Newaygo County, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newaygo County
U.S. county
Newaygo County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	1840 (established) 1851 (organized)
Seat	White Cloud
Largest city	Fremont
Area
• Total	862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
• Land	813 sq mi (2,110 km2)
• Water	48 sq mi (120 km2)  5.6%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	49,978
• Density	60/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd

Newaygo County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 49,978. The county seat is White Cloud. The county was created in 1840, and was organized in 1851. It was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Treaty of Saginaw in 1819 or for an Algonquian word meaning "much water".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 862 square miles (2,230 km²), of which 813 square miles (2,110 km²) is land and 48 square miles (120 km²) (5.6%) is covered by water. The county is considered to be part of West Michigan.

The county has more than 230 natural lakes. The combined total of all the rivers and streams is longer than 350 miles. Three huge dams, Croton, Hardy, and Newaygo, were built at the beginning of the 20th century. The Hardy Dam is the largest earthen dam east of the Mississippi. Over half of the county is in the Manistee National Forest.

Rivers

• Muskegon River
• Pere Marquette River
• Rogue River
• White River

Major highways

• M-20
• M-37
• M-82
• M-120
• B-31
• B-35
• B-96

Adjacent counties

• Lake County (north)
• Mecosta County (east)
• Montcalm County (east)
• Kent County (southeast)
• Muskegon County (southwest)
• Oceana County (west)

National protected area

• Manistee National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 47,874 people, 17,599 households, and 12,935 families in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 23,202 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 3.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.5% were of English ancestry, 20.5% were of German ancestry, 14.4% were of Dutch ancestry, 8.1% were of Irish ancestry and 5.0% were of Polish ancestry according to the 2010 American Community Survey. 95.7% spoke English and 3.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 17,599 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.

The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,130, and the median income for a family was $42,498. Males had a median income of $35,549 versus $22,738 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,976. About 9.00% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

• The Catholic church – 3,242 members
• The Christian Reformed Church in North America – 7 congregations and 2,056 members
• The United Methodist Church – 7 congregations and 1,600 members
• The Reformed Church in America – 3 congregations and 1,000 members
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 1 meetinghouse in the county.

Newaygo County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.

Festivals and events

• Memorial Weekend Arts & Crafts Festival - Newaygo
• River Country Home & Garden Show - Newaygo Middle School
• Newaygo County Kids' Day - Downtown Newaygo
• Trail Town Celebration - Celebrating White Clouds Trails & Waterways
• City-Wide Yard Sales - Grant
• Harvest Celebration - Grant
• Harvest Festival - Fremont
• Logging Festival - Featuring the Mid-Michigan Lumberjack Competition in Downtown Newaygo
• Bitely Home Coming - Bitely
• National Baby Food Festival - Fremont
• Pow Wow - White Cloud
• Santa Parade - Fremont
• West Michigan’s Longest Yard Sale - Grant, Newaygo, White Cloud, Bitely
• Winterfest - Newaygo
• Christmas in Newaygo
• Christmas in Grant
• Christmas in White Cloud

Historical Sites

In Newaygo County there are 16 locations that the Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office has designated as historical. Two of the sixteen sites have been listed with the National Register of Historic Places.

• Big Prairie Grange Hall No. 935 - Goodwell Twp
• Birch Grove School - Lincoln Twp
• Croton Congregational Church - Croton Twp
• Croton Hydroelectric Plant - Croton Twp
• Ensley Windmill Tower
• First Christian Reformed Church (Demolished) - Fremont
• Gerber, Cornelius, Cottage - Sheridan Charter Twp
• Grant Depot and Water Tower - Grant
• Hardy Hydroelectric Plant - Big Prairie - Twp
• Lilley District No. 5 School - Lilley Twp
• Oak Grove District No. 3 Schoolhouse - Croton Twp
• Penoyer's Sawmill - Newaygo
• Saint Mark's Episcopal Church - Newaygo
• Weaver, Daniel, House - Denver Twp
• White Cloud Village Hall (Demolished) - White Cloud
• Woods, John F., Residence - Newaygo

Communities

Cities

• Fremont
• Grant
• Newaygo
• White Cloud (county seat)

Villages

• Hesperia (partially)

Unincorporated communities

• Bitely
• Brunswick
• Riverview
• Woodland Park

Townships

Economy

Tourism is the most important economic activity in Newaygo County. Secondly is a blend of agricultural and small manufacturing. International baby food manufacturer Gerber Products Company is currently the county's largest employer with approximately 1,300 employees.

Newaygo County also has a large number of summer cottage residents. Fishermen can find many steelhead in the spring and salmon in the fall within the county's rivers and streams. Camping, hunting, cross country skiing, bicycling, birding and ORVing is common in the Manistee National Forest.

Notable companies

• County of Newaygo - White Cloud
• Dura Automotive Systems - Fremont
• Gerber Memorial Health Services - Fremont
• Gerber Products Company - Fremont
• Valspar Corporation - Fremont

Images for kids

• 

  Croton Hydroelectric Plant

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Newaygo para niños