Luce County, Michigan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Luce County Courthouse in Newberry | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
 Michigan's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°17′N85°20′W / 46.28°N 85.33°W /46.28; -85.33 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | 1887[1] |
| Named after | Cyrus G. Luce |
| Seat | Newberry |
| Largest village | Newberry |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,912 sq mi (4,950 km2) |
| • Land | 899 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Water | 1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2) 53% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,339 |
• Estimate (2024) | 6,328 |
| • Density | 5.94/sq mi (2.29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Luce County (/luːs/LOOS) is acounty located in theUpper Peninsula in theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 census, the population was 5,339,[2] making it the second-least populous county in Michigan (behindKeweenaw County). Thecounty seat isNewberry, Luce County's only incorporated community.[3] The county was set off and organized in 1887 and named after formerMichigan GovernorCyrus G. Luce.[1] In 2002, Newberry was designated as themoose capital of Michigan by the state legislature.[4] Luce County is served by The Newberry News, a weekly community newspaper that began in 1886.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,912 sq mi (4,950 km2), of which 899 sq mi (2,330 km2) is land and 1,013 sq mi (2,620 km2) (53%) is water.[5] Luce County is part of theUpper Peninsula ofMichigan. It has a northern border withCanada acrossLake Superior.
McMillan Township, the largestmunicipality in Michigan by land area (at 588.78 square miles (1,524.9 km2) of total land area), is part of Luce County.
M-28 is Michigan's longeststate trunkline highway. An east–west route, M-28 can be used to accessSault Ste. Marie to the east, andMunising andMarquette to the west.
M-117 is a north–south connector between M-28 west of Newberry toUS 2 inMackinac County.
M-123 is a u-shaped highway, beginning at M-28 south of Newberry. Motorists also use M-123 to accessTahquamenon Falls andWhitefish Point.
H-33
H-37
H-44
H-58Luce County Airport (KERY), provides service for the county and surrounding communities.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 2,455 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,983 | 21.5% | |
| 1910 | 4,004 | 34.2% | |
| 1920 | 6,149 | 53.6% | |
| 1930 | 6,528 | 6.2% | |
| 1940 | 7,423 | 13.7% | |
| 1950 | 8,147 | 9.8% | |
| 1960 | 7,827 | −3.9% | |
| 1970 | 6,789 | −13.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,659 | −1.9% | |
| 1990 | 5,763 | −13.5% | |
| 2000 | 7,024 | 21.9% | |
| 2010 | 6,631 | −5.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,339 | −19.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 6,328 | [6] | 18.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[2] | |||
The2010 census indicated Luce County had a population of 6,631.[11] This is a decrease of 393 people from the2000 United States census. This is a -5.6% change in population. In 2010 there were 2,412 households and 1,542 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 4,343 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (1.9/km2). In 2020, its population was 5,339.[2]
At the 2010 census, the racial makeup of the county was 80.4%White, 11.1%Black or African American, 5.0%Native American, 0.3%Asian and 3.1%of two or more races; of them, 1.2% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race). In 2010 among its population, 14.5% were ofGerman, 7.6%French,French Canadian orCajun, 7.4%Irish, 6.8%English, 6.3%American and 5.5%Finnish ancestry.[12] At the 2022American Community Survey, its racial makeup was 87.6%non-Hispanic white, 1% Black or African American, 6.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.2% multiracial, and 2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[2]
There were 2,412 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% weremarried couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.77. In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. The population was 57.7% male and 42.3% female.
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $42,083, and the median income for a family was $49,948. Theper capita income for the county was $18,294. About 12.6% of families and 16.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over. From 2017–2021, its median household income was $49,667.[2]
Religiously, theAssociation of Religion Data Archives in 2020 determinedChristianity was the dominant religion.Roman Catholicism and theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America were the largest Christian groups in the county.[13]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 212 | 53.54% | 172 | 43.43% | 12 | 3.03% |
| 1892 | 234 | 55.45% | 160 | 37.91% | 28 | 6.64% |
| 1896 | 358 | 57.01% | 236 | 37.58% | 34 | 5.41% |
| 1900 | 405 | 70.31% | 159 | 27.60% | 12 | 2.08% |
| 1904 | 364 | 80.89% | 63 | 14.00% | 23 | 5.11% |
| 1908 | 354 | 70.66% | 108 | 21.56% | 39 | 7.78% |
| 1912 | 234 | 37.38% | 102 | 16.29% | 290 | 46.33% |
| 1916 | 527 | 65.30% | 257 | 31.85% | 23 | 2.85% |
| 1920 | 708 | 76.54% | 187 | 20.22% | 30 | 3.24% |
| 1924 | 850 | 80.65% | 112 | 10.63% | 92 | 8.73% |
| 1928 | 1,466 | 80.24% | 350 | 19.16% | 11 | 0.60% |
| 1932 | 1,259 | 56.33% | 928 | 41.52% | 48 | 2.15% |
| 1936 | 1,199 | 47.67% | 1,297 | 51.57% | 19 | 0.76% |
| 1940 | 1,542 | 58.92% | 1,069 | 40.85% | 6 | 0.23% |
| 1944 | 1,195 | 59.96% | 790 | 39.64% | 8 | 0.40% |
| 1948 | 1,273 | 67.46% | 570 | 30.21% | 44 | 2.33% |
| 1952 | 1,603 | 74.25% | 553 | 25.61% | 3 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 1,734 | 72.55% | 651 | 27.24% | 5 | 0.21% |
| 1960 | 1,534 | 64.94% | 828 | 35.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 871 | 37.37% | 1,459 | 62.59% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1968 | 1,351 | 58.33% | 855 | 36.92% | 110 | 4.75% |
| 1972 | 1,579 | 63.49% | 862 | 34.66% | 46 | 1.85% |
| 1976 | 1,379 | 55.27% | 1,099 | 44.05% | 17 | 0.68% |
| 1980 | 1,659 | 57.56% | 992 | 34.42% | 231 | 8.02% |
| 1984 | 1,715 | 66.97% | 833 | 32.53% | 13 | 0.51% |
| 1988 | 1,528 | 63.22% | 864 | 35.75% | 25 | 1.03% |
| 1992 | 958 | 36.80% | 972 | 37.34% | 673 | 25.85% |
| 1996 | 964 | 39.20% | 1,107 | 45.02% | 388 | 15.78% |
| 2000 | 1,480 | 58.36% | 956 | 37.70% | 100 | 3.94% |
| 2004 | 1,749 | 61.82% | 1,045 | 36.94% | 35 | 1.24% |
| 2008 | 1,490 | 54.38% | 1,191 | 43.47% | 59 | 2.15% |
| 2012 | 1,580 | 60.86% | 991 | 38.17% | 25 | 0.96% |
| 2016 | 1,756 | 67.77% | 681 | 26.28% | 154 | 5.94% |
| 2020 | 2,109 | 70.14% | 842 | 28.00% | 56 | 1.86% |
| 2024 | 2,170 | 72.55% | 769 | 25.71% | 52 | 1.74% |
The county government operates thejail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintainsvital records, administerspublic health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare andother social services. Thecounty board of commissioners controls thebudget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most localgovernment functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, streetmaintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.
(information as of March 2024)[15]
Places adjacent to Luce County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofLuce County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Village |  | |
| Civil townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| Central cities | |
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| Counties | |
| Geography | |
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