Mackinac County, Michigan | |
|---|---|
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 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
| Coordinates:46°01′N85°01′W / 46.01°N 85.01°W /46.01; -85.01 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | October 26, 1818 organized 1849[1][2] |
| Named after | Straits of Mackinac |
| Seat | St. Ignace |
| Largest city | St. Ignace |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,101 sq mi (5,440 km2) |
| • Land | 1,022 sq mi (2,650 km2) |
| • Water | 1,079 sq mi (2,790 km2) 51% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,834 |
• Estimate (2024) | 11,144 |
| • Density | 10.60/sq mi (4.093/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Mackinac County (/ˈmækənɔː/MAK-ə-naw,locally/ˈmækənə/MAK-ə-nə) is acounty in theUpper Peninsula of theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 census, the population was 10,834.[3] Thecounty seat isSt. Ignace.[4] Formerly known asMichilimackinac County, in 1818 it was one of the first counties of theMichigan Territory, as it had long been a center of French and British colonial fur trading, a Catholic church and Protestant mission, and associated settlement.[1] The county's name is shortened from "Michilimackinac", which referred to theStraits of Mackinac area as well as the French settlement at the tip of the lower peninsula.[1] Mackinac County is one of two U.S. counties to feature shorelines on two Great Lakes, beingLake Huron andLake Michigan (the other county being neighboringChippewa County).
Michilimackinac County was created on October 26, 1818, by proclamation of territorial governorLewis Cass. The county originally encompassed theLower Peninsula of Michigan north ofMacomb County and almost the entire presentUpper Peninsula. As later counties were settled and organized, they were divided from this territory.
On April 1, 1840, areas in the Lower Peninsula were laid off to create 30 new counites.[5] By 1841, the County of Michilimackinac was confined to the Upper Peninsula and its nearby islands, borderingChippewa andMenominee counties.[6]
On March 9, 1843, Michigan further divided the Upper Peninsula into six counties. At this time, the County of Michilimackinac more closely resembled its modern configuration, including only a portion of the Upper Peninsula closest to the Straits of Mackinac, plus several islands.[7]
At the time of founding, the county seat was the community of Michilimackinac Island on Michilimackinac Island, later known asMackinac Island, Michigan. This has been an important center forfur trading before the 1830s, when European demand declined. The county was organized in 1849 as Mackinac County. In 1882 the county seat was moved from Mackinac Island toSt. Ignace, Michigan, which had been founded as a FrenchJesuitmission village during the colonial years.
Mackinac County is home to theMackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, a Native Americanstate recognized tribe located inSt. Ignace.
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According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,101 square miles (5,440 km2), of which 1,022 square miles (2,650 km2) is land and 1,079 square miles (2,790 km2) (51%) is water.[8] Mackinac County lies at the boundary ofLake Huron andLake Michigan.
St. Ignace is the northern terminus of theMackinac Bridge.Mackinac Island is within the county.
Due to its sparse population, the county has no weather stations.
By land
By water
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 877 | — | |
| 1840 | 923 | 5.2% | |
| 1850 | 3,598 | 289.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,938 | −46.1% | |
| 1870 | 1,716 | −11.5% | |
| 1880 | 2,902 | 69.1% | |
| 1890 | 7,830 | 169.8% | |
| 1900 | 7,703 | −1.6% | |
| 1910 | 9,249 | 20.1% | |
| 1920 | 8,026 | −13.2% | |
| 1930 | 8,783 | 9.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,438 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 9,287 | −1.6% | |
| 1960 | 10,853 | 16.9% | |
| 1970 | 9,660 | −11.0% | |
| 1980 | 10,178 | 5.4% | |
| 1990 | 10,674 | 4.9% | |
| 2000 | 11,943 | 11.9% | |
| 2010 | 11,113 | −6.9% | |
| 2020 | 10,834 | −2.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 11,144 | [10] | 2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2018[3] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 10,834. The median age was 53.7 years, 16.3% of residents were under the age of 18, and 29.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.7 males age 18 and over.[15]
The racial makeup of the county was 74.6%White, 0.6%Black or African American, 15.7%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 8.3% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.[16]
25.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 74.7% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 5,040 households in the county, of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.8% were married-couple households, 21.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 10,519 housing units, of which 52.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.3% were owner-occupied and 20.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.3%.[15]
As of the2010 United States census, Mackinac County had a population of 11,113, a decrease of 830 (-6.9%) from the2000 census.[18] There were 5,024 households and 3,219 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). There were 11,010 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). Racially, 76.5% of the population wereWhite, 17.3%Native American, 0.5%Black or African American, 0.2%Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 5.3%of two or more races; 1.1% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race). Culturally, 18.5% were ofGerman, 8.8%English, 8.0%French,French Canadian orCajun, 7.6%Irish and 5.1%Polish ancestry.[19]
In 2010, there were 5,024 households, of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% weremarried couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.7. Among them, 18.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 34.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. The population was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.
Themedian household income was $39,055 and the median family income was $50,984. Theper capita income was $22,195. About 10.5% of families and 14.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Religiously,Christianity is the predominant religion for the county and region of the Upper Peninsula. Mackinac County is part of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Marquette.[20][21]
School districts include:[22]
K-12:
Elementary:
The followingtelevision stations can be received in St. Ignace:
The following stations can be heard in St. Ignace:
| Call sign | Frequency | City broadcast from |
|---|---|---|
| WIAB | 88.5 | Mackinaw City |
| WSBX | 94.5 | Mackinaw City |
| WLXT | 96.3 | Petoskey |
| WWMK | 106.3 | Cheboygan |
| WAWM | 98.9 | Petoskey |
| WCBY - W264CF | 100.7 | St.Ignace, Michigan |
| WMKC | 102.9 | Indian River |
| WCMW | 103.9 | Harbor Springs |
| WKHQ | 105.9 | Petoskey |
| Call sign | Frequency | City broadcast from |
|---|---|---|
| WTCM | 580 | Traverse City |
| WOUF | 750 | Petoskey |
| WIDG | 940 | St. Ignace |
| WWMN | 1100 | Petoskey |
| WCBY | 1240 | Cheboygan |
Mackinac County is reliably Republican. Since the 1964 landslide ofLyndon B. Johnson, it has only supported a Democrat twice, and neither time with a majority of the vote.Bill Clinton won the county in his 1992 and 1996 victories; the latter remains the last time a Democratic presidential candidate has won the county.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1876 | 74 | 26.62% | 204 | 73.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 145 | 32.88% | 296 | 67.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 479 | 46.06% | 558 | 53.65% | 3 | 0.29% |
| 1888 | 625 | 40.24% | 913 | 58.79% | 15 | 0.97% |
| 1892 | 478 | 35.41% | 855 | 63.33% | 17 | 1.26% |
| 1896 | 806 | 48.73% | 804 | 48.61% | 44 | 2.66% |
| 1900 | 1,059 | 61.71% | 632 | 36.83% | 25 | 1.46% |
| 1904 | 1,191 | 69.16% | 503 | 29.21% | 28 | 1.63% |
| 1908 | 1,156 | 58.89% | 769 | 39.17% | 38 | 1.94% |
| 1912 | 612 | 34.63% | 730 | 41.31% | 425 | 24.05% |
| 1916 | 1,082 | 53.38% | 908 | 44.80% | 37 | 1.83% |
| 1920 | 1,685 | 62.87% | 932 | 34.78% | 63 | 2.35% |
| 1924 | 1,606 | 51.62% | 998 | 32.08% | 507 | 16.30% |
| 1928 | 1,879 | 57.94% | 1,355 | 41.78% | 9 | 0.28% |
| 1932 | 1,504 | 36.60% | 2,578 | 62.74% | 27 | 0.66% |
| 1936 | 1,984 | 45.65% | 2,286 | 52.60% | 76 | 1.75% |
| 1940 | 2,591 | 55.38% | 2,075 | 44.35% | 13 | 0.28% |
| 1944 | 2,268 | 60.06% | 1,488 | 39.41% | 20 | 0.53% |
| 1948 | 2,182 | 64.90% | 1,138 | 33.85% | 42 | 1.25% |
| 1952 | 3,058 | 70.23% | 1,285 | 29.51% | 11 | 0.25% |
| 1956 | 3,279 | 67.99% | 1,540 | 31.93% | 4 | 0.08% |
| 1960 | 3,064 | 59.88% | 2,042 | 39.91% | 11 | 0.21% |
| 1964 | 1,967 | 41.70% | 2,748 | 58.26% | 2 | 0.04% |
| 1968 | 2,507 | 54.77% | 1,751 | 38.26% | 319 | 6.97% |
| 1972 | 3,096 | 60.66% | 1,937 | 37.95% | 71 | 1.39% |
| 1976 | 3,107 | 55.22% | 2,452 | 43.58% | 68 | 1.21% |
| 1980 | 3,021 | 52.23% | 2,262 | 39.11% | 501 | 8.66% |
| 1984 | 3,627 | 64.85% | 1,949 | 34.85% | 17 | 0.30% |
| 1988 | 3,127 | 59.65% | 2,093 | 39.93% | 22 | 0.42% |
| 1992 | 2,278 | 38.11% | 2,293 | 38.36% | 1,406 | 23.52% |
| 1996 | 2,281 | 39.59% | 2,700 | 46.86% | 781 | 13.55% |
| 2000 | 3,272 | 54.81% | 2,533 | 42.43% | 165 | 2.76% |
| 2004 | 3,706 | 56.16% | 2,819 | 42.72% | 74 | 1.12% |
| 2008 | 3,268 | 50.99% | 3,027 | 47.23% | 114 | 1.78% |
| 2012 | 3,397 | 55.53% | 2,652 | 43.35% | 68 | 1.11% |
| 2016 | 3,744 | 60.94% | 2,085 | 33.94% | 315 | 5.13% |
| 2020 | 4,304 | 61.27% | 2,632 | 37.47% | 89 | 1.27% |
| 2024 | 4,476 | 61.75% | 2,675 | 36.91% | 97 | 1.34% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 4,326 | 60.90% | 2,613 | 36.78% | 165 | 2.32% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 3,325 | 55.43% | 2,567 | 42.79% | 107 | 1.78% |
The county government operates thejail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintainsvital records, administerspublic health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. Thecounty 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.
(information as of April 2015)[25][26]
There are 34 official state historical markers in the county:[27]
TheMackinac County Airport (83D) in St. Ignace andMackinac Island Airport (MCD) on Mackinac Island are located within Mackinac County. The nearest airports with scheduled commercial passenger service areChippewa County International Airport (CIU) inSault Ste. Marie andPellston Regional Airport (PLN).[29]
M-185 does not allow motor vehicles with the exception of emergency vehicles and service vehicles.
Numerous companies operate ferries toBois Blanc Island andMackinac Island. Ferries to and from Mackinac Island sail fromSt. Ignace andMackinaw City, while the Bois Blanc Island ferry sails fromCheboygan.
Places adjacent to Mackinac County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofMackinac County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Civil townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| 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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| International | |
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| National | |
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