Isabella County, Michigan

Last updated

Isabella County
County
St. John's Episcopal Church - Mt. Pleasant.jpg
St. John's Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant
Flag of Isabella County, Michigan.svg
Flag
Isabella seal.PNG
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Isabella County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan in United States.svg
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°39′N84°50′W / 43.65°N 84.84°W / 43.65; -84.84
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Michigan.svg  Michigan
Founded1831 (created)
1859 (organized) [1]
Named for Queen Isabella I of Castile
Seat Mount Pleasant
Largest cityMount Pleasant
Area
 • Total
578 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
64,394
 • Density124/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.isabellacounty.org

Isabella County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 64,394. [2] Its county seat is Mount Pleasant. [3] The area was known as Ojibiway Besse, meaning "the place of the Ojibwa". [4] Isabella County contains the Isabella Indian Reservation, on which members of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation live.

Contents

History

Isabella County was described by action of the Michigan Territory legislature in 1831, but for purposes of population, revenue, and judicial matters, it was assigned to nearby counties. Its area was partitioned from unorganized territory plus a portion of Mackinac, which had existed as a Territorial County since 1818.

The Michigan Territory was admitted to the Union as Michigan state in early 1837. By 1859, Isabella had sufficient settlement and interest in self-government that the state legislature authorized its organization. [1] Based on a suggestion by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, the U.S. Indian agent in this area, the county was named after Queen Isabella I of Castile, who with her husband Ferdinand commissioned Columbus's expedition to the New World. [1] [5]

Isabella County comprises the Mount Pleasant, Michigan micropolitan statistical area in Mid-Michigan. The county contains the Isabella Indian Reservation, which has a total area of 217.67 square miles (563.8 km2). It is the major land base of the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation. Part of the county seat of Mount Pleasant is located within the reservation.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) are land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (0.9%) are water. [6]

Highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 1,443—
1870 4,113185.0%
1880 12,159195.6%
1890 18,78454.5%
1900 22,78421.3%
1910 23,0291.1%
1920 22,610−1.8%
1930 21,126−6.6%
1940 25,98223.0%
1950 28,96411.5%
1960 35,34822.0%
1970 44,59426.2%
1980 54,11021.3%
1990 54,6240.9%
2000 63,35116.0%
2010 70,31111.0%
2020 64,394−8.4%
2023 (est.)64,118 [8] −0.4%
US Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2018 [2]

As of the 2000 United States Census, [13] there were 63,351 people, 22,425 households, and 13,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile (42 people/km2). There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.51% White, 2.75% Native American, 1.93% Black or African American, 1.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. 2.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.0% were of German, 10.1% English, 10.0% Irish, 7.5% American and 6.0% Polish ancestry, 95.9% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 22,425 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.40% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% 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 3.03.

The county population contained 20.30% under the age of 18, 29.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,262, and the median income for a family was $45,953. Males had a median income of $32,270 versus $24,180 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,242. 7.40% of families and 20.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

United States presidential election results for Isabella County, Michigan [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 16,32052.82%14,01145.34%5691.84%
2020 14,81550.26%14,07247.74%5892.00%
2016 12,33848.31%11,40444.65%1,7987.04%
2012 10,80044.52%13,03853.74%4221.74%
2008 11,22039.49%16,67958.71%5111.80%
2004 11,75448.19%12,33450.57%3021.24%
2000 10,05347.71%10,22848.55%7883.74%
1996 7,46038.57%9,63549.81%2,24711.62%
1992 7,70634.97%8,78439.86%5,54725.17%
1988 10,36256.07%7,96043.07%1600.87%
1984 12,21565.00%6,43534.24%1430.76%
1980 10,40750.24%7,29335.21%3,01514.55%
1976 10,57757.66%7,28139.69%4872.65%
1972 9,68255.47%7,44642.66%3261.87%
1968 7,11157.37%4,45035.90%8356.74%
1964 4,67239.84%7,04060.03%150.13%
1960 7,88063.88%4,43135.92%240.19%
1956 8,41572.41%3,18327.39%230.20%
1952 8,22273.54%2,88125.77%770.69%
1948 5,48567.23%2,48730.49%1862.28%
1944 6,35671.02%2,52228.18%710.79%
1940 7,01970.96%2,82828.59%440.44%
1936 4,05146.79%3,87144.71%7368.50%
1932 4,21148.71%4,27249.42%1621.87%
1928 4,92673.13%1,76226.16%480.71%
1924 5,24577.08%1,20817.75%3525.17%
1920 5,08973.82%1,62723.60%1782.58%
1916 2,70053.91%2,14342.79%1653.29%
1912 1,41729.71%1,38929.13%1,96341.16%
1908 3,17163.18%1,65833.03%1903.79%
1904 3,54770.97%1,32126.43%1302.60%
1900 2,96958.64%1,99639.42%981.94%
1896 2,42446.71%2,67951.63%861.66%
1892 1,85945.42%1,76243.05%47211.53%
1888 2,15451.46%1,84143.98%1914.56%
1884 1,61748.78%1,61048.57%882.65%

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.

Elected officials

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Isabella County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities. Isabella County, MI census map.png
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Isabella County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.
Isabella Indian Reservation with underlying local boundaries Isabella Indian Reservation (Isabella County, MI) location.png
Isabella Indian Reservation with underlying local boundaries

Cities

Villages

Charter township

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Indian reservation

Education

The Gratiot–Isabella Regional Education Service District, based in Ithaca, services the students in the county. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services, early education programs, and technical career pathways for students of its districts. [15]

Isabella County is served by the following regular public school districts: [16]

The county also has the following independent charter districts:

Isabella County has the following private schools: [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saginaw County, Michigan</span> County in Michigan, United States

Saginaw County, officially the County of Saginaw, is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 190,124. The county seat is Saginaw. The county was created by September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on February 9, 1835. The etymology of the county's name is uncertain. It may be derived from Sace-nong or Sak-e-nong, as the Sauk tribe is believed by some to have once lived there. A more likely possibility is that it comes from Ojibwe words meaning "place of the outlet" –sag and ong. See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arenac County, Michigan</span> County in Michigan, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standish Township, Michigan</span> Civil township in Michigan, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chippewa Township, Isabella County, Michigan</span> Civil township in Michigan, United States

Chippewa Township is a civil township of Isabella County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 4,446. The city of Mount Pleasant is nearby to the west, and the Mount Pleasant post office, with ZIP code 48858, also serves the northern portion of Chippewa Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Pleasant, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Mount Pleasant is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is the county seat of Isabella County, which is part of Central Michigan. The population of Mount Pleasant was 21,688 as of the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Union Charter Township, but is politically independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nottawa Township, Isabella County, Michigan</span> Civil township in Michigan, United States

Nottawa Township is a civil township of Isabella County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,225 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosebush, Michigan</span> Village in Michigan, United States

Rosebush is a village in Isabella County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 353 at the 2020 census. The village is within Isabella Township, and is also entirely within the Isabella Indian Reservation, home to the federally-recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Charter Township, Michigan</span> Charter township in Michigan, United States

Union Charter Township is a charter township of Isabella County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,927 at the 2010 census, and decreased to 11,699 at the 2020 census. The city of Mount Pleasant is entirely surrounded by the township on incorporated land that was formerly part of the township, but the two are administratively separately.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weidman, Michigan</span> Census-designated place & unincorporated community in Michigan, United States

Weidman is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Isabella County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The CDP had a population of 920 at the 2020 census. The community is located within Nottawa Township to the east and Sherman Township to the west.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freeland, Michigan</span> Census-designated place & unincorporated community in Michigan, United States

Freeland is a census-designated place in Tittabawassee Township, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Saginaw-Midland-Bay Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 5,147. The CDP covers an area in the central portion of Tittabawassee Township. The Freeland post office, ZIP code 48623, serves nearly the entire township, as well as portions of Midland and Williams townships to the north, Frankenlust and Kochville townships to the east, Thomas and Richland townships to the south, and Ingersoll Township to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shields, Michigan</span> Census-designated place & unincorporated community in Michigan, United States

Shields is an unincorporated community in Thomas Township, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes, but with no legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population of the CDP was 7,035 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isabella Indian Reservation</span> Indian reservation in Michigan, United States

The Isabella Indian Reservation is the primary land base of the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation, located in Isabella County in the central part of the U.S. state of Michigan. The tribe also has some small parcels of off-reservation trust land in Standish Township, Arenac County, near Saginaw Bay and southeast of the city of Standish. Tribal lands are held in trust by the federal government on behalf of the nation.

Richland Township is a civil township of Montcalm County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,646 at the 2020 census, down from 2,778 in 2010.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bibliography on Isabella County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ History of Isabella County Archived May 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Isabella County, Michigan website (accessed April 21, 2007)
  5. ↑ Isabella County History and Information Archived December 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , Genealogy Inc. (accessed April 21, 2007)
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Isabella County MI" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  9. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  14. ↑ US Election Atlas
  15. ↑ "GIRESD Local School Districts". Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District . Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  16. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Isabella County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  17. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Private Schools - Isabella County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved July 14, 2023.

43°39′N84°50′W / 43.65°N 84.84°W / 43.65; -84.84

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