Eaton County was formed in 1837 from open territory. It was named after John H. Eaton, an American Secretary of War.[4] The county is one of the so-called Cabinet counties because it was named after a member of the cabinet of US President Andrew Jackson.[5]
Eaton County was created by the Michigan Territorial Legislature on October 29, 1829: "That as much of the country as is included within the following limits, viz., north of the base line and south of the line between townships four and five north of the base line, and east of the line between ranges six and seven west of the meridian, and west of the line between ranges two and three west of the meridian, be and the same is set off into a separate county, and the name thereof shall be Eaton." The county was named in honor of Gen. John H. Eaton, secretary of war in the cabinet of President Andrew Jackson. The following week (November 4), the legislature added this directive: "That the county of Eaton shall be attached to and compose a part of the county of St. Joseph." On November 5, they also added an act to direct that the counties of Eaton, Branch and Calhoun, and all the country north attached to Eaton be set off into a township by the name of Eaton, and it was ordered that the first town meeting should be held at the house of Jabez Bronson, who lived on the site of the present village of Bronson in Branch county. This was no hardship, for there was not at that time a single white settler within the bounds of Eaton county.
The following summer (July 30, 1830), the Territorial Legislature changed Eaton's assignment, attaching it to Kalamazoo for administrative, revenue, and judicial purposes. Then on March 17, 1835, it directed: "That the county of Eaton shall be a township of Belleville,' and the first township meeting shall be held at such place as the sheriff of Calhoun county shall appoint in said county of Eaton, and shall be attached to the county of Eaton for all judicial purposes."
By 1837 the Territory had been admitted to the Union as a State. On December 29 of that year, the new state legislature created Eaton County as an independent entity: "That the county of Eaton be and the same is hereby organized, and the inhabitants thereof entitled to all the rights and privileges to which by law the inhabitants of other counties of this state are entitled."
While the name "Belleville" was given to the first organized township, including the whole county, it does not appear to have been used in any official documents. The second place where the name of the township is mentioned in a legislative enactment is on March 17 in the session laws of 1837, where it appears under the name of "Bellevue." Official business has always been transacted under the latter name, and yet there is no known law showing that the name has ever been legally changed from "Belleville."
The first division of the town of Bellevue occurred on March 11, 1837, when Eaton and Vermontville were organized. The four northwestern townships, now Vermontville, Chester, Roxand and Sunfield, were set off as a township and named Vermontville; while the four southeastern townships, now Eaton, Eaton Rapids, Hamlin, and Brookfield were organized as the township of Eaton.
This left the four northeastern towns, Benton, Oneida, Delta, and Windsor, and the four remaining towns, Bellevue, Kalamo, Carmel, and Walton, cornering at the geographical center of the county in a single organized township known as Bellevue. But on March 6, 1838, the northeast quarter of the county was detached from Bellevue and was formed as the town of Oneida.
In 1832, a surveyor, George W. Barnes, bought a homestead in central Eaton County; that area is now contained in Charlotte. On March 21, 1833, he applied to Territorial Governor George B. Porter for a commission to be appointed to locate the county seat: "That in the month of may last he put up in three public places in the county of Kalamazoo notices that application would be made to the governor of the territory of Michigan to appoint commissioners to locate a seat of justice for Eaton County, agreeably to the law in such cases made and provided." Accordingly, three locals (Charles C. Hascall, Stillman Blanchard, John W. Strong) were named on April 29. On June 5 they reported to the Governor that they met "at Prairie Ronde [Round] in the county of Kalamazoo on the 27th day of May, 1833, and on June 4, located the county seat on land which is owned by George W. Barnes. The point selected for the seat of justice in this county is on a beautiful prairie, about one mile square, near two and a half miles south of the center of the county, and about one mile north of the Battle creek, the nearest point to the center of the county where water can be obtained for hydraulic purposes."
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500km2), of which 575 square miles (1,490km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]
As of the 2000 United States Census,[14] there were 103,655 people, 40,167 households, and 28,237 families in the county. The population density was 180 inhabitants per square mile (69/km2). There were 42,118 housing units at an average density of 73 per square mile (28/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.25% White, 5.29% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. 3.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 95.6% spoke only English, while 2.0% spoke Spanish.
There were 40,167 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.
The county population contained 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,588, and the median income for a family was $57,898. Males had a median income of $41,978 versus $29,638 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,411. About 4.10% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.80% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Architectural drawing for the Eaton County Courthouse, designed by David W. Gibbs and Company, 1880s
Eaton County has been reliably Republican for most of its history. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 80% of the elections (27 of 34 elections) for president. However, population growth in Lansing and the surrounding area has made the county more competitive in recent years. Barack Obama carried the county in both 2008 and 2012, as did Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, in her winning gubernatorial campaigns of 2002 and 2006. In 2014, Republican governor Rick Snyder narrowly lost the county while winning statewide. Donald Trump won by narrow margins in both 2016 and 2020.
United States presidential election results for Eaton County, Michigan[15]
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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.
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan and the most populous city in Ingham County. It is mostly in the county, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making it the sixth most populous city in Michigan. The population of its metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was 541,297 at the 2020 census, the third largest in the state after metropolitan Detroit and Grand Rapids. It was named the new state capital of Michigan in 1847, ten years after Michigan became a state.
Clinton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 79,128. The county seat is St. Johns. The county was created in 1831 and organized in 1839. It is named after early American politician DeWitt Clinton. Clinton County is included in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Ingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 284,900. The county seat is Mason. Lansing, the state capital of Michigan, is largely located within the county. Lansing is the only state capital in the United States located in a county of which it is not also the seat of government. The county is home to Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, and the Class A minor league baseball team Lansing Lugnuts. Ingham County is included in the Lansing–East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is considered to be a part of Mid Michigan.
Clarence Township is a civil township located in northeast Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,903 at the 2020 census. The township was originally named Pinkney Township.
Benton Township is a civil township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 2,796.
Charlotte is a city and county seat of Eaton County, Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,074.
Delta Charter Township, officially known as the Charter Township of Delta and commonly known as simply Delta Township, is a charter township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 33,119 making it the most populous municipality in Eaton County. The township operates its own fire department, but contracts with the Eaton County Sheriff Department for police protection. The township is a major community in metropolitan Lansing.
Dimondale is a village in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,234 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Windsor Charter Township. Dimondale is a suburb of Lansing, which is northeast of the village in Ingham County.
Eaton Rapids Township is a civil township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,821 at the 2000 United States Census.
Kalamo Township is a general law township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,742 at the 2000 census.
Potterville is a city in Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,617 at the 2010 census.
Vermontville Township is a civil township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,100 at the 2000 census.
Walton Township is a civil township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,011 at the 2000 census.
Grand Ledge is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city lies mostly within Eaton County, though a small portion extends into Clinton County to the north. The city sits along the Grand River 12.7 miles west of downtown Lansing. The population was 7,786 at the 2010 census. The city is named for its sandstone rock ledges that rise 40 feet (12 m) above the Grand River and are used by recreational rock climbers.
Maple Valley Schools is located in Vermontville, Eaton County, Michigan. Maple Valley Schools is within the Eaton Intermediate School District.
Eaton Regional Education Service Agency includes portions of Eaton County, Barry County, Ionia County, and Ingham County in Michigan, United States. Its offices are located in Charlotte, Eaton County, Michigan.
The Capital Area Activities Conference is a high school sports league located in Central Michigan. It is a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). There are currently 19 member schools in the conference that come from the counties of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, and Livingston. The Capital Area Activities Conference Logo was designed by Lansing Catholic 2003 graduate Raymond B. Corey.
The Lansing–East Lansing Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area located in Central Michigan defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and encompassing the counties of Eaton, Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee. The region is colloquially referred to as "Mid" or Central Michigan, and less often as "Greater Lansing" or the "Capital Area". As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 541,297. It ranks as Michigan's third-largest metropolitan area behind metropolitan Detroit and Grand Rapids.
The Lansing Public School District is the urban public school district covering 52 square miles including most of the city of Lansing, Michigan, part of the city of East Lansing, and parts of the townships of Delta, DeWitt, Lansing, and Watertown. It has specialty schools for Chinese Immersion, International Baccalaureate, STEM, STEAM, and other categories.
Brookfield Township is a civil township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 1,537.
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