Wexford County, Michigan

Last updated

Wexford County
County
Wexford County Courthouse (Cadillac).jpg
Wexford County Courthouse in Cadillac
Wexford seal.PNG
Seal
Nickname: 
"Wex"
Map of Michigan highlighting Wexford County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan in United States.svg
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°20′N85°35′W / 44.34°N 85.58°W / 44.34; -85.58
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Michigan.svg  Michigan
Founded1840 (created)
1869 (organized) [1] [2]
Named for County Wexford, Ireland
Seat Cadillac
Largest cityCadillac
Area
 • Total575.46 sq mi (1,490.4 km2)
 • Land565.00 sq mi (1,463.3 km2)
 • Water10.46 sq mi (27.1 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total33,673
 • Density59.2/sq mi (22.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 1st, 2nd
Website www.wexfordcounty.org

Wexford County is a county in the Northern Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 33,673. [3] The seat of Wexford County is Cadillac, which is also the county's largest city. [4]

Contents

Wexford County is largely covered by the Manistee National Forest, and thus is heavily wooded. The Manistee River flows from east to west in the north of the county. Briar Hill, the highest point in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, is located in northwestern Wexford County, at 1,706 feet (520 m).

The county is the location of the first known sighting of the Michigan Dogman, in 1887. [5]

History

A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Wexford County as "Kawtawwabet" (a misspelling of Kautawaubet, the county's name from 1840 to 1843. ) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed. 1842 Manistee Kawtawwabet Missaukee Mickenauk Ogemaw Kanotin Notipeskago Aishcum Unwattin Kaykakee Gladwin Arenac counties Michigan.jpg
A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Wexford County as "Kawtawwabet" (a misspelling of Kautawaubet, the county's name from 1840 to 1843. ) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

The county was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Kautawaubet County, [6] [7] after a Potawatomi phrase meaning "broken tooth," and the name of a local Potawatomi chief. In 1843, legislators renamed the county Wexford, [6] after County Wexford in Ireland.

In 1851, Wexford County was attached to Grand Traverse County for administrative purposes. [8] It was then attached to Manistee County in 1855, before being organized on its own in 1869. [1]

County seat battle

The Wexford County seat of government, originally located in Sherman, was moved to Manton in 1881, as the result of a compromise between the feuding residents of Cadillac and Sherman. Cadillac partisans, however, won the county seat by a county-wide vote in April 1882. [9] The day following the election, a sheriff's posse left the city for Manton by special train to seize the county records. After they arrived and collected a portion of the materials, however, an angry crowd confronted the Cadillac men and drove them out of town. [10]

When the sheriff returned to Cadillac, he encountered a force consisting of several hundred armed men; this group reportedly included a brass band. The Sheriff's force, some of whom may have been intoxicated, traveled back to Manton to seize the remaining records. Although Manton residents confronted the Cadillac men and barricaded the courthouse, the posse successfully seized the documents. They returned to Cadillac in dubious glory. [10]

Geography

The Manistee River flows westward through the upper part of Wexford County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely tree-covered. [11] The terrain slopes to the west, [12] with its highest point, Briar Hill in Manistee National Forest [13] at 1,706 feet (520 m).

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575.46 sqmi (1,490 km2), of which 565.00 sqmi (1,463 km2) is land and 10.46 sqmi (27.1 km2) (1.8%) is water. [14]

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Lakes [11]

Major highways

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Wexford County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities. Wexford County, MI census map.png
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Wexford County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities

Villages

Charter township

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870 650—
1880 6,815948.5%
1890 11,27865.5%
1900 16,84549.4%
1910 20,76923.3%
1920 18,207−12.3%
1930 16,827−7.6%
1940 17,9766.8%
1950 18,6283.6%
1960 18,466−0.9%
1970 19,7176.8%
1980 25,10227.3%
1990 26,3605.0%
2000 30,48415.6%
2010 32,7357.4%
2020 33,6732.9%
2023 (est.)34,122 [15] 1.3%
US Decennial Census [16]
1790–1960 [17] 1900–1990 [18]
1990–2000 [19] 2010–2018 [3]

In 2020, the county's population was 33,673. [3]

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.

Elected officials

(information as of July 2019) [20]

Politics

Wexford County is one of the few counties to have given majorities to both the first Republican candidate, John C. Frémont, [21] and to John McCain in his 2008 presidential campaign. [22] The county also twice favored Democrat Bill Clinton. [23]

Wexford County is divided between Michigan's 1st and 2nd congressional districts, both represented by Republicans Jack Bergman and John Moolenaar, respectively.

United States presidential election results for Wexford County, Michigan [24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 12,10266.16%5,83831.92%3521.92%
2016 10,00065.06%4,43628.86%9346.08%
2012 8,45056.72%6,18441.51%2641.77%
2008 8,04451.10%7,37946.88%3182.02%
2004 8,96659.14%6,03439.80%1601.06%
2000 7,21555.58%5,32641.03%4413.40%
1996 4,86640.93%5,51046.35%1,51212.72%
1992 4,69637.34%4,89438.92%2,98523.74%
1988 6,04358.07%4,28741.20%760.73%
1984 7,27967.93%3,39831.71%380.35%
1980 6,02754.01%4,17337.39%9608.60%
1976 5,67054.96%4,51943.80%1281.24%
1972 5,22161.43%3,04835.86%2302.71%
1968 4,36456.38%2,83236.59%5447.03%
1964 3,01640.50%4,41459.28%160.21%
1960 5,26265.00%2,80734.67%270.33%
1956 5,05265.76%2,60433.89%270.35%
1952 5,56968.98%2,40729.82%971.20%
1948 3,83357.06%2,63539.23%2493.71%
1944 4,07461.21%2,48937.39%931.40%
1940 4,32259.00%2,94740.23%570.78%
1936 3,15344.35%3,77153.05%1852.60%
1932 3,42550.34%3,25147.78%1281.88%
1928 4,82584.53%85314.94%300.53%
1924 3,92677.47%59211.68%55010.85%
1920 3,40673.03%1,09523.48%1633.49%
1916 2,33355.21%1,68339.82%2104.97%
1912 1,07526.52%81720.15%2,16253.33%
1908 2,88671.95%83120.72%2947.33%
1904 3,00376.37%69017.55%2396.08%
1900 2,51967.75%1,01427.27%1854.98%
1896 2,03658.27%1,35938.90%992.83%
1892 1,38849.91%1,15641.57%2378.52%
1888 1,43753.96%1,06539.99%1616.05%
1884 1,22054.81%87639.35%1305.84%

Tourism

There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford County. The Manistee National Forest is one recreation site. The Manistee River is used by fishermen, kayakers, and canoers. There are many lakes; the largest are Cadillac and Mitchell. Two hundred miles of snowmobile trails are maintained by the Cadillac Winter Promotions volunteer group. There are at least eight golf courses near Cadillac. There are several museums near Cadillac. The Wexford Civic Center is a 4,000 capacity arena, 300 capacity hockey facility, 300 capacity grand stand, and several buildings for agricultural shows and expos.

Education

The Wexford–Missaukee Intermediate School District, based in Cadillac, services the school districts in the county (with the exception of Buckley Community Schools, which is covered by Northwest Educational Services). The intermediate school district offers regional special education services and technical career programs to students of its districts. [25] [26]

Wexford County is served by the following regular public school districts: [27]

The county also has one charter school, the Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan.

Wexford County has the following private schools: [28]

Historical markers

Charles T. Mitchell House in Cadillac Charles T. Mitchell House.jpg
Charles T. Mitchell House in Cadillac

There are several recognized Michigan historical markers in the county: [29] [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Cadillac is a city in and county seat of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,371 at the 2020 census, making it the second most-populated city in the Northern Michigan region, after Traverse City.

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

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

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

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

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

Greenwood Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 633 at the 2020 census.

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

Hanover Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,698 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haring Township, Michigan</span> Township in Wexford County, Michigan

Haring Township is a charter township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,556 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous township in Wexford County. The township has a boundary with the city of Cadillac, to the south.

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

Wexford Township is a civil township of Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,161 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walton, Michigan</span> Unincorporated community in Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Walton, often referred to as Walton Junction, is an unincorporated community in the northern Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is located within Fife Lake Township, Grand Traverse County, and lies immediately north of the Wexford County line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherman, Michigan</span> Unincorporated community in Michigan, United States

Sherman is an unincorporated community in Wexford County in the U.S. state of Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-42 (Michigan highway)</span> State highway in Wexford and Missaukee counties in Michigan, United States

M-42 is a rural state trunkline highway in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of the state. Along its route, M-42 begins in Manton and ends north of Lake City, some 10.356 miles (16.666 km) apart. The highway used to run much farther. Former termini included the Traverse City area from 1919 until 1940 and Mesick from 1940 until 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-115 (Michigan highway)</span> State highway in Michigan, United States

M-115 is a state trunkline highway in the northwestern part of the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway takes a generally southeast-to-northwest direction between Frankfort on Lake Michigan and Clare in the central part of the state. The northwestern end is at M-22 next to Betsie Lake; the southeastern end in downtown Clare is at an intersection with Business US Highway 127 and Bus. US 10. In between, the trunkline runs about 96+1⁄2 miles (155.3 km) through woodlands, including areas that are a part of either the Manistee National Forest or the Pere Marquette State Forest. The highway also passes agricultural areas, several lakes in the region and a state park near Cadillac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac micropolitan area</span> Micropolitan Statistical Area in Michigan, United States

The Cadillac micropolitan area is a micropolitan statistical area (μSA) defined by the United States Census Bureau as an area encompassing two counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population of the μSA was 48,725 at the 2020 census.

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

Springfield Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,562 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wexford–Missaukee Intermediate School District</span>

The Wexford–Missaukee Intermediate School District is an intermediate school district in Michigan, headquartered in Cadillac.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bibliography on Wexford County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University . Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ Cadillac History Archived February 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 3 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ Royce, Julie Albrecht (2007). Traveling Michigan's Sunset Coast. Dog Ear Publishing. pp. 419–420. ISBN   978-1-59858-321-2 . Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.[ dead link ]
  7. ↑ George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  8. ↑ "History in Grand Traverse County, Michigan". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ Schindler, Kurt H. (2002) Wexford County Factbook, History, Archived February 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Chapter B2. MSU Extension. Retrieved on January 5, 2008
  10. 1 2 Battling for the County Seat. Absolute Michigan. Retrieved on January 5, 2008.
  11. 1 2 Wexford County MI – Google Maps (accessed 10 July 2019)
  12. ↑ Find an Altitude/Wexford County MI (accessed 10 July 2019)
  13. ↑ Brian Hill, Michigan (PeakBagger.com) Accessed 10 July 2019
  14. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  16. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  19. ↑ "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 28, 2014.
  20. ↑ Wexford County Directory (accessed 10 July 2019)
  21. ↑ "1856 Presidential Election Statistics". uselectionatlas.org.
  22. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – State Data". uselectionatlas.org.
  23. ↑ The New York Times electoral map, 2008 (Zoom in on Michigan)
  24. ↑ US Election Results
  25. ↑ "Welcome". Wexford–Missaukee Intermediate School District. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Welcome to Northwest Education Services". Northwest Educational Services . Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  27. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Wexford County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  28. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Private Schools - Wexford County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
  30. ↑ "Michigan Historical Markers". Michigan History Center . Michigan Department of Natural Resources . Retrieved July 10, 2023.

44°20′N85°35′W / 44.34°N 85.58°W / 44.34; -85.58

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