Gladwin County, Michigan

Gladwin County, Michigan
Seal
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1831
Seat	Gladwin
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	516.43 sq mi (1,338 km²) 506.80 sq mi (1,313 km²) 9.63 sq mi (25 km²), 1.86%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	26,023 52/sq mi (20/km²)
Website	www.gladwinco.com

Gladwin County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 26,023. The county seat is Gladwin.

History

Before there was Gladwin County

Gladwin County is a headwaters area. Most of the water that flows out of the county via the Tittabawasee river comes from Gladwin County, only a very small portion flows in from Clare or Roscommon counties. Native Americans crossed this area, and even spent summers here where the fishing was good and summer berries plentiful.

Research is underway to determine the importance of an ancient trail that was noted by the crew of the 1839 re-survey of Township 17 north Range 2 west, which later became Beaverton Township. The eastern terminus of the "Muskegon River Trail" was plotted at the confluence of the three branches of the Tobacco (Assa-mo-quoi-Sepe) River in the northwest corner of Section 12. It is possible that an early cross-country route from Saginaw Bay to Lake Michigan proceeded up the Saginaw, Tittabawasee and Tobacco Rivers to approximately the point west across Ross Lake from the Beaverton City Cemetery. At that point the canoes would be portaged along the trail to the Muskegon river, then floated down to Lake Michigan.

Many native artifacts have been found along that route that attest to seasonal occupation, but so far no signs have been found to indicate any permanent, year-around settlement.

Europeans Arrive

The earliest documented visitors to the area that later became Gladwin County were the surveyors who platted that land according to the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance. Most of the early work was completed during the 1830s. Unfortunately, parts of the first survey were actually done in a bar room in Saginaw. The surveyors had predicted it would be centuries before anyone would move to such a God-forsaken, mosquito-infested swamp.

The earliest census to mention residents in the area was in 1860.

The county is named for Henry Gladwin, British military commander at Detroit during Pontiac's War. The county was named in 1831 and organized in 1875.

County Celebrates First Settler Sesquicentennial

The year 2011 will mark 150 years since the first permanent settler, Marvel Secord, took up residence along the Tittabawassee River in what is now Secord Township. He was a trapper and trader who provided supplies to lumbering camps in the area.

Another man may have had the right to claim first settler status. The 1860 census listed 14 residents, including two families with children. Of these, 11 were associated with lumbering camps that had begun to appear that year, and three were listed as "hunters." One of the "day laborers" at a camp, however, moved with his family to Gladwin County at a later date. If we can document and verify his residence as permanent, then he could be considered. Not too likely since there appear to be no marriages, deaths or births attributed to his surname in succeeding years.

There will be a large celebration and a new book about the history of Gladwin County. The celebration weekend is scheduled for July 29, 30 & 31, 2010. The new book will be presented at a reception on the 28th of July, 2010.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 516.43 square miles (1,337.5 km²), of which 506.80 square miles (1,312.6 km²) (or 98.14%) is land and 9.63 square miles (24.9 km²) (or 1.86%) is water.

Highways

• M-18 runs north to Houghton Lake area. To the south the highway connects with US 10.
• M-30, like M-18, runs south to US 10. Going north it routes to West Branch.
• M-61 travels west to Harrison and east to Standish.
• F-97 runs north into Roscommon County

Adjacent counties

• Ogemaw County (northeast)
• Arenac County (east)
• Bay County (southeast)
• Midland County (south)
• Clare County (west)
• Roscommon County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,023 people, 10,561 households, and 7,614 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 16,828 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.65% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.1% were of German, 11.5% American, 11.1% English, 9.4% Irish, 7.3% Polish and 6.4% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.3% spoke English, 1.7% German and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,561 households out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,019, and the median income for a family was $37,090. Males had a median income of $33,871 versus $21,956 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,614. About 10.40% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Gladwin County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Aaron Miller
• Sheriff: Michael Shea
• County Clerk: Laura Brandon
• County Treasurer: Christy VanTiem
• Register of Deeds: Ann Manning
• Drain Commissioner: Sherry Augustine
• Road Commissioners: Doyle Donn; Keith Edick; Larry Miller
• 55th Circuit Court Judge: Hon. Thomas R. Evans / Hon. Roy G. Mienk
• 80th District Court Judge: Hon. Joshua Farrell
• 17th Probate District Judge: Hon. Thomas P. McLaughlin
• Board of Commissioners: Terry Whittington, Bill Rhode, Terry Walters, Dennis Carl, Sharron Smith, Donald Birgel, Josh Reid.

(information as of December 18, 2010)

Cities, villages, and townships

• Beaverton, city
• Gladwin, city

Villages

None

Townships

Beaverton Township Bentley Township Billings Township Bourret Township

Buckeye Township Butman Township Clement Township Gladwin Township

Grim Township Grout Township Hay Township Sage Township

Secord Township Sherman Township Tobacco Township

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Gladwin County, Michigan

External links

• Gladwin County government
• Gladwin City government
• Beaverton City government
• Gladwin County Chamber of Commerce
• Gladwin County Economic Development Corp.
• Gladwinmi.com (hosted by the Gladwin County Record)
• Clarke Historical Library (Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Gladwin County)
• Gladwin County Historical Society
• Gladwin County District Library
• Gladwin Community Schools
• Beaverton Rural Schools