# Sanilac County, Michigan

Sanilac County (/sænəlæk/ SAN-ə-lack) is a county located in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 40,611. The county seat is Sandusky. The county was created on September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on December 31, 1849. Sanilac County is considered to be part of the Thumb of Michigan, 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 is largely composed of nearly flat areas of rich soil.

## 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 the Michigan Territorial Legislature, partitioning parts of St. Clair County and unorganized territory administered by Oakland County. The original boundary of the county was reduced in 1840, when parts were partitioned off to create Huron and Tuscola counties. 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 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 km$^2$), of which 963 square miles (2,490 km$^2$) is land and 627 square miles (1,620 km$^2$) (39%) is water. Sanilac County is the largest county in Michigan's Lower Peninsula by land area.

### Adjacent counties

* Huron County (north)
* Tuscola County (west)
* St. Clair County (south)
* Lapeer County (southwest)
* Huron County, Ontario, Canada (east)

### Major highways

* M-19
* M-25
* M-46
* M-53
* M-81
* M-90

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census indicates Sanilac County had a 2010 population of 43,114. This decrease of -1,433 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a 3.2% population loss in the decade. 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/km$^2$). There were 22,725 housing units at an average density of 23.6 per square mile (9.1/km$^2$). 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

Sanilac 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 (1908). Hence, every person who has won the GOP's nomination has won Sanilac County, Michigan. Theodore Roosevelt had also been the Republican nominee in 1904.
United States presidential election results for Sanilac County, Michigan :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 17,080 | 73.11% | 5,957 | 25.50% | 325 | 1.39% |
| 2020 | 16,194 | 72.15% | 5,966 | 26.58% | 286 | 1.27% |
| 2016 | 13,446 | 69.85% | 4,873 | 25.32% | 930 | 4.83% |
| 2012 | 10,963 | 59.42% | 7,212 | 39.09% | 275 | 1.49% |
| 2008 | 10,679 | 52.95% | 9,047 | 44.86% | 443 | 2.20% |
| 2004 | 12,632 | 60.84% | 7,883 | 37.97% | 248 | 1.19% |
| 2000 | 10,966 | 59.06% | 7,153 | 38.53% | 447 | 2.41% |
| 1996 | 7,821 | 45.17% | 7,092 | 40.96% | 2,401 | 13.87% |
| 1992 | 7,891 | 42.07% | 5,868 | 31.28% | 4,999 | 26.65% |
| 1988 | 10,653 | 65.73% | 5,445 | 33.60% | 109 | 0.67% |
| 1984 | 12,627 | 75.12% | 4,126 | 24.54% | 57 | 0.34% |
| 1980 | 12,158 | 67.11% | 4,898 | 27.04% | 1,061 | 5.86% |
| 1976 | 10,597 | 62.87% | 6,042 | 35.84% | 217 | 1.29% |
| 1972 | 11,031 | 72.93% | 3,780 | 24.99% | 314 | 2.08% |
| 1968 | 9,273 | 65.45% | 3,193 | 22.54% | 1,702 | 12.01% |
| 1964 | 7,590 | 54.71% | 6,266 | 45.16% | 18 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 11,005 | 72.47% | 4,153 | 27.35% | 27 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 11,095 | 78.88% | 2,954 | 21.00% | 17 | 0.12% |
| 1952 | 11,181 | 82.47% | 2,298 | 16.95% | 78 | 0.58% |
| 1948 | 8,237 | 77.66% | 2,167 | 20.43% | 202 | 1.90% |
| 1944 | 9,512 | 82.09% | 2,015 | 17.39% | 60 | 0.52% |
| 1940 | 10,289 | 82.13% | 2,195 | 17.52% | 43 | 0.34% |
| 1936 | 6,975 | 63.20% | 3,285 | 29.77% | 776 | 7.03% |
| 1932 | 6,860 | 61.22% | 4,077 | 36.39% | 268 | 2.39% |
| 1928 | 7,888 | 81.59% | 1,736 | 17.96% | 44 | 0.46% |
| 1924 | 7,767 | 84.53% | 983 | 10.70% | 438 | 4.77% |
| 1920 | 7,256 | 84.66% | 1,146 | 13.37% | 169 | 1.97% |
| 1916 | 4,639 | 69.62% | 1,867 | 28.02% | 157 | 2.36% |
| 1912 | 2,166 | 32.19% | 1,161 | 17.26% | 3,401 | 50.55% |
| 1908 | 4,173 | 68.96% | 1,474 | 24.36% | 404 | 6.68% |
| 1904 | 4,671 | 74.37% | 1,217 | 19.38% | 393 | 6.26% |
| 1900 | 4,173 | 63.93% | 2,065 | 31.64% | 289 | 4.43% |
| 1896 | 3,634 | 51.74% | 3,156 | 44.93% | 234 | 3.33% |
| 1892 | 2,494 | 54.34% | 1,730 | 37.69% | 366 | 7.97% |
| 1888 | 2,940 | 51.66% | 2,434 | 42.77% | 317 | 5.57% |
| 1884 | 1,923 | 49.09% | 1,817 | 46.39% | 177 | 4.52% |
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

* Prosecuting Attorney: James V. Young
* Sheriff: Paul Rich
* County Clerk: Denise McGuire
* County Treasurer: Trudy M. Nicol
* Register of Deeds: Michele VanNorman
* Drain Commissioner: Gregory L Alexander
* Circuit Court Judge: Hon. Donald A. Teeple
* Probate Court Judge: Hon. Gregory S. Ross
* District Court Judge: Hon. Gregory S Ross
* Commissioner – Dist 1: Jon Block
* Commissioner – Dist 2: Gary Heberling
* Commissioner – Dist 3: William Sarkella
* Commissioner – Dist 4: Bob Colely
* Commissioner – Dist 5: Paul Muxlow

## Media

* The county is served weekly by the Tribune-Recorder since 1893, the Sanilac County News of Sandusky and other small newspapers.
* Daily deliveries of the Port Huron Times Herald are available in Sanilac County.

## Communities
### Cities

* Brown City
* Croswell
* Marlette
* Sandusky (county seat)

### Villages

* Applegate
* Carsonville
* Deckerville
* Forestville
* Lexington
* Melvin
* Minden City
* Peck
* Port Sanilac

### Census-designated place

* Snover

### Other unincorporated communities

* Amadore
* Argyle
* Austin Center
* Birch Beach
* Blue Water Beach
* Cash
* Charleston
* Cumber
* Decker
* Downington
* Elmer
* Freidberger
* Great Lakes Beach
* Huronia Heights
* Juhl
* Laing
* Lexington Heights
* McGregor
* Omard
* Palms
* Tyre
* Watertown

### Townships

* Argyle Township
* Austin Township
* Bridgehampton Township
* Buel Township
* Custer Township
* Delaware Township
* Elk Township
* Elmer Township
* Evergreen Township
* Flynn Township
* Forester Township
* Fremont Township
* Greenleaf Township
* Lamotte Township
* Lexington Township
* Maple Valley Township
* Marion Township
* Marlette Township
* Minden Township
* Moore Township
* Sanilac Township
* Speaker Township
* Washington Township
* Watertown Township
* Wheatland Township
* Worth Township