Clare County, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Clare County District Court inHarrison | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
 Michigan's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:43°59′N84°50′W / 43.99°N 84.84°W /43.99; -84.84 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | 1840 (established) 1871 (organized)[1] |
| Named after | County Clare, Ireland |
| Seat | Harrison |
| Largest city | Clare |
| Area | |
• Total | 575 sq mi (1,490 km2) |
| • Land | 564 sq mi (1,460 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (28 km2) 1.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,856 |
• Estimate (2024)[2] | 31,405 |
| • Density | 55.7/sq mi (21.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | clareco |
Clare County is acounty in theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 Census, the population was 30,856.[3] Thecounty seat isHarrison.[4]
The county was created by the Michigan Legislature from part ofMichilimackinac County in 1840, namedKaykakee County[6] after a Sauk Indian Chief. It was renamed Clare County in 1843 afterCounty Clare inIreland. The county was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties prior to the organization of county government in 1871.[5][1][7][a] Farwell was the first county seat; in 1877 the county seat was moved to Harrison.
According to theUS Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.9%) is water.[8] It is considered to be part of bothNorthern Michigan andCentral Michigan.
US 10 runs east–west through bottom of county. Enters west county line at 3.7 miles (6.0 km) north of SW corner of county. Runs easterly to intersection with US127 at 2.8 miles (4.5 km) north of Clare.
Bus. US 10 runs through Clare with Bus. US 127 until they meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 runs eastward to US 10.
US 127 runs north–south through eastern middle of county, Passing Harrison and Clare.Bus. US 127 runs through Clare with Bus. US 10 until the two meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 turns eastward while Bus. US 127 continues southward to US 127.Bus. US 127 runs from US 127 to go through Harrison. Bus. US 127 intersects M-61, and the two have a concurrency with each other until they both intersect US 127, where Bus. US 127 ends with M-61 continues eastward to Gladwin.
M-18 runs along east line of county, from the northeast corner for 3.5 miles (5.6 km), then turns east into Gladwin County.
M-61 runs east–west through middle of county, entering the west line from Osceola County and running east to intersection with US 127 at Harrison.
M-115 runs southeast and east across bottom of county. It enters the west line from Osceola County at nine miles (14 km) above the southwest corner of county and runs to an intersection with Bus. US 127/Bus. US 10 at Clare.[9]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 366 | — | |
| 1880 | 4,187 | 1,044.0% | |
| 1890 | 7,558 | 80.5% | |
| 1900 | 8,360 | 10.6% | |
| 1910 | 9,240 | 10.5% | |
| 1920 | 8,250 | −10.7% | |
| 1930 | 7,032 | −14.8% | |
| 1940 | 9,163 | 30.3% | |
| 1950 | 10,253 | 11.9% | |
| 1960 | 11,647 | 13.6% | |
| 1970 | 16,695 | 43.3% | |
| 1980 | 23,822 | 42.7% | |
| 1990 | 24,952 | 4.7% | |
| 2000 | 31,252 | 25.2% | |
| 2010 | 30,926 | −1.0% | |
| 2020 | 30,856 | −0.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 31,405 | 1.8% | |
| US Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2018[3][14] 2024[2] | |||
The2010 United States census[15] indicates Clare County had a 2010 population of 30,926. This decrease of 326 people from the2000 United States census represents a loss of 1.0% population. In 2010 there were 12,966 households and 8,584 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 54.8 per square mile (21.2/km2). There were 23,233 housing units at an average density of 41.2 per square mile (15.9/km2). Theracial and ethnic makeup of the county was 95.8% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races.
There were 12,966 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% werehusband and wife families, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 28.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.83.
The county population contained 20.9% under age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate[15] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $33,338 and the median income for a family was $40,983. Males had a median income of $24,220 versus $13,587 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,516. About 2.3% of families and 23.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 36.8% of those under the age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Clare County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 72% of national elections (26 of 36).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1884 | 622 | 46.21% | 685 | 50.89% | 39 | 2.90% |
| 1888 | 905 | 47.99% | 912 | 48.36% | 69 | 3.66% |
| 1892 | 719 | 41.90% | 811 | 47.26% | 186 | 10.84% |
| 1896 | 886 | 53.09% | 723 | 43.32% | 60 | 3.59% |
| 1900 | 1,182 | 63.62% | 640 | 34.45% | 36 | 1.94% |
| 1904 | 1,453 | 70.91% | 519 | 25.33% | 77 | 3.76% |
| 1908 | 1,345 | 68.14% | 567 | 28.72% | 62 | 3.14% |
| 1912 | 563 | 30.99% | 435 | 23.94% | 819 | 45.07% |
| 1916 | 1,049 | 54.38% | 769 | 39.87% | 111 | 5.75% |
| 1920 | 1,762 | 73.48% | 511 | 21.31% | 125 | 5.21% |
| 1924 | 1,920 | 77.67% | 358 | 14.48% | 194 | 7.85% |
| 1928 | 1,920 | 82.62% | 381 | 16.39% | 23 | 0.99% |
| 1932 | 1,474 | 44.34% | 1,741 | 52.38% | 109 | 3.28% |
| 1936 | 1,979 | 53.37% | 1,494 | 40.29% | 235 | 6.34% |
| 1940 | 3,004 | 69.86% | 1,277 | 29.70% | 19 | 0.44% |
| 1944 | 2,636 | 70.58% | 1,078 | 28.86% | 21 | 0.56% |
| 1948 | 2,512 | 66.02% | 1,197 | 31.46% | 96 | 2.52% |
| 1952 | 3,529 | 76.22% | 1,059 | 22.87% | 42 | 0.91% |
| 1956 | 3,721 | 75.51% | 1,194 | 24.23% | 13 | 0.26% |
| 1960 | 3,616 | 70.49% | 1,507 | 29.38% | 7 | 0.14% |
| 1964 | 2,258 | 43.45% | 2,927 | 56.32% | 12 | 0.23% |
| 1968 | 3,315 | 56.85% | 1,909 | 32.74% | 607 | 10.41% |
| 1972 | 4,402 | 62.99% | 2,434 | 34.83% | 152 | 2.18% |
| 1976 | 4,879 | 53.46% | 4,153 | 45.51% | 94 | 1.03% |
| 1980 | 5,719 | 53.36% | 4,164 | 38.85% | 835 | 7.79% |
| 1984 | 6,587 | 63.26% | 3,764 | 36.15% | 61 | 0.59% |
| 1988 | 5,661 | 54.18% | 4,710 | 45.08% | 77 | 0.74% |
| 1992 | 3,916 | 32.20% | 5,346 | 43.95% | 2,901 | 23.85% |
| 1996 | 3,742 | 32.03% | 6,311 | 54.02% | 1,630 | 13.95% |
| 2000 | 5,937 | 47.09% | 6,287 | 49.87% | 383 | 3.04% |
| 2004 | 7,088 | 49.82% | 6,984 | 49.09% | 154 | 1.08% |
| 2008 | 6,793 | 46.51% | 7,496 | 51.32% | 316 | 2.16% |
| 2012 | 6,988 | 51.63% | 6,338 | 46.83% | 209 | 1.54% |
| 2016 | 8,505 | 63.24% | 4,249 | 31.59% | 695 | 5.17% |
| 2020 | 10,861 | 66.65% | 5,199 | 31.91% | 235 | 1.44% |
| 2024 | 11,772 | 68.01% | 5,273 | 30.46% | 265 | 1.53% |
The county government operates thejail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, andvital records, administerspublic health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. Thecounty 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.
(information as of June 2025)
Clare County is in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife, including bear, deer, eagles,Kirtland's warblers, and turkeys, are located nearby. Local attractions include:
Activities include:
TheClare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District, based inClare, services the students in the county along with those ofGladwin County. Theintermediate school district offers regionalspecial education services,early education andafter-school programs, andtechnical career pathways for students of its districts.[21]
Clare County is served by the following regularpublicschool districts:[22]
Clare County has the followingprivate schools:[23]
Official Visitor Information Site
News from Clare County
Places adjacent to Clare County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofClare County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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