Midland County, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Midland County
U.S. county
Midland County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	1831, reorganized 1855
Seat	Midland
Largest city	Midland
Area
• Total	528 sq mi (1,370 km2)
• Land	516 sq mi (1,340 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.2%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	83,494
• Density	162/sq mi (63/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	2nd, 8th

Midland County is a county located in the state of Michigan. In 2020, about 83,494 people lived here. The main city and government center is Midland. The county got its name because it's close to the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It was first created in 1831 and officially organized in 1855.

Midland County is part of the Midland, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area. It's also included in the larger Saginaw–Midland–Bay City area in the Mid/Central Michigan region.

History of Midland County

Early Days

For many hundreds of years, Native American tribes lived in the area that is now Midland County. When Europeans first arrived, the land was home to the Chippewa Indian Tribe.

The 1800s

In 1831, the boundaries of Midland County were officially set. By 1850, the county was fully organized. This meant it had its own local government. In 1874, a railroad line called the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad connected Midland to the rest of the country.

The city of Midland, where the county government is located, became an official city in 1887. Just three years later, in 1890, a man named Herbert Henry Dow arrived. He started the Dow Chemical Corporation, which grew to become one of the largest chemical companies in the world.

Midland County and the Civil War

When the American Civil War began in 1861, many men from Midland County joined the Union Army. They fought for the northern states. Many joined specific groups like Company B of the 10th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Others joined Company H of the 27th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Some men were wounded, and sadly, not all of them returned home. Many veterans from this war are buried in the county. There were also five different groups for Union veterans, called Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, in Midland County.

The 1900s

The 20th century brought a lot of growth to Midland County. The Dow Chemical Corporation became very important. New roads, highways, and even small airports were built. However, by the end of the 1900s, the Pere Marquette Railroad closed. This meant people could no longer travel by passenger train from the area.

World War I and Midland County

When the United States joined World War I in 1917, the Dow Chemical Corporation in Midland played a big role. They helped produce important materials for the war effort. About 675 men from Midland County joined the U.S. military during this war. Eight of them lost their lives while serving.

World War II and Midland County

During World War II, many men from Midland County joined the U.S. military. Dow Chemical also helped the war effort by making materials for explosives, flares, and medicine. There is a large memorial in the county to honor the veterans from this war.

The Cold War Era

During the Cold War, an Army National Guard base was set up in the city of Midland. Dow Chemical and Midland County were major suppliers of materials used during the Vietnam War. Some men from the county also died in the Korean War and Vietnam War.

The 2000s

In the 21st century, a group called the Sons of Union Veterans was formed. This group is a successor to the Grand Army of the Republic. They started a local chapter that serves the Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City areas. During the War on Terror, many men from the county joined the military, and a few died. The Midland County Veterans Memorial was updated. The city of Coleman also built a new war memorial.

In May 2020, parts of Midland County faced severe flooding. This happened because the Edenville and Sanford dams broke. Many residents had to leave their homes for safety.

Geography

Midland County covers a total area of about 528 square miles. Most of this area, about 516 square miles, is land. The remaining 12 square miles, or 2.2%, is water.

Neighboring Counties

Midland County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Gladwin County (to the north)
• Bay County (to the east)
• Saginaw County (to the southeast)
• Gratiot County (to the south)
• Isabella County (to the west)
• Clare County (to the northwest)

Transportation

Major Roads

• US 10 runs from northwest to southeast through the county. This freeway passes through Coleman, Sanford, and Midland. To the west, it connects to Clare and US 127. To the east, it leads to Bay City, where it meets I-75 and US 23.
• 
  Bus. US 10 is a special route that serves the city of Midland.
• M-18 is a north-south road in the northwest part of the county. It continues north into Gladwin County, connecting to Beaverton and Gladwin.
• M-20 is an east-west highway that crosses the middle of Midland County. To the west, it goes into Isabella County, leading to Mt. Pleasant and Big Rapids. This highway ends in Midland, at the border with Bay County.
• M-30 is another north-south road that serves the center of the county.

Airports

For scheduled flights, people in Midland County can use MBS International Airport in Freeland or Bishop International Airport in Flint. Midland also has a smaller airport for general aviation, called Jack Barstow Municipal Airport.

Public Transportation

Midland County does not have regular public bus service. However, residents can call ahead to schedule rides within the county. These services are called "Dial-A-Ride" for those in the city of Midland and "County Connection" for those outside the city. There is a small fee for these services.

Population and People

In 2000, there were 82,874 people living in Midland County. There were 31,769 households, and 22,683 families. The population density was about 159 people per square mile.

Most people in the county (95.50%) were White. About 1.05% were Black or African American, and 1.49% were Asian. About 1.55% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. Many people had German (28.6%), English (11.5%), or Irish (8.9%) backgrounds. Most people (96.7%) spoke only English at home.

About 34.90% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.56 people, and the average family had 3.04 people.

The median age in the county was 36 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older. About 26.90% of the population was under 18.

Religion

• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw oversees Catholic churches in the region.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan in Saginaw oversees Episcopal churches.

Economy and Jobs

Midland County has many important employers. Here are some of the top ones, based on the number of full-time employees:

Cities and Towns

This map shows the cities and townships within Midland County. The shaded areas are incorporated cities.

Cities

• Coleman
• Midland (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)

Village

• Sanford

Townships

Midland County has several townships, which are smaller local government areas. Some are called "Charter Townships" and others are "Civil Townships."

Charter Townships

• Larkin Charter Township
• Midland Charter Township

Civil Townships

Smaller Communities

These are smaller, unincorporated places within the townships:

Education

The Midland County Educational Service Agency, located in Midland, helps students throughout the county. This agency provides special education services, early learning programs for young children, and career training pathways for older students.

Midland County is served by several public school districts:

• Bullock Creek School District
• Coleman Community Schools
• Meridian Public Schools
• Midland Public Schools

There are also independent charter schools in the county:

• Academic and Career Education Academy
• Windover High School

Midland County also has several private schools:

• Blessed Sacrament Elementary School (Catholic)
• Edenville SDA Elementary School (Seventh-day Adventist)
• Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran School (WELS Lutheran)
• Midland Christian School (Non-religious)
• Midland Montessori School (Montessori method)
• St. Brigid Catholic School (Catholic)
• St. John's Lutheran School (Lutheran)

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Midland (Míchigan) para niños