Wexford County, Michigan
| Wexford County, Michigan | ||
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 Location in the state of Michigan |
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 Michigan's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1840 | |
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| Seat | Cadillac | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
575.84 sq mi (1,491 km²) 565.49 sq mi (1,465 km²) 10.35 sq mi (27 km²), 1.80% |
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| Population - (2010) - Density |
32,735 54/sq mi (21/km²) |
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| Website | www.wexfordcounty.org | |
Wexford County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 30,484. 2009 estimates put the population around 31,553. The county seat is Cadillac[1]. Wexford County is part of the Cadillac, Michigan, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Missaukee County. When established in 1840 by the Michigan Legislature, the county was given the name Kautawabet, 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.[2]
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[edit] Geography
- According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 575.84 square miles (1,491.4 km2), of which 565.49 square miles (1,464.6 km2) (or 98.20%) is land and 10.35 square miles (26.8 km2) (or 1.80%) is water.[3]
- Wexford County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
[edit] Transportation
US 131
BUS US 131 is a loop route through downtown Cadillac.
BUS US 131 is a loop route through downtown Manton.
M-37
M-42
M-55
M-115
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Grand Traverse County - north
- Kalkaska County - northeast
- Missaukee County - east
- Osceola County - southeast
- Lake County - southwest
- Manistee County - west
- Benzie County - northwest
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Benzie County | Grand Traverse County | Kalkaska County | |
| Manistee County |  |
Missaukee County | ||
 Wexford County, Michigan  |
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| Lake County | Osceola County |
[edit] National protected area
- Manistee National Forest (part)
[edit] Tourism
There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford county to check out. The Manistee National Forest is a great recreation site. The Manistee River is great for fisherman, kayakers and canoers, and other outdoor lovers.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[4] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Wexford County elected officials
- Prosecuting Attorney: Mark E. Smathers
- Sheriff: Gary A. Finstrom
- County Clerk: Elaine L. Richardson
- County Treasurer: Jayne E. Stanton
- Register of Deeds: Lorie Sorensen
- Drain Commissioner: Michael Solomon
- County Surveyor: Richard Wilcox
(information as of September 2005)
[edit] Presidential elections
The county is one of the only counties to have given majorities to the both the first Republican candidate, John C. Frémont,[5] and to John McCain.[6] That stated, the county went for Bill Clinton twice.[7]
[edit] Cities, villages, and townships
| Cities | Villages | Unincorporated | |
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| Townships | |||
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[edit] Historical markers
There are ten recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:[8] 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
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ http://www.cadillacmichigan.com/pages.php?tabid=11&pageid=43&title=Cadillac+History
- ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ David Leip's Presidential Atlas Statistics for 1856
- ^ David Leip's Presidential Atlas
- ^ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Michigan
- ^ Michigan Historical Markers
[edit] Further reading
[edit] External links
- Wexford County
- Wexford County Fact Book
- Chapter XVII Wexford County in A history of northern Michigan and its people by Perry F. Powers ; assisted by H.G. Cutler. Powers, Perry Francis, 1857-1945. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. p. 404
- History of Wexford County, Michigan, comp. by John H. Wheeler, Logansport, Ind.:B. F. Bowen, 1903.
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