the largest city and the county seat.

Small Villages

• DeTour Village

Special Townships

• Kinross Charter Township is a "charter township," which means it has more local powers than a regular township.

Local Townships

Special Census Places

These are areas that are not officially cities or villages but are recognized for census purposes.

• Brimley
• Kincheloe

Other Small Communities

Native American Reservations

• The Bay Mills Indian Community has land in Bay Mills Township and Superior Township. They also have a smaller area in Sugar Island Township.
• The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians has land in different spots. These include Kinross Charter Township, Sugar Island Township, and parts of Sault Ste. Marie city.

Population and People

In 2020, Chippewa County had a population of 36,785 people.

Getting Around: Transportation

Chippewa County has several important roads and airports.

Main Highways

All major highways in Michigan are maintained by the state.

• I-75 is Michigan's longest state highway. It ends at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge at the Canadian border.
• BS I-75 goes from I-75 into downtown Sault Ste. Marie. It ends at the ferry to Sugar Island.
• M-28 is Michigan's longest state highway. It ends near Sault Ste. Marie.
• M-48 travels through Pickford and Rudyard. It ends at I-75.
• M-80 starts at I-75 and goes through Kincheloe.
• M-123 connects Tahquamenon Falls to M-28.
• M-129 (also called Meridian Road) runs through the eastern part of the county.
• M-134 goes to Drummond Island.
• M-221 is the shortest highway in the county. It goes through Brimley.

County Roads

The Chippewa County Road Commission maintains other highways. These are given numbers by the state.

• H-40
• H-63 follows the old route of US 2.
• FFH 42 (Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway) is a special scenic road. It is maintained by the US Forest Service and the County Road Commission.

Airports

• Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) serves the county. It offers flights connecting to larger airports.
• Drummond Island Airport (DRM) is a smaller airport with two runways.

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association has announced exciting plans for Chippewa County. It will be the home of a new command and control center for aerospace activities. This is part of Michigan's growing role in the aerospace and defense industry.

Images for kids

• 

  The Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Chippewa (Míchigan) para niños