Lapeer County, Michigan

Lapeer County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	September 18, 1822 [1]
Seat	Lapeer
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	663.08 sq mi (1,717 km²) 654.20 sq mi (1,694 km²) 8.88 sq mi (23 km²), 1.34%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	88,319 135/sq mi (52.1/km²)
Website	lapeercountyweb.org

Lapeer County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 88,319. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is part of Metro Detroit. The county seat is Lapeer. The county was created on September 18, 1822, and was fully organized on February 2, 1835. The name is an anglicization of the French la pierre, which means "flint" or "flint stone." List of Michigan county name etymologies.

History

On October 26, 2010, Lapeer became a founding member of the Karegnondi Water Authority.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 663.08 square miles (1,717.4 km²), of which 654.20 square miles (1,694.4 km²) (or 98.66%) is land and 8.88 square miles (23.0 km²) (or 1.34%) is water. Lapeer County's geography is very similar to Oakland County, except Lapeer County is more rural. Lapeer is one of the five counties that form the peninsula projecting into Lake Huron known as the Thumb, which in turn is a sub-region of the Flint/Tri-Cities.

Highways

Interstates

• I-69

Michigan State Trunklines

• M-24
• M-53
• M-90

Adjacent counties

• Sanilac County (northeast)
• Tuscola County (northwest)
• St. Clair County (east)
• Genesee County (west)
• Macomb County (southeast)
• Oakland County (southwest)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 87,904 people, 30,729 households, and 23,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile (52/km²). There were 32,732 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile (19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.17% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 3.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.2% were of German, 11.8% English, 9.7% American, 9.6% Irish and 9.4% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.9% spoke English and 2.6% Spanish as their first language.

In 2000, there were 30,729 households, of which 38.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.70% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.30% were non-families. 18.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.19.

The county's population was spread out in terms of age, with 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,717, and the median income for a family was $57,817. Males had a median income of $47,506 versus $26,385 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,462. About 3.80% of families and 5.40% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Historical markers

There are 13 historical markers throughout Lapeer county:

• Columbiaville Depot
• Currier House
• Dryden Depot
• General Squier Park
• Grand Trunk Depot / Imlay City
• Henry Stephens Memorial Library
• Ladies Library Hall
• Lapeer County
• Lapeer Public Library
• Pioneer Bank
• St. Patrick's Church Clifford
• United Methodist Church Columbiaville
• William Peter Mansion

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, runs county parks, 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, villages, and townships.

Lapeer is member of Karegnondi Water Authority.

Lapeer County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Byron J. Konschuh
• Sheriff: Ron Kalanquin
• County Clerk: Marlene M. Bruns
• County Treasurer: Dana M. Miller
• Register of Deeds: Melissa DeVaugh
• Drain Commissioner: John E. Cosens
• County Surveyor: Ray Davis
• Road Commissioners: Douglas Hodge; Dale Duckert; Joe Suma

(information as of January, 2009)

Lapeer County Board of Commissioners

7 members, elected from districts (1 Democrat, 6 Republicans)

District	Commissioner	Party	District’s Area
1	Cheryl Clark	Democrat	Townships of Marathon, Oregon and portion of Elba
2	Dyle Henning	Republican	Townships of Rich, Deerfield and portion of Mayfield
3	Gary Roy	Republican	Townships of Arcadia, Burlington, Burnside, Goodland and North Branch
4	Lenny Schneider	Republican	City of Lapeer and portions of Lapeer and Mayfield Townships
5	Dave Eady	Republican	Townships of Hadley, Metamora and portion of Elba
6	Linda Jarvis	Republican	Townships of Attica, Dryden and portion of Lapeer
7	Ian Kempf (Chairman)	Republican	Imlay City and Townships Almont and Imlay

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities Brown City (Partial - mostly located in neighboring Sanilac County) Imlay City Lapeer

Villages Almont Clifford Columbiaville Dryden Metamora North Branch Otter Lake

Unincorporated Attica Barnes Lake-Millers Lake Burnside Elba Farmers Creek Five Lakes Goodland

Hadley Hunters Creek Kerr Hill Kings Mill Lum Silverwood Thornville

Townships

Almont Township Arcadia Township Attica Township Burlington Township Burnside Township

Deerfield Township Dryden Township Elba Township Goodland Township Hadley Township

Imlay Township Lapeer Township Marathon Township Mayfield Township

Metamora Township North Branch Township Oregon Township Rich Township

See also

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

External links

• Official Lapeer County Website
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Lapeer County