Cheboygan County, Michigan

Etymology of the name Cheboygan

The name of the county shares the same origin as that of the Cheboygan River, although the precise meaning is no longer known. It may have come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan, meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, the origin may have been Chabwegan, meaning "a place of ore". It has also been described as "a Native American word first applied to the river. See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 885 square miles (2,290 km²), of which 715 square miles (1,850 km²) is land and 170 square miles (440 km²) (19%) is water. The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Adjacent counties

Highways

Cheboygan County-designated highways

Airports

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,835 households, and 7,573 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 16,583 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 2.55% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 10.4% English, 10.0% French, 9.5% Polish, 9.2% American and 8.9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.7% spoke English as their first language.

There were 10,835 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,417, and the median income for a family was $38,390. Males had a median income of $30,054 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,088. About 8.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county 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.

Elected officials

(information as of November 2008)

City

Villages

Census-designated place

Townships

Cheboygan County had another township called Maple Grove Township which became part of Forest Township in 1942.

Historical markers

There are eight recognized Michigan historical markers in the county: