List of counties in Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Counties of Michigan |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Michigan |
| Number | 83 |
| Populations | 2,172 (Keweenaw) – 1,751,169 (Wayne) |
| Areas | 508 square miles (1,320 km2) (Cass) – 5,966 square miles (15,450 km2) (Keweenaw) |
| Government | County government |
| Subdivisions | Cities, charter townships, civil townships, villages, unincorporated communities, census-designated places |
There are 83 counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Counties are important areas of local government. They help organize land and provide services to people.
For a long time, Michigan's state government often changed county borders. This was done to help set up government in new areas. It also encouraged people to settle there by dividing the land into parts that could be bought.
Creating a county usually happened in two steps. First, the borders were drawn and a name was given. The county would appear on maps, even if it didn't have a full government yet. During this time, the new county was linked to an older, more organized county for help with managing things.
Later, people living in the new county could ask the state government to officially organize it. This meant the county would get full legal recognition and its own government.
Some cities and villages in Michigan are located in more than one county. This includes Lansing, the state capital. For a few years in the 1970s, cities that were split between counties could ask to change the county borders to match the city's borders. Only one city, New Baltimore, did this. It used to be in both Macomb County and St. Clair County, but now it's all in Macomb County. This was the only county border change in Michigan since the early 1900s.
The state's old constitution from 1850 allowed a city with at least 20,000 people to become its own county. The 1908 constitution kept this rule but raised the number to 100,000 people. No city ever became its own county this way. When a new constitution was made in 1963, this rule was removed.
Michigan shares water borders with other states. Its border with Illinois is in Lake Michigan. Three Michigan counties touch this water border: Berrien County, Van Buren County, and Allegan County. Michigan also has a water border with Minnesota in Lake Superior. This border involves Ontonagon County and Keweenaw County. The land border with Wisconsin continues into Lake Superior. It includes Gogebic County (which has a land border) and Ontonagon County (which only has a water border).
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County Names and Their Meanings
Many Michigan counties have interesting names. Here's how some of them got their names:
Names from Henry Schoolcraft
Nine counties have names created by Henry Schoolcraft. He was an expert who studied different cultures. He often made up words that sounded like Native American words. Sometimes, he also used parts of Greek, Arabic, and Latin words.
It's not always clear where Schoolcraft's made-up words came from. He loved Native American words and culture. But some of his words might have come from tribes in other parts of the country, like New York. Many early settlers in Michigan came from those areas.
Names from Ireland
Four counties were renamed after places in Ireland. These are Antrim, Clare, Roscommon, and Wexford. This probably happened because some Michigan lawmakers or the people they represented had strong ties to Ireland.
Names from Andrew Jackson's Cabinet
Ten counties are known as "cabinet counties". They were named after people who worked for President Andrew Jackson. This was important because Michigan was about to become a state during his time as president. Eight of these counties were named in 1829. Livingston County was named in 1833. Cass County was also named in 1829, but Governor Lewis Cass didn't join Jackson's Cabinet until 1831.
FIPS County Codes
Each county in the United States has a special five-digit number called a FIPS county code. FIPS stands for Federal Information Processing Standard. The last three digits are unique for each county within a state. To make the code unique for the whole country, you add the state code in front. For example, Alcona County, Michigan, has the county code 001. Michigan's state code is 26. So, Alcona County's unique FIPS code is 26001.
List of Michigan Counties
| County |
FIPS code | County seat | Est. | Origin | Etymology | Population (2023) | Area | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona County | 001 | Harrisville | 1840 (borders set) 1869 (organized) |
From unorganized land; called Negwegon County until 1843 | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 10,489 | 1,791 sq mi (4,639 km2) |
 |
| Alger County | 003 | Munising | 1885 | From part of Schoolcraft County | Russell A. Alger (1836-1907): Governor and national politician | 8,757 | 5,049 sq mi (13,077 km2) |
 |
| Allegan County | 005 | Allegan | 1831 (borders set) 1835 (organized) |
From part of Barry County, and unorganized land | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 121,939 | 1,833 sq mi (4,747 km2) |
 |
| Alpena County | 007 | Alpena | 1840 (borders set) 1857 (organized) |
From part of Mackinac County, and unorganized land. Was called Anamickee County until 1843. | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 28,904 | 1,695 sq mi (4,390 km2) |
 |
| Antrim County | 009 | Bellaire | 1840 (borders set) 1863 (organized) |
From part of Mackinac County; called Meegisee County until 1843 | County Antrim, now in Northern Ireland | 24,409 | 602 sq mi (1,559 km2) |
 |
| Arenac County | 011 | Standish | 1831 (borders set) 1883 (organized) |
From unorganized land; joined to Bay County in 1857, but brought back in 1883 | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 15,145 | 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 Sault Ste. Marie | 8,310 | 1,069 sq mi (2,769 km2) |
 |
| Barry County | 015 | Hastings | 1829 (borders set) 1839 (organized) |
From unorganized land | William T. Barry (1784-1835): Postmaster General in the Jackson Administration | 63,808 | 577 sq mi (1,494 km2) |
 |
| Bay County | 017 | Bay City | 1857 | From parts of Arenac, Midland, and Saginaw Counties | Saginaw Bay | 102,500 | 631 sq mi (1,634 km2) |
 |
| Benzie County | 019 | Beulah | 1863 | From part of Leelanau County | French name of Betsie River: (rivière aux) Bec-scies, meaning "(river of) sawbill ducks" | 18,441 | 860 sq mi (2,227 km2) |
 |
| Berrien County | 021 | St. Joseph | 1829 | From unorganized land | John M. Berrien (1781-1856): Attorney General in the Jackson Administration | 152,261 | 1,581 sq mi (4,095 km2) |
 |
| Branch County | 023 | Coldwater | 1829 | From unorganized land | John Branch (1782-1863): Secretary of the Navy in the Jackson Administration | 45,215 | 519 sq mi (1,344 km2) |
 |
| Calhoun County | 025 | Marshall | 1829 | From unorganized land | John C. Calhoun (1782-1850): Vice President of the United States in the Jackson Administration | 133,366 | 718 sq mi (1,860 km2) |
 |
| Cass County | 027 | Cassopolis | 1829 | From unorganized land | Lewis Cass (1782-1866): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration | 51,642 | 508 sq mi (1,316 km2) |
 |
| Charlevoix County | 029 | Charlevoix | 1869 | From parts of Antrim, Emmet, and Otsego Counties | Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682-1761): Jesuit traveler and historian of New France | 26,159 | 1,391 sq mi (3,603 km2) |
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| Cheboygan County | 031 | Cheboygan | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County | Cheboygan River | 26,048 | 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 | 36,264 | 2,698 sq mi (6,988 km2) |
 |
| Clare County | 035 | Harrison | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County, and unorganized land; called Kaykakee County until 1843 | County Clare, Ireland | 31,316 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km2) |
 |
| Clinton County | 037 | St. Johns | 1831 | From unorganized land | DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828): Governor of New York. | 79,720 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km2) |
 |
| Crawford County | 039 | Grayling | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. Was called Shawano County until 1843. | William Crawford (1732-82): American Revolutionary War colonel and surveyor | 13,538 | 563 sq mi (1,458 km2) |
 |
| Delta County | 041 | Escanaba | 1843 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. | Greek letter delta, for the original triangular shape of the county | 36,790 | 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 | 25,982 | 777 sq mi (2,012 km2) |
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| Eaton County | 045 | Charlotte | 1829 | From unorganized land. | John Eaton (1790-1856): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration | 108,820 | 579 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
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| Emmet County | 047 | Petoskey | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was called Tonegadana County until 1843. | Robert Emmet (1778-1803): Irish nationalist and rebel leader | 34,123 | 882 sq mi (2,284 km2) |
 |
| Genesee County | 049 | Flint | 1835 | From parts of Lapeer County, Saginaw County and Shiawassee County. | Seneca word, "je-nis-hi-yeh," meaning "beautiful valley" | 401,522 | 649 sq mi (1,681 km2) |
 |
| Gladwin County | 051 | Gladwin | 1831 | From unorganized land. | Major Henry Gladwin: British commander at Detroit during the siege by Chief Pontiac | 25,853 | 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" meaning "rock" | 14,224 | 1,476 sq mi (3,823 km2) |
 |
| Grand Traverse County | 055 | Traverse City | 1840 (borders set) 1851 (organized) |
From part of Mackinac County; called Omeena County until 1851. | French grande traverse ("long crossing"), for Grand Traverse Bay | 96,421 | 601 sq mi (1,557 km2) |
 |
| Gratiot County | 057 | Ithaca | 1831 | From unorganized land. | Captain Charles Gratiot (1788-1855): built Fort Gratiot at Port Huron | 41,368 | 572 sq mi (1,481 km2) |
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| Hillsdale County | 059 | Hillsdale | 1829 | From unorganized land. | From its terrain, made up of hills and dales | 45,587 | 607 sq mi (1,572 km2) |
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| Houghton County | 061 | Houghton | 1845 | From parts of Marquette County and Ontonagon County. | Douglass Houghton (1809-1845): first state geologist of Michigan | 37,599 | 1,502 sq mi (3,890 km2) |
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| Huron County | 063 | Bad Axe | 1840 | From part of Sanilac County. | Lake Huron, which the French named lac des Hurons after the Hurons | 30,927 | 2,136 sq mi (5,532 km2) |
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| Ingham County | 065 | Mason | 1829 (borders set) 1838 (organized) |
From parts of Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County and unorganized land. | Samuel D. Ingham (1779-1860): U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in the Jackson Administration | 284,637 | 561 sq mi (1,453 km2) |
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| Ionia County | 067 | Ionia | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. | Province in ancient Greece | 66,262 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km2) |
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| Iosco County | 069 | Tawas City | 1840 | From unorganized land. Was called Kanotin County until 1843. | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 25,373 | 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 | 11,740 | 1,211 sq mi (3,136 km2) |
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| Isabella County | 073 | Mt. Pleasant | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. | Queen Isabella I (1451-1504) of Spain, who supported Columbus's voyages. | 64,118 | 578 sq mi (1,497 km2) |
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| Jackson County | 075 | Jackson | 1829 (borders set) 1832 (organized) |
From part of Washtenaw County and unorganized land. | Andrew Jackson (1767-1845): 7th President of the United States | 159,424 | 724 sq mi (1,875 km2) |
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| Kalamazoo County | 077 | Kalamazoo | 1829 | From unorganized land. | Named for the Kalamazoo River. See Etymology of Kalamazoo for more. | 262,215 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km2) |
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| Kalkaska County | 079 | Kalkaska | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was called Wabassee County until 1843. | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 18,490 | 571 sq mi (1,479 km2) |
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| Kent County | 081 | Grand Rapids | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. | James Kent: New York judge who helped Michigan Territory | 661,354 | 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" | 2,172 | 5,966 sq mi (15,452 km2) |
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| Lake County | 085 | Baldwin | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was called Aischum County until 1843. | Has several small lakes and is near Lake Michigan | 12,734 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km2) |
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| Lapeer County | 087 | Lapeer | 1822 | From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County. | From the French la pierre, meaning "the rock" (flint) | 88,977 | 663 sq mi (1,717 km2) |
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| Leelanau County | 089 | Suttons Bay Township | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 23,019 | 2,532 sq mi (6,558 km2) |
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| Lenawee County | 091 | Adrian | 1822 | From part of Monroe County. | A Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name for man | 97,520 | 761 sq mi (1,971 km2) |
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| Livingston County | 093 | Howell | 1833 (borders set) 1836 (organized) |
From parts of Shiawassee County and Washtenaw County. | Edward Livingston (1764-1836): Secretary of State in the Andrew Jackson administration | 196,757 | 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 | 6,435 | 1,912 sq mi (4,952 km2) |
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| Mackinac County | 097 | St. Ignace | 1818 | From part of Wayne County. Was called Michilimackinac County until 1837. | Originally Michilimackinac, meaning "big turtle" | 10,851 | 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 hero of the War of 1812 | 875,101 | 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, from the Ojibwe name ministigweyaa meaning "(river) at whose mouth there are islands" | 25,562 | 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 Jacques Marquette | 66,999 | 3,425 sq mi (8,871 km2) |
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| Mason County | 105 | Ludington | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was called Notipekago County until 1843. | Named for Michigan Governor Stevens T. Mason | 29,159 | 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 | 41,099 | 571 sq mi (1,479 km2) |
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| Menominee County | 109 | Menominee | 1861 | From part of Delta County. Was called Bleeker County until 1863. | Named for the Menominee Native American people | 22,945 | 1,338 sq mi (3,465 km2) |
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| Midland County | 111 | Midland | 1831 | From part of Saginaw County and unorganized land. | Located near the center of the Lower Peninsula | 84,039 | 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 treaties | 15,311 | 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 | 155,045 | 680 sq mi (1,761 km2) |
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| Montcalm County | 117 | Stanton | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. | Named for Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, a French military commander in Quebec | 68,154 | 721 sq mi (1,867 km2) |
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| Montmorency County | 119 | Atlanta | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. Was called Cheonoquet County until 1843. | House of Montmorency, an important French family | 9,678 | 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, from the Ojibwa/Chippewa word mashkig meaning "swamp" or "marsh" | 176,564 | 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 | 51,108 | 861 sq mi (2,230 km2) |
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| Oakland County | 125 | Pontiac | 1819 (borders set) 1820 (organized) |
From part of Macomb County. | The many "oak openings" in the area, like natural orchards | 1,270,426 | 908 sq mi (2,352 km2) |
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| Oceana County | 127 | Hart | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County. | Borders Lake Michigan, the freshwater "ocean" | 26,981 | 1,307 sq mi (3,385 km2) |
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| Ogemaw County | 129 | West Branch | 1840 | From unorganized land. Joined to Iosco County in 1867 and brought back in 1873. | The Ojibwe word ogimaa, meaning "chief" or "leader" | 20,990 | 575 sq mi (1,489 km2) |
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| Ontonagon County | 131 | Ontonagon | 1843 (borders set) 1848 (organized) |
From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. | Named for the Ontonagon River. The Ojibwa word onagon means "dish" or "bowl." | 5,906 | 3,741 sq mi (9,689 km2) |
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| Osceola County | 133 | Reed City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was called Unwattin County until 1843. | Osceola (1804-1838), Seminole chief | 23,330 | 573 sq mi (1,484 km2) |
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| Oscoda County | 135 | Mio | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 8,545 | 572 sq mi (1,481 km2) |
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| Otsego County | 137 | Gaylord | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was called Okkudo County until 1843. | Named for Otsego County, New York | 25,747 | 526 sq mi (1,362 km2) |
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| Ottawa County | 139 | Grand Haven | 1831 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. | Named for the Native American Ottawa people. | 303,372 | 1,632 sq mi (4,227 km2) |
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| Presque Isle County | 141 | Rogers City | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. | From the French phrase for "peninsula", meaning "almost an island" | 13,285 | 2,573 sq mi (6,664 km2) |
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| Roscommon County | 143 | Roscommon | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County and unorganized land. Was called Mikenauk County until 1843. | County Roscommon, Ireland | 23,863 | 580 sq mi (1,502 km2) |
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| Saginaw County | 145 | Saginaw | 1822 | From part of Oakland County. | A Native American term, possibly meaning "at the outlet" for the Saginaw River and Bay | 187,782 | 816 sq mi (2,113 km2) |
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| St. Clair County | 147 | Port Huron | 1820 | From part of Macomb County. | Named for either Arthur St. Clair, first governor of the Northwest Territory, or Saint Clair | 159,874 | 837 sq mi (2,168 km2) |
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| St. Joseph County | 149 | Centreville | 1829 | From unorganized land. | The St. Joseph River, which flows through the county. | 60,878 | 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 | 40,368 | 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 | 8,149 | 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, meaning 'river that twists about' | 68,025 | 541 sq mi (1,401 km2) |
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| Tuscola County | 157 | Caro | 1840 | From part of Sanilac County. | Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name | 52,826 | 914 sq mi (2,367 km2) |
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| Van Buren County | 159 | Paw Paw | 1829 | From unorganized land. | Martin Van Buren (1782-1862): Secretary of State in the Jackson Administration, later Vice President and 8th President of the United States | 75,798 | 1,090 sq mi (2,823 km2) |
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| Washtenaw County | 161 | Ann Arbor | 1822 (borders set) 1826 (organized) |
From parts of Oakland County and Wayne County | From the Native American name for the Grand River, O-wash-ta-nong ("faraway water") | 365,536 | 723 sq mi (1,873 km2) |
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| Wayne County | 163 | Detroit | 1815 | All lands in Michigan Territory given up by Native Americans in the 1807 Treaty of Detroit. | "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745-1796): United States Army general and statesman | 1,751,169 | 672 sq mi (1,740 km2) |
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| Wexford County | 165 | Cadillac | 1840 | From part of Mackinac County. Was called Kautawaubet County until 1843. | County Wexford, Ireland | 34,122 | 576 sq mi (1,492 km2) |
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Counties That No Longer Exist
This section lists counties or areas that acted like counties that were created by Michigan Territory or the State of Michigan, but no longer exist as separate counties.
- Brown County: Formed in 1818 when Michigan Territory grew. It became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and is now Brown County, Wisconsin.
- Crawford County: Formed in 1818, also when Michigan Territory grew. It moved to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and is now Crawford County, Wisconsin.
- Des Moines County: Formed in 1834. It moved to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and is now Des Moines County, Iowa.
- Detroit District: Created in 1805 to help with legal and government tasks. It was replaced by counties in 1818.
- Dubuque County: Formed in 1834. It moved to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and is now Dubuque County, Iowa.
- Erie District: Created in 1805. Parts of it became part of Indiana in 1816. It was officially replaced by counties in 1818.
- Huron District: Created in 1805. It was replaced by counties in 1818.
- Iowa County: Formed in 1830 from part of Crawford County. It moved to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and is now Iowa County, Wisconsin.
- Isle Royale County: Formed in 1875 from part of Keweenaw County. It stopped being organized in 1885 and was officially dissolved in 1897, returning to Keweenaw County.
- Keskkauko County: Formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. It was renamed Charlevoix County in 1843. It was later absorbed by Emmet County in 1853. A new Charlevoix County was formed in 1869 with different borders.
- Manitou County: Formed in 1855. Its government was dissolved in 1895, and it was absorbed by Charlevoix County and Leelanau County.
- Michilimackinac District: Created in 1805. It became part of Wayne County in 1816.
- Milwaukee County: Formed in 1834 from part of Brown County. It moved to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and is now Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
- Omeena County: Formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. It was absorbed by Grand Traverse County in 1853.
- Wyandot County: Formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. It was absorbed by Cheboygan County in 1853.
- Washington County: Formed in 1867 from Marquette County, but it was declared unconstitutional.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Condados de Míchigan para niños
- Cabinet counties
- List of former United States counties
- List of county subdivisions in Michigan
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List of counties in Michigan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.