Largest city Sandusky Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4 Area 4,118 km² County seat Sandusky | Congressional district 10th Website www.sanilaccounty.net Population 41,823 (2013) Unemployment rate 6.1% (Apr 2015) | |
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Founded September 10, 1822 (created)
1848 (organized) Rivers Black River, North Branch Cass River, Elk Creek Points of interest Lake Huron, Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic S, Forester Park, Port Sanilac Light, PORT SANILAC BOAT LA Destinations Lexington, Port Sanilac, Deckerville, Croswell, Marlette | ||
Sanilac County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,114. The county seat is Sandusky. The county, which is part of the Thumb region, was created on September 10, 1822, and was fully organized in 1848.
Contents
- Map of Sanilac County MI USA
- History
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- Major highways
- Demographics
- Religion
- Government
- Elected officials
- Media
- Cities
- Census designated place
- References
Map of Sanilac County, MI, USA
Sanilac County is considered to be part of the Thumb of Michigan, which in turn is a subregion of the Flint/Tri-Cities. Sanilac County enjoys seasonal tourism in towns such as Lexington, Port Sanilac, and Carsonville. Sanilac County is economically attached to St. Clair County and Huron County and has very fertile, flat land.
History
Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot (Huron) chief named Sanilac. (See List of Michigan county name etymologies). The county was formed on September 10, 1822, by Michigan Territory from part of St. Clair County and unorganized territory administered by Oakland County. It lost land to the creation of Huron and Tuscola counties in 1840. The county government was fully organized on December 31, 1849.
In the middle of the 19th century, the area now called Port Sanilac was called Bark Shanty. It was named for a lone shanty made of bark, which was used to make shingles from pine. The Algonquin word "zngwak" means pine. The county seat of Sanilac is the city of Sandusky.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,590 square miles (4,100 km2), of which 963 square miles (2,490 km2) is land and 627 square miles (1,620 km2) (39%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Major highways
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census indicates Sanilac County had a 2010 population of 43,114. This is a decrease of -1,433 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -3.2% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 17,132 households and 11,885 families in the county. The population density was 44.8 per square mile (17.3 square kilometers). There were 22,725 housing units at an average density of 23.6 per square mile (9.1 square kilometers). 96.6% of the population were White, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 1.1% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 3.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 26.1% were of German, 11.0% Polish, 10.4% English, 8.3% Irish, 7.2% American and 5.1% French, French Canadian or Cajun ancestry.
There were 17,132 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were husband and wife families, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 26.4% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.6% under age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $39,138 and the median income for a family was $47,885. Males had a median income of $27,440 versus $16,509 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,671. About 1.5% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under the age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.
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.
The county has voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since the GOP's inaugural election in 1856, except in 1912, when the county supported Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party campaign. However, they had voted for the Republican nominee in 1912, William Howard Taft in the previous election. Hence, every person who has won the GOP's nomination has won Sanilac County, Michigan.
Elected officials
Media
Sanilac/GB Broadcasting operates three radio stations in Sanilac County. The county is served weekly by the Tribune-Recorder since 1893, the Sanilac County News of Sandusky and other small newspapers. Also daily deliveries of the Port Huron Times Herald are available in Sanilac County.