Wexford County, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wexford County
U.S. county
Wexford 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 (created) 1869 (organized)
Named for	County Wexford, Ireland
Seat	Cadillac
Largest city	Cadillac
Area
• Total	575.46 sq mi (1,490.4 km2)
• Land	565.00 sq mi (1,463.3 km2)
• Water	10.46 sq mi (27.1 km2)  1.8%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	33,673
• Density	59.2/sq mi (22.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th

Wexford County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 33,673. The county seat is Cadillac.

Wexford County is part of the Cadillac, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes Missaukee County. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

The county is the location of the first known sighting of the Michigan dogman.

History

A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Wexford County as "Kawtawwabet" (a misspelling of Kautawaubet, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

The county was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Kautawaubet County, after a Potawatomi phrase meaning "broken tooth" and the name of an area Potawatomi chief. In 1843, legislators renamed the county Wexford, after County Wexford in Ireland. It was formally organized in 1869.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km²) is land and 10 square miles (26 km²) (1.8%) is water.

Major highways

• US 131
• 
  Bus. US 131
• 
  Bus. US 131
• M-37
• M-42
• M-55
• M-115

Adjacent counties

• Grand Traverse County - north
• Kalkaska County - northeast
• Missaukee County - east
• Osceola County - southeast
• Lake County - southwest
• Manistee County - west
• Benzie County - northwest

National protected area

• Manistee National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 30,484 people, 11,824 households, and 8,383 families residing in the county. The population density 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, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 11.3% English, 9.5% American, 9.4% Irish, 6.1% Dutch, 5.8% Swedish and 5.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.7% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish 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 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 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.

Tourism

There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford County. The Manistee National Forest is one recreation site. The Manistee River is used by fishermen, kayakers, and canoers.

Communities

Cities

• Cadillac (county seat)
• Manton

Villages

• Buckley (partially in Grand Traverse County)
• Harrietta
• Mesick

Census-designated places

• Boon
• Caberfae
• Haring
• Wedgewood

Other unincorporated communities

• Benson
• Hoxeyville
• Meauwataka
• Sherman
• Yuma

Townships

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 Locomotive

Images for kids

• 

  U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Wexford County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

• 

  Charles T. Mitchell House in Cadillac

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Wexford (Míchigan) para niños