Chippewa County
County
Chippewa County Courthouse, Sault Ste. Marie
Chippewa County Courthouse, Sault Ste. Marie
Official logo of Chippewa County
Logo
Map of Michigan highlighting Chippewa County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°19′N 84°31′W / 46.32°N 84.52°W / 46.32; -84.52
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedDecember 22, 1826[1][2]
Named forOjibwe people
SeatSault Ste. Marie
Largest citySault Ste. Marie
Area
 • Total2,698 sq mi (6,990 km2)
 • Land1,558 sq mi (4,040 km2)
 • Water1,140 sq mi (3,000 km2)  42%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total36,785
 • Density25/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.chippewacountymi.gov
Chippewa County, Michigan from 1904 Michigan County Maps

Chippewa County (/ˈtʃɪpəwɒ/ CHIH-pə-wah) is a county in the eastern Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,785.[3] The county seat is Sault Ste. Marie.[4] The county is named for the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people, and was set off and organized in 1826.[1] Chippewa County comprises the Sault Ste. Marie, MI micropolitan statistical area.

With shorelines on Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Chippewa County is one of two U.S. counties to contain shorelines on two Great Lakes, the other being neighboring Mackinac County. The county's irregular shape follows the Canadian border, itself following the St. Marys River. Drummond Island is part of Chippewa County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,698 square miles (6,990 km2), of which 1,558 square miles (4,040 km2) is land and 1,140 square miles (3,000 km2) (42%) is water.[5] It is the second-largest county in Michigan by land area and fifth-largest by total area.

The Michigan Meridian runs through the eastern portion of the county. South of Nine Mile Road, M-129 (Meridian Road) overlays the meridian. In Sault Ste. Marie, Meridian Street north of 12th Avenue overlays the meridian.

Adjacent counties & districts

By land

By water

National protected areas

Game areas

The Munuscong Bay is open for hunting, boating and bird watching. The area is known for its duck hunting, including mallards, divers and green-winged teal ducks. The Bay is most known for its icefishing and duck hunting. During opening weekend of duck season (late September), hundreds of hunters come from all over the state to begin their season on the Bay.[citation needed] This area has many types of waterfowl pass through it on their annual migrations.

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Chippewa County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

City

Village

Charter township

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Indian reservations

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830626—
1840534−14.7%
185089868.2%
18601,60378.5%
18701,6895.4%
18805,248210.7%
189012,019129.0%
190021,33877.5%
191024,47214.7%
192024,8181.4%
193025,0470.9%
194027,80711.0%
195029,2065.0%
196032,65511.8%
197032,412−0.7%
198029,029−10.4%
199034,60419.2%
200038,54311.4%
201038,520−0.1%
202036,785−4.5%
2023 (est.)36,264[6]−1.4%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2018[3]

In 2020, the county had a population of 36,785.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicated the median income for a household in the county was $39,351 and the median income for a family was $54,625.[11] Males had a median income of $25,760 versus $16,782 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,334. About 2.3% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under the age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Chippewa County voters have been reliably Republican from the start. Since 1876, they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 86% of national elections (31 of 36).

United States presidential election results for Chippewa County, Michigan[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,681 60.44% 6,648 37.62% 342 1.94%
2016 9,122 58.65% 5,379 34.59% 1,051 6.76%
2012 8,278 52.86% 7,100 45.34% 282 1.80%
2008 8,267 49.48% 8,184 48.98% 257 1.54%
2004 9,122 55.33% 7,203 43.69% 163 0.99%
2000 7,526 52.43% 6,370 44.38% 458 3.19%
1996 5,137 38.74% 6,532 49.26% 1,590 11.99%
1992 5,462 40.02% 5,434 39.82% 2,751 20.16%
1988 6,786 56.23% 5,222 43.27% 60 0.50%
1984 8,135 63.77% 4,575 35.86% 47 0.37%
1980 7,059 52.31% 5,268 39.04% 1,167 8.65%
1976 7,025 53.32% 6,022 45.71% 128 0.97%
1972 7,028 59.03% 4,744 39.85% 134 1.13%
1968 5,359 52.04% 4,132 40.13% 806 7.83%
1964 4,098 38.45% 6,537 61.33% 23 0.22%
1960 6,490 55.23% 5,239 44.58% 22 0.19%
1956 6,957 62.81% 4,106 37.07% 14 0.13%
1952 7,075 62.12% 4,257 37.38% 57 0.50%
1948 4,977 53.34% 3,860 41.37% 494 5.29%
1944 5,335 54.86% 4,344 44.67% 46 0.47%
1940 5,851 51.54% 5,473 48.21% 29 0.26%
1936 4,901 47.13% 5,259 50.58% 238 2.29%
1932 5,252 54.34% 4,221 43.67% 192 1.99%
1928 5,326 68.68% 2,355 30.37% 74 0.95%
1924 5,443 77.44% 516 7.34% 1,070 15.22%
1920 4,732 74.36% 1,266 19.89% 366 5.75%
1916 2,365 54.64% 1,768 40.85% 195 4.51%
1912 889 23.31% 879 23.05% 2,046 53.64%
1908 2,418 64.19% 1,175 31.19% 174 4.62%
1904 2,920 77.78% 662 17.63% 172 4.58%
1900 2,477 71.59% 893 25.81% 90 2.60%
1896 2,105 65.52% 1,001 31.15% 107 3.33%
1892 1,247 52.33% 1,083 45.45% 53 2.22%
1888 1,055 51.56% 909 44.43% 82 4.01%
1884 686 51.12% 635 47.32% 21 1.56%
1880 396 53.15% 347 46.58% 2 0.27%
1876 172 37.80% 283 62.20% 0 0.00%

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

(Current as of October 2018)[14]

Transportation

Major highways

All Interstate and US Highways in Michigan are all state-maintained highways and part of the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System.

County-designated highways

The following highways are maintained by the Chippewa County Road Commission as part of the county road system. They are assigned numbers by the Michigan Department of Transportation as part of the County-Designated Highway System.

Airports

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association announced that Chippewa County will house its new command and control center. In last year, this is the third major announcement from the organization — guiding Michigan's aerospace and defense manufacturing community within the global industry. Previously, MAMA announced plans for a Oscoda, Michigan Wurtsmith Airport horizontal launch site at and a Marquette, Michigan vertical launch site.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Chippewa County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  2. ^ Chapman, C.H. (February 23, 1893). "Early History of Chippewa County: Lore of Old" (PDF). Lansing MI: The News/Chippewa County Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  12. ^ US Election Atlas
  13. ^ "Press Release: NCEES honors Michigan surveyor William Karr for service" (PDF). National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 4, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  14. ^ Chippewa County website
  15. ^ "News: U.P. airport selected as command center for Michigan's rocket launch sites". MLive. January 28, 2021.
  16. ^ Lawrence, Eric D. (January 29, 2021). "Upper Peninsula's Chippewa County to host Michigan rocket launch command center". Detroit Free Press. p. 12.(subscription required)

External links

46°19′N 84°31′W / 46.32°N 84.52°W / 46.32; -84.52

Places adjacent to Chippewa County, Michigan
Municipalities and communities of Chippewa County, Michigan, United States
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
State of Michigan
Authority control databases
Categories