# Saginaw County, Michigan

Saginaw County (SAG-ə-naw) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 190,124. The county seat is Saginaw. The county was created by September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on February 9, 1835. The etymology of the county's name is uncertain. It may be derived from Sace-nong or Sak-e-nong (English: Sauk land), as the Sauk (French: Sac) tribe is believed by some to have once lived there. A more likely possibility is that it comes from Ojibwe words meaning "place of the outlet" –sag (English: an opening) and ong (English: place of). See List of Michigan county name etymologies.
Saginaw County comprises the Saginaw, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Combined Statistical Area, the 5th largest metropolitan area in Michigan.

## Etymology

The name Saginaw is widely believed to mean "where the Sauk were" in Ojibwe, from Sace-nong or Sak-e-nong (Sauk Town), due to the belief that the Sauk once lived there. But it is more likely that the name means "place of the outlet", from the Ojibwe sag (opening) and ong (place of).
When indigenous people he met told Samuel de Champlain that the Sauk nation was on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Champlain mistakenly placed them on the western shore of Lake Huron. This mistake was copied on subsequent maps, and future references identified this as the place of the Sauks. Champlain himself never visited what is now Michigan.

## History

The area was inhabited from about 1000 B.C. to 1000 A.D. by the Native American Hopewell culture, followed by the Anishnabeg. Some historians believe that the Sauk at one time lived in the area and were driven out by Ojibwe (Chippewa), before the area was first visited by Europeans.
The Saginaw region includes an extensive network of many rivers and streams which converge into the Saginaw River and provided a means for easy travel for the Native American population among numerous settlements and hunting areas, as well as access to Lake Huron. Saginaw was also a frequent meeting location for councils of the Ojibwe, Pottawatomi, and Ottawa—the Three Fires of the Anishnabeg.
What is today Saginaw County was inhabited by the Ojibwe at the time of the arrival of Euro-Americans. The Ojibwe were still the dominant force in the area in the 1820s, and in 1827 they were attacked by a two groups of Winnebago people coming from Wisconsin. The Ojibwe prevailed in this fight with the aid of local Euro-American settlers.
In 1853 the Ojibwe and Ottawa both established large hunting camps along the Saginaw River, although Euro-American settlers were beginning to establish saw mills and farms in the area by that point.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 816 square miles (2,110 km$^2$), of which 800 square miles (2,100 km$^2$) is land and 16 square miles (41 km$^2$) (1.9%) is water. It is part of the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Mid-Michigan. The median elevation in Saginaw County, Michigan is 620 feet (190 m) above sea level.

### Primary rivers

* Saginaw River
** Shiawassee River
*** Cass River
*** Flint River
*** Bad River
** Tittabawassee River

### Wildlife refuge

* Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

### Adjacent counties

* Bay County (northeast)
* Midland County (northwest)
* Tuscola County (east)
* Gratiot County (west)
* Genesee County (southeast)
* Shiawassee County (south)
* Clinton County (southwest)

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census indicates Saginaw County had a 2010 population of 200,169. This is a decrease of -9,870 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -4.7% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 79,011 households and 52,287 families in the county. The population density was 250.2 per square mile (96.6 per square kilometer). There were 86,844 housing units at an average density of 108.5 per square mile (41.9 per square kilometer). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 70.5% White, 18.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 7.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races.
There were 79,011 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were husband and wife families, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 28.2% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, 23.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $41,938 and the median income for a family was $52,243. Males had a median income of $27,691 versus $16,488 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,025. About 12.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under the age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

### Religion

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.

## Government and politics

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.
From 1988 to 2012, Saginaw County was a consistently Democratic county at the Presidential level. However, in recent elections it has become increasingly competitive, with Donald Trump narrowly winning the county in 2016 by slightly over 1,000 votes while narrowly losing it in 2020 by about 300 votes. Trump won it back in 2024, this time by a margin of about 3,400 votes and taking an outright majority in the county too.
United States presidential election results for Saginaw County, Michigan :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 52,912 | 50.88% | 49,515 | 47.61% | 1,573 | 1.51% |
| 2020 | 50,785 | 49.08% | 51,088 | 49.37% | 1,610 | 1.56% |
| 2016 | 45,469 | 47.97% | 44,396 | 46.84% | 4,915 | 5.19% |
| 2012 | 42,720 | 43.46% | 54,381 | 55.33% | 1,191 | 1.21% |
| 2008 | 42,225 | 40.49% | 60,276 | 57.80% | 1,782 | 1.71% |
| 2004 | 47,165 | 45.86% | 54,887 | 53.37% | 800 | 0.78% |
| 2000 | 41,152 | 43.89% | 50,825 | 54.21% | 1,779 | 1.90% |
| 1996 | 31,577 | 35.97% | 47,579 | 54.19% | 8,638 | 9.84% |
| 1992 | 32,103 | 33.13% | 43,819 | 45.22% | 20,983 | 21.65% |
| 1988 | 42,401 | 47.88% | 45,616 | 51.51% | 549 | 0.62% |
| 1984 | 51,495 | 56.95% | 38,420 | 42.49% | 501 | 0.55% |
| 1980 | 45,233 | 48.22% | 41,650 | 44.40% | 6,916 | 7.37% |
| 1976 | 46,765 | 55.63% | 36,280 | 43.15% | 1,026 | 1.22% |
| 1972 | 47,920 | 61.03% | 29,424 | 37.47% | 1,177 | 1.50% |
| 1968 | 38,070 | 49.17% | 32,266 | 41.67% | 7,087 | 9.15% |
| 1964 | 28,146 | 38.25% | 45,309 | 61.58% | 127 | 0.17% |
| 1960 | 41,351 | 55.68% | 32,715 | 44.05% | 206 | 0.28% |
| 1956 | 43,470 | 62.67% | 25,681 | 37.03% | 210 | 0.30% |
| 1952 | 38,604 | 64.23% | 20,983 | 34.91% | 513 | 0.85% |
| 1948 | 22,923 | 56.28% | 16,995 | 41.72% | 815 | 2.00% |
| 1944 | 27,289 | 56.38% | 20,383 | 42.11% | 730 | 1.51% |
| 1940 | 27,042 | 54.35% | 22,490 | 45.20% | 221 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 15,527 | 37.50% | 22,592 | 54.56% | 3,291 | 7.95% |
| 1932 | 17,794 | 42.97% | 22,643 | 54.67% | 977 | 2.36% |
| 1928 | 22,467 | 65.61% | 11,555 | 33.75% | 220 | 0.64% |
| 1924 | 23,618 | 67.99% | 6,206 | 17.87% | 4,914 | 14.15% |
| 1920 | 20,425 | 68.24% | 8,494 | 28.38% | 1,013 | 3.38% |
| 1916 | 9,544 | 51.70% | 8,434 | 45.69% | 483 | 2.62% |
| 1912 | 5,032 | 27.94% | 5,845 | 32.46% | 7,130 | 39.60% |
| 1908 | 9,447 | 54.41% | 7,019 | 40.42% | 898 | 5.17% |
| 1904 | 10,146 | 60.66% | 5,330 | 31.86% | 1,251 | 7.48% |
| 1900 | 8,413 | 50.17% | 7,610 | 45.38% | 746 | 4.45% |
| 1896 | 8,361 | 47.92% | 8,792 | 50.39% | 294 | 1.69% |
| 1892 | 6,737 | 44.37% | 7,601 | 50.07% | 844 | 5.56% |
| 1888 | 6,723 | 41.95% | 8,923 | 55.68% | 379 | 2.37% |
| 1884 | 5,939 | 44.68% | 7,047 | 53.02% | 305 | 2.29% |
| 1880 | 5,207 | 46.78% | 5,304 | 47.65% | 621 | 5.58% |

### Elected officials

* Prosecuting Attorney: John McColgan Jr.
* Sheriff: William Federspiel
* County Clerk: Vanessa Guerra
* County Treasurer: Timothy M. Novak
* Register of Deeds: Katheryn A. Kelly
* Public Works Commissioner: Brian Wendling
All countywide officers are elected for four-year terms. The next scheduled election for these offices is November 2024.
(information as of April 2021)

### Parks and Recreation Commission

Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission is a county-wide government organization founded by William H. Haithco Sr. in 1969. Haithco then served as chairman from 1972 to 1999. The organization operates six parks throughout the county - Imerman Memorial Park, Veterans Memorial Park, Ringwood Forest, Price Nature Center, William H. Haithco Recreation Area, and The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail. These parks comprise over 550 acres, including 18 miles of hiking trails, two boat launches, four fishing access sites, a swimming beach, picnic shelters, and recreation programs.

## Economy

The largest employers in Saginaw County are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
| 1 | Nexteer Automotive | 5200 |
| 2 | Covenant HealthCare | 4512 |
| 3 | St. Mary's of Michigan | 1800 |
| 4 | Morley Companies | 1750 |
| 5 | Meijer | 1425 |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University | 1071 |
| 7 | Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation | 1000 |
| 8 | Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn | 940 |
| 9 | Aleda E. Lutz Veteran Affairs Medical Center | 904 |
| 10 | County of Saginaw | 676 |
| 11 | Saginaw Public Schools | 657 |
| 12 | Fashion Square Mall | 650 |
| 13 | Saginaw Township Community Schools | 621 |
| 14 | Saginaw Intermediate School District | 613 |
| 15 | Frankenmuth Insurance | 694 |

## Transportation

Saginaw County was the destination of a Sauk footpath that became one of the first roads in what is now Michigan, the Saginaw Trail. The trail, first authorized in 1819, was completed to Saginaw in 1841. Since then, Saginaw's access to the outside world has expanded with the development of maritime, rail, air, and freeway links to the major cities of Michigan and neighboring states and nations.

### Airports

Scheduled airline service is available from MBS International Airport near Freeland, Michigan and Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan. Harry Browne Airport in Buena Vista Charter Township also serves the region.

### Highways

* I-75, a major north–south freeway running from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Miami-Dade County, Florida
* I-675, a business route freeway from Interstate 75 passing through downtown Saginaw
* US 23
* M-13 runs from I-69 through downtown Saginaw and north to Standish.
* M-15
* M-30
* M-46 is a cross peninsular road, running across the mitten and the thumb—from Port Sanilac on the Lake Huron shore; through Saginaw near Saginaw Bay; and then on to Muskegon on the Lake Michigan shore. This east-west surface route nearly bisects the Lower Peninsula of Michigan latitudinally.
* M-47 passes through the western suburbs and provides a direct connection to MBS International Airport in Freeland before ending at US 10 in nearby Bay County.
* M-52 runs from the Ohio border through Adrian and Owosso before ending at M-46, in the western suburbs of Saginaw. M-52 also provides an alternate connection to Lansing, Michigan's state capitol.
* M-54
* M-57
* M-58 runs from M-47 to I-675.
* M-81 runs east from M-13 to Caro and Cass City and ends at M-53 in Sanilac County.
* M-83
* M-84 runs from M-25 in downtown Bay City to M-58 in Saginaw.

### Maritime

The Saginaw River is maintained by the Corps of Engineers, and from time to time, dredged to maintain a shipping channel down the river to Bay City, and from there, to the Great Lakes.

## Education
### Primary and secondary education
#### Public schools

Most of Saginaw County is served by the Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD), which coordinates the efforts of local boards of education, but has no operating authority over schools. Local school boards in Michigan retain great autonomy over day-to-day operations. A number of charter schools also operate in the county.
School districts in the county (including any with any territory, no matter how slight, even if the schools and/or administration are in other counties) include:
* Ashley Community Schools
* Bay City School District
* Birch Run Area School District
* Breckenridge Community Schools
* Bridgeport-Spaulding Community School District
* Carrollton School District
* Chesaning Union Schools
* Clio Area School District
* Frankenmuth School District
* Freeland Community School District
* Hemlock Public School District
* Merrill Community Schools
* Montrose Community Schools
* New Lothrop Area Public School
* Ovid-Elsie Area Schools
* Reese Public Schools
* Saginaw City School District
* Saginaw Township Community Schools
* St. Charles Community Schools
* Swan Valley School District
Former school districts include:
* Buena Vista School District

### Higher education

* Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) is a four-year state university located in eastern Kochville Township.
* Delta College is a two-year community college that serves Saginaw County, but is located in neighboring Bay County, a few miles to the north of the SVSU campus.

## Notable natives

* George C. Hinkley (1892-1936), Wisconsin State Assemblyman and businessman, was born in Saginaw County.
* Theodore Roethke (1908–1963) Pulitzer prize and National Book Award-winning poet, was born and buried here.

## Historical markers

There are twenty eight recognized historical markers in the county: They are:
* Bliss Park
* Burt Opera House / Wellington R. Burt
* Coal Mine No. 8
* The Cushway House / Benjamin Cushway and Adelaide Cushway
* First Congregational Church [Saginaw]
* Fowler Schoolhouse (Fremont Township)
* Frankenmuth / Saint Lorenz Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn
* Freeland United Methodist Church
* George Nason House
* Hess School
* Hoyt Library
* Leamington Stewart House
* Michigan's German Settlers
* Morseville Bridge
* Presbyterian Church of South Saginaw
* Saginaw Club
* Saginaw Oil Industry
* Saginaw Post Office
* Saginaw Valley Coal
* Saginaw Valley Lumbering Era
* St. Mary's Hospital
* Saint Michael Catholic Parish
* St. Paul's Episcopal Mission
* Shroeder House
* Theodore Roethke / Childhood Home

## Communities
### Cities

* Frankenmuth
* Saginaw (county seat)
* Zilwaukee

### Villages

* Birch Run
* Chesaning
* Merrill
* Oakley
* Reese (partially)
* St. Charles

### Charter townships

* Bridgeport Charter Township
* Buena Vista Charter Township
* Saginaw Charter Township

### Civil townships

* Albee Township
* Birch Run Township
* Blumfield Township
* Brady Township
* Brant Township
* Carrollton Township
* Chapin Township
* Chesaning Township
* Frankenmuth Township
* Fremont Township
* James Township
* Jonesfield Township
* Kochville Township
* Lakefield Township
* Maple Grove Township
* Marion Township
* Richland Township
* Spaulding Township
* St. Charles Township
* Swan Creek Township
* Taymouth Township
* Thomas Township
* Tittabawassee Township
* Zilwaukee Township

### Census-designated places

* Bridgeport
* Buena Vista
* Burt
* Freeland
* Hemlock
* Robin Glen-Indiantown
* Shields

### Other unincorporated communities

* Alicia
* Blumfield Corners
* Brady Center
* Brant
* Chapin
* Clausedale
* Crow Island
* Dice
* Fenmore
* Fergus
* Fordney
* Fosters
* Frankentrost
* Frost
* Galloway
* Garfield
* Gera
* Groveton
* Indiantown
* Iva
* Kochville
* Lakefield
* Lawndale
* Layton Corners
* Luce
* Marion Springs
* Morseville
* Nelson
* Orr
* Racy
* Paines
* Parshallburg
* Roosevelt
* Shattuckville
* Swan Creek
* Taymouth