Delta County
County
Delta County Courthouse in Escanaba
Delta County Courthouse in Escanaba
Map of Michigan highlighting Delta County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°47′N 86°52′W / 45.78°N 86.87°W / 45.78; -86.87
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedMarch 9, 1843 (authorized)
1861 (organized)[1]
Named forGreek letter Delta
SeatEscanaba
Largest cityEscanaba
Area
 • Total1,991 sq mi (5,160 km2)
 • Land1,171 sq mi (3,030 km2)
 • Water820 sq mi (2,100 km2)  41%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total36,903
 • Density32/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitedeltacountymi.gov

Delta County is a county in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,903.[2] The county seat is Escanaba.[3] The county was surveyed in 1843 and organized in 1861. Its name originates from the Greek letter delta (Δ), which refers to the triangular shape of the original county[1][4] which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron, and Marquette counties.[5] Recreation and forest products are major industries, and crops include hay, corn, small grains, potatoes, and strawberries.[6]

Delta County comprises the Escanaba, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,991 square miles (5,160 km2), of which 1,171 square miles (3,030 km2) is land and 820 square miles (2,100 km2) (41%) is water.[7] It is the fifth-largest county in Michigan by land area.

Adjacent counties

By land

By water

National protected area

Communities

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

Cities

Village

Civil townships

Unincorporated communities

Indian reservations

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,172—
18702,542116.9%
18806,812168.0%
189015,330125.0%
190023,88155.8%
191030,10826.1%
192030,9092.7%
193032,2804.4%
194034,0375.4%
195032,913−3.3%
196034,2984.2%
197035,9244.7%
198038,9478.4%
199037,780−3.0%
200038,5202.0%
201037,069−3.8%
202036,903−0.4%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States census[13] indicated Delta County had population of 37,069. By 2020, its population was 36,903.

Education

School districts include:[14]

Government

Delta County was reliably Republican after the American Civil War, and until Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Since 1932, the Democratic Party nominee has carried the county vote in 15 of the 23 national presidential elections through 2020.

United States presidential election results for Delta County, Michigan[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 13,207 62.39% 7,606 35.93% 354 1.67%
2016 11,121 59.81% 6,436 34.61% 1,037 5.58%
2012 9,534 52.59% 8,330 45.95% 266 1.47%
2008 8,763 45.97% 9,974 52.32% 327 1.72%
2004 9,680 50.32% 9,381 48.76% 177 0.92%
2000 8,871 51.23% 7,970 46.03% 475 2.74%
1996 5,925 36.69% 8,561 53.01% 1,664 10.30%
1992 6,027 33.55% 8,387 46.69% 3,548 19.75%
1988 7,114 44.28% 8,891 55.34% 60 0.37%
1984 8,952 52.84% 7,934 46.83% 56 0.33%
1980 8,146 46.04% 8,475 47.90% 1,071 6.05%
1976 7,809 45.85% 9,027 53.00% 197 1.16%
1972 7,647 48.14% 8,003 50.38% 236 1.49%
1968 5,829 40.58% 7,821 54.45% 714 4.97%
1964 4,434 30.56% 10,046 69.25% 27 0.19%
1960 6,460 44.82% 7,924 54.98% 29 0.20%
1956 7,766 54.31% 6,489 45.38% 45 0.31%
1952 7,488 51.79% 6,921 47.87% 49 0.34%
1948 5,414 42.86% 6,943 54.96% 276 2.18%
1944 5,213 41.23% 7,375 58.33% 56 0.44%
1940 6,218 41.18% 8,802 58.29% 81 0.54%
1936 4,527 32.83% 8,954 64.93% 310 2.25%
1932 4,386 35.70% 7,363 59.93% 536 4.36%
1928 5,420 49.59% 5,419 49.58% 91 0.83%
1924 4,761 49.83% 463 4.85% 4,330 45.32%
1920 4,938 65.40% 1,985 26.29% 627 8.30%
1916 3,088 59.74% 1,781 34.46% 300 5.80%
1912 1,111 25.38% 1,066 24.35% 2,201 50.27%
1908 3,243 71.70% 1,097 24.25% 183 4.05%
1904 3,332 79.88% 658 15.78% 181 4.34%
1900 3,081 70.94% 1,210 27.86% 52 1.20%
1896 2,774 67.81% 1,237 30.24% 80 1.96%
1892 1,769 54.30% 1,412 43.34% 77 2.36%
1888 1,587 54.16% 1,332 45.46% 11 0.38%
1884 1,201 66.13% 609 33.54% 6 0.33%

Delta County operates the County 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

(information as of September 2018)[16]

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

The county is served by Delta County Airport (KESC), southwest of Escanaba. It provides scheduled airline service to Detroit.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Delta County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved July 6, 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. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 103.
  5. ^ Names of Michigan Counties (accessed July 28, 2009)
  6. ^ Loren W. Berndt (1977). "Soil Survey of Delta County and Hiawatha National Forest of Alger and Schoolcraft Counties, Michigan" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service and Forest Service. p. 1). Archived (PDF) from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Google (September 16, 2018). "Delta County, MI" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Delta County, MI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list
  15. ^ US Election Atlas
  16. ^ "Delta County Directory". Retrieved September 16, 2018.

External links

45°47′N 86°52′W / 45.78°N 86.87°W / 45.78; -86.87

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