Schoolcraft County, Michigan

Schoolcraft County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 9, 1843 [1]
Seat	Manistique
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,883.69 sq mi (4,879 km²) 1,178.11 sq mi (3,051 km²) 705.58 sq mi (1,827 km²), 37.46%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	8,903 8/sq mi (3/km²)
Website	www.schoolcraftcounty.net

Schoolcraft County is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,485. The county seat is Manistique, which lies along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. The county is named in honor of Henry Schoolcraft, who explored the area with the expedition of Lewis Cass. The county is largely rural and forested, with much of western portion of the county located within Hiawatha National Forest.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,883.69 square miles (4,878.7 km²), of which 1,178.11 square miles (3,051.3 km²) (or 62.54%) is land and 705.58 square miles (1,827.4 km²) (or 37.46%) is water.

Highways

• US 2
• M-28
• M-77
• M-94
• M-149
• H-13 / FFH 13
• H-42
• H-44

Adjacent counties

• Luce County (northeast)
• Mackinac County (southeast)
• Delta County (southwest)
• Alger County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Hiawatha National Forest (part)
• Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Rural road in Schoolcraft County

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,903 people, 3,606 households, and 2,498 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 5,700 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.67% White, 1.63% Black or African American, 6.12% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.6% were of German, 11.0% French, 8.7% Swedish, 8.1% English, 7.4% French Canadian, 6.7% United States or American and 6.4% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.1% spoke English as their first language.

There were 3,606 households out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.80% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,140, and the median income for a family was $36,810. Males had a median income of $32,725 versus $21,364 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,137. About 9.10% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Schoolcraft County operates the County jail, Schoolcraft County Public Transit, 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.

Cities, villages, and townships

Doyle Township Germfask Township Hiawatha Township

Inwood Township Manistique Township Manistique, city

Mueller Township Seney Township Thompson Township

Registered historic places

The National Register of Historic Places listings in Schoolcraft County, Michigan are

• Ten Curves Road – Manistique River Bridge — Ten Curves Rd. over Manistique River in Gemfask Township (added 1999-12-17)
• Manistique East Breakwater Light — at offshore end of east breakwater, approx. 1,800 ft. from shore in Manistique (added 2005-09-06
• Manistique Pumping Station — Deer St. in Manistique (added 1981-10-26)
• Seul Choix Pointe Light Station — County Rd. 431 in Manistique (added 1984-07-19)
• Ekdahl-Goudreau Site — address restricted (added 1978-11-16)

External links

• Schoolcraft County