Huron County, Michigan

Huron County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,118.[2] The county seat is Bad Axe.[3] Huron County is at the northern tip of the Thumb, which is a sub region of Mid Michigan. It is a peninsula, bordered by Saginaw Bay to the west and Lake Huron to the north and east, and has over 90 miles (140 km) of shoreline, from White Rock on Lake Huron to Sebewaing on the Saginaw Bay. Huron County's most important industry is agriculture, as with most of the other Thumb counties. Huron County enjoys seasonal tourism from large cities such as Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw. A lot of the tourism is in the Port Austin and Caseville area.

Huron County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°52′N 83°02′W
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedApril 1, 1840 (created)
January 25, 1859 (organized)[1]
Named forLake Huron
SeatBad Axe
Largest cityBad Axe
Area
 • Total2,137 sq mi (5,530 km2)
 • Land836 sq mi (2,170 km2)
 • Water1,301 sq mi (3,370 km2)  61%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
31,166
 • Density40/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Huron County, Michigan

History

Huron County was originally attached to neighboring Sanilac and Tuscola counties. It was created by Michigan law on April 1, 1840, and was fully organized by an Act of Legislature on January 25, 1859.[1] Sand Beach (now Harbor Beach) was the county seat until 1865, when the court house burned, destroying most of its records. The county seat was moved to Port Austin and remained there until 1873, when the county's Board of Supervisors designated Bad Axe as the county seat.[4]

The name Huron was derived from the word "hures" as used in the phrase "În elles hures" (what heads) as applied by an astonished French traveler to the Wyandotte (Huron) Indians on beholding their mode of dressing the hair. During 1649 and the Beaver Wars of the mid-17th century, the Iroquois from the areas of New York and Pennsylvania drove out the Wyandotte, in order to control the fur trade.[5]

In the 17th and early 18th century in this region, the Thumb of Michigan, the Wyandotte suffix "onti" or "ondi" was used in place names such as Skenchioetontius and E. Kandechiondius. "Onti" means to "jut out". The name Wyandotte, Huron descendants, was said to mean "dwellers of the peninsula". A headland or peninsula in Onondaga, an Iroquoian language, is "onoentoto".

In the early 18th century, the Thumb of Michigan was said to have the best beaver hunting in America. The Detroit region was called Tio-sahr-ondion, "where it is beaver dams athwart many". This was near Skenchioe [now Huron and Sanilac counties].

About 1700, French maps indicated the region of Saginaw and the Thumb of Michigan as "Chasse des caster des amis de François", "the beaver hunting grounds of the friends of Francis."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,137 square miles (5,530 km2), of which 836 square miles (2,170 km2) is land and 1,301 square miles (3,370 km2) (61%) is water.[6]

Huron county is heavily agricultural. The county is generally flat, with some rolling hills.

Adjacent counties

Highways
  • M-19 - runs north and south through the southern half of the county
  • M-25 - runs along the outer edge of the county, along the shore of Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay
  • M-53 - runs north and south through the central part of the county
  • M-142 - runs east and west through the central part of the county

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1850210—
18603,1651,407.1%
18709,049185.9%
188020,089122.0%
189028,54542.1%
190034,16219.7%
191034,7581.7%
192032,768−5.7%
193031,132−5.0%
194032,5844.7%
195033,1491.7%
196034,0062.6%
197034,0830.2%
198036,4597.0%
199034,951−4.1%
200036,0793.2%
201033,118−8.2%
2019 (est.)30,981[7]−6.5%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census[12] indicates Huron County had a 2010 population of 33,118. This decrease of -2,961 people from the 2000 United States Census represents an 8.2% decrease. In 2010 there were 14,348 households and 9,328 families in the county. The population density was 39.6 per square mile (15.3 per km2). There were 21,199 housing units at an average density of 25.4 per square mile (9.8 per km2). 97.5% of the population were White, 0.4% Asian, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 2.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 41.1% were of German, 15.9% Polish, 6.8% Irish, 6.1% English and 6.0% American ancestry.[13]

There were 14,348 households, out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were husband and wife families, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.0% were non-families, and 30.7% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate[12] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $38,789 and the median income for a family was $46,533. Males had a median income of $26,688 versus $15,198 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,342. About 1.4% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under the age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Government

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

as of 2018[16][17]

Politics

Huron County voters have generally supported Republican Party candidates. Since 1884, they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 79% of national elections (27 of 34). In 2016, Donald Trump carried the county by the largest margin in 32 years.

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 69.0% 12,731 29.8% 5,490 1.2% 221
2016 67.1% 10,692 28.7% 4,579 4.2% 673
2012 56.9% 8,806 42.1% 6,518 1.0% 160
2008 49.2% 8,434 48.8% 8,367 2.0% 334
2004 55.4% 9,671 43.7% 7,629 1.0% 166
2000 55.4% 8,911 42.9% 6,899 1.8% 285
1996 41.2% 6,126 46.0% 6,827 12.8% 1,902
1992 39.0% 6,491 36.2% 6,023 24.8% 4,118
1988 61.9% 9,419 37.6% 5,714 0.5% 81
1984 73.4% 11,073 26.3% 3,966 0.3% 52
1980 65.3% 10,553 27.4% 4,434 7.3% 1,180
1976 61.3% 9,297 37.7% 5,721 1.0% 158
1972 67.4% 9,832 30.5% 4,456 2.1% 308
1968 64.5% 8,743 26.6% 3,607 8.9% 1,202
1964 46.0% 6,263 53.9% 7,349 0.1% 14
1960 62.3% 9,592 37.5% 5,775 0.1% 19
1956 76.6% 10,493 23.3% 3,192 0.1% 19
1952 81.3% 10,639 18.5% 2,421 0.2% 29
1948 74.9% 7,978 24.1% 2,562 1.0% 108
1944 80.2% 9,538 19.3% 2,301 0.5% 59
1940 79.7% 10,570 20.0% 2,654 0.3% 34
1936 46.8% 5,240 35.2% 3,949 18.0% 2,018
1932 48.8% 5,707 49.4% 5,770 1.8% 213
1928 64.8% 7,046 34.9% 3,797 0.3% 32
1924 81.1% 8,843 9.1% 988 9.8% 1,067
1920 82.6% 8,354 15.6% 1,581 1.8% 182
1916 70.9% 4,743 27.1% 1,816 2.0% 135
1912 28.6% 1,813 19.5% 1,236 51.9% 3,288
1908 67.7% 3,565 28.0% 1,477 4.3% 227
1904 71.1% 4,191 25.2% 1,486 3.7% 218
1900 60.6% 3,632 35.4% 2,120 4.1% 244
1896 53.6% 3,396 44.4% 2,808 2.0% 127
1892 35.4% 1,692 46.4% 2,222 18.2% 873
1888 34.5% 1,608 42.7% 1,988 22.8% 1,063
1884 39.5% 1,355 55.3% 1,898 5.2% 179

Parks and recreation

Tourism is important to Huron County with bay front and lakefront towns such as Sebewaing, Caseville, Port Austin, Port Hope, and Harbor Beach, attracting tourists from all over. Huron County borders the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. There are two state parks – Sleeper State Park and Port Crescent State Park – and three roadside parks – Jenks Park, Brown Park, and White Rock Park. Huron County also maintains eight county parks along the shoreline – Caseville Park, Lighthouse Park, Stafford Park, McGraw Park, Philp Park, Wagener Park, Oak Beach Park, and Sebewaing Park.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Source:[19]

Townships

See also

References
  1. Clarke
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Huron County Earliest Settlers", Chapter 2 (9-31) Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Deckerville Library
  5. Clarke (accessed January 19, 2013)
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  13. Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
  14. "Diocese of Saginaw". saginaw.org.
  15. "Worship With Us: Church Locator", ComeUntoChrist.org, 2020. Retrieved on 24 March 2020.
  16. "Brief Overview of Huron County". www.co.huron.mi.us. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  17. "Huron County Official Election Results".
  18. US Election Atlas
  19. Places in MI – Incorporated, Township & Unincorporated

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