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Kalkaska County, Michigan

Coordinates: 44°41′N 85°05′W / 44.69°N 85.08°W / 44.69; -85.08
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Kalkaska County
County
Kalkaska County Government Offices in Kalkaska
Kalkaska County Government Offices in Kalkaska
Map of Michigan highlighting Kalkaska County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°41′N 85°05′W / 44.69°N 85.08°W / 44.69; -85.08
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1840 (established)
1871 (organized)[1]
SeatKalkaska
Largest villageKalkaska
Area
 • Total
571 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Land560 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
17,939
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st

Kalkaska County is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 17,939.[2] The county seat is Kalkaska.[3]

Kalkaska County is included in the Traverse City Micropolitan Statistical Area. Although it is located on Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Kalkaska County is considered part of Northern Michigan.

Etymology of the name

The county's name is a pseudo-Native American word coined by Henry Schoolcraft, a Michigan geographer and ethnologist.[4] The name is thought to be a Chippewa word meaning flat or burned-over country. An alternative theory is that this is a neologism or neonym created by Henry Schoolcraft, originally spelled Calcasca. Some theorists suggest this is word play. Schoolcraft's family name had been Calcraft, and the Ks may have been added to make the name appear more like a Native American word.[5]

History

A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Kalkaska County as "Wabbassee" (a misspelling of Wabassee, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[6]) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.
See also: History of Northern Michigan

The county was formed in 1840 and called Wabassee County until 1843.[6][1] The first settler in Kalkaska County was William Copeland, from England, who purchased land in the northwest corner of the county in 1855. Logging was the first important industry. The discovery of substantial deposits of oil and natural gas resulted in the construction of a processing plant by Shell Oil Company in 1973 and a major economic boom in the community.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 571 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 560 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.9%) is water.[7]

Kalkaska Sand, the state soil of Michigan, was named after the county because of the large amounts deposited in the area from glaciers in the Ice Age.

Kalkaska County has over 80 lakes and 275 miles (443 km) of streams and rivers. Much of the county is marshland. County elevation ranges from 595 feet (181 m) to about 1,246 feet (380 m). This makes it one of the more uneven counties in the Lower Peninsula.

The Pere Marquette State Forest covers much of the county. Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. A large portion of the area is the Grayling outwash plain, a broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges; jack pine barrens, some white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action.[8]

Lakes

Rivers

Major highways

  • US 131 – runs NE through the western part of the county. Enters at 4 miles (6.4 km) north of SW corner; exits into Antrim County near midpoint of north county line.
  • M-66 – runs north–south through west-central part of county. Passes Kalkaska.
  • M-72 – runs east and ESE through middle portion of county. Passes Kalkaska.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870424—
18802,937592.7%
18905,16075.7%
19007,13338.2%
19108,09713.5%
19205,577−31.1%
19303,799−31.9%
19405,15935.8%
19504,597−10.9%
19604,382−4.7%
19705,27220.3%
198010,952107.7%
199013,49723.2%
200016,57122.8%
201017,1533.5%
202017,9394.6%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census[13] there were 16,571 people, 6,428 households, and 4,634 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 10,822 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of German, 12.4% English, 10.4% Irish, 10.0% American, 6.3% Polish and 5.1% French ancestry. 98.8% spoke English as their first language.

There were 6,428 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.

The county population contained 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,072, and the median income for a family was $39,932. Males had a median income of $31,860 versus $20,455 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,309. About 8.20% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Kalkaska County voters have been reliably Republican from the start. They have selected the Republican Party nominee in 85% of national elections (29 of 35).

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 69.9% 7,436 28.2% 3,002 1.8% 193
2016 69.2% 6,116 25.8% 2,280 5.0% 437
2012 59.1% 4,901 39.4% 3,272 1.5% 126
2008 53.3% 4,527 44.5% 3,780 2.3% 192
2004 60.7% 5,084 38.1% 3,189 1.3% 107
2000 56.1% 3,842 40.5% 2,774 3.4% 233
1996 40.3% 2,455 43.7% 2,666 16.0% 974
1992 33.8% 2,173 35.8% 2,297 30.4% 1,956
1988 61.2% 3,369 38.0% 2,092 0.8% 43
1984 69.2% 3,623 30.4% 1,595 0.4% 21
1980 56.4% 2,802 36.4% 1,807 7.2% 357
1976 53.1% 2,280 45.6% 1,957 1.3% 54
1972 64.4% 1,855 32.1% 924 3.5% 102
1968 53.3% 1,190 33.7% 753 13.0% 290
1964 41.3% 861 58.5% 1,220 0.1% 3
1960 65.8% 1,341 34.0% 693 0.3% 5
1956 69.1% 1,443 30.5% 636 0.4% 9
1952 72.7% 1,326 26.5% 483 0.8% 14
1948 65.5% 837 31.3% 400 3.1% 40
1944 70.3% 992 29.0% 409 0.8% 11
1940 61.3% 1,155 38.1% 718 0.6% 12
1936 45.7% 855 50.9% 952 3.4% 63
1932 47.5% 705 43.7% 649 8.8% 131
1928 84.6% 988 13.7% 160 1.7% 20
1924 70.5% 966 15.0% 205 14.6% 200
1920 73.2% 890 18.4% 224 8.4% 102
1916 57.5% 724 34.1% 430 8.4% 106
1912 32.3% 448 21.1% 293 46.6% 647
1908 69.3% 1,153 21.4% 356 9.3% 154
1904 83.9% 1,354 11.4% 184 4.7% 76
1900 75.5% 1,312 20.8% 361 3.8% 66
1896 66.4% 940 29.8% 422 3.8% 54
1892 59.5% 717 32.3% 389 8.3% 100
1888 62.3% 798 31.3% 400 6.4% 82
1884 60.9% 630 35.7% 369 3.4% 35

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.

Events

The National Trout Festival is an annual festival since 1936, held in April. It notes the heritage and sportsmanship of Kalkaska.[15]

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Kalkaska County

Village

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Kalkaska County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Michigan Counties". Michigan.gov. Archive.org. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  5. ^ Michigan History, County Names.
  6. ^ a b Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  8. ^ Michigan regional geology. Archived June 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ US Election Atlas
  15. ^ National Trout festival, and picture of 'the trout.'

Further reading

  • Kalkaska Genealogical Society: Big Trout, Black Gold: History of Kalkaska County MI

44°41′N 85°05′W / 44.69°N 85.08°W / 44.69; -85.08

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