# Clare County, Michigan

Clare County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 30,856. The county seat is Harrison.

## History

The county was created by the Michigan Legislature from part of Michilimackinac County in 1840, named Kaykakee County after a Sauk Indian Chief. It was renamed Clare County in 1843 after County Clare in Ireland. The county was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties prior to the organization of county government in 1871. Farwell was the first county seat; in 1877 the county seat was moved to Harrison.

## Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km$^2$), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km$^2$) is land and 11 square miles (28 km$^2$) (1.9%) is water. It is considered to be part of both Northern Michigan and Central Michigan.

### Features

* Au Sable State Forest

### Major highways

* US 10 runs east–west through bottom of county. Enters west county line at 3.7 miles (6.0 km) north of SW corner of county. Runs easterly to intersection with US127 at 2.8 miles (4.5 km) north of Clare.
* Bus. US 10 runs through Clare with Bus. US 127 until they meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 runs eastward to US 10.
* US 127 runs north–south through eastern middle of county, Passing Harrison and Clare.
* Bus. US 127 runs through Clare with Bus. US 10 until the two meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 turns eastward while Bus. US 127 continues southward to US 127.
* Bus. US 127 runs from US 127 to go through Harrison. Bus. US 127 intersects M-61, and the two have a concurrency with each other until they both intersect US 127, where Bus. US 127 ends with M-61 continues eastward to Gladwin.
* M-18 runs along east line of county, from the northeast corner for 3.5 miles (5.6 km), then turns east into Gladwin County.
* M-61 runs east–west through middle of county, entering the west line from Osceola County and running east to intersection with US 127 at Harrison.
* M-115 runs southeast and east across bottom of county. It enters the west line from Osceola County at nine miles (14 km) above the southwest corner of county and runs to an intersection with Bus. US 127/Bus. US 10 at Clare.

### Adjacent counties

* Missaukee County – northwest
* Roscommon County – northeast
* Gladwin County – east
* Midland County – southeast
* Isabella County – south
* Mecosta County – southwest
* Osceola County – west

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census indicates Clare County had a 2010 population of 30,926. This decrease of 326 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a loss of 1.0% population. In 2010 there were 12,966 households and 8,584 families in the county. The population density was 54.8 per square mile (21.2/km$^2$). There were 23,233 housing units at an average density of 41.2 per square mile (15.9/km$^2$). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 95.8% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races.
There were 12,966 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were husband and wife families, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 28.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.83.
The county population contained 20.9% under age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $33,338 and the median income for a family was $40,983. Males had a median income of $24,220 versus $13,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,516. About 2.3% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.8% of those under the age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

### Religion

* The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.
* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has one meetinghouse in the county, in Harrison.

## Government

Clare County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 72% of national elections (26 of 36).
United States presidential election results for Clare County, Michigan :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 11,772 | 68.01% | 5,273 | 30.46% | 265 | 1.53% |
| 2020 | 10,861 | 66.65% | 5,199 | 31.91% | 235 | 1.44% |
| 2016 | 8,505 | 63.24% | 4,249 | 31.59% | 695 | 5.17% |
| 2012 | 6,988 | 51.63% | 6,338 | 46.83% | 209 | 1.54% |
| 2008 | 6,793 | 46.51% | 7,496 | 51.32% | 316 | 2.16% |
| 2004 | 7,088 | 49.82% | 6,984 | 49.09% | 154 | 1.08% |
| 2000 | 5,937 | 47.09% | 6,287 | 49.87% | 383 | 3.04% |
| 1996 | 3,742 | 32.03% | 6,311 | 54.02% | 1,630 | 13.95% |
| 1992 | 3,916 | 32.20% | 5,346 | 43.95% | 2,901 | 23.85% |
| 1988 | 5,661 | 54.18% | 4,710 | 45.08% | 77 | 0.74% |
| 1984 | 6,587 | 63.26% | 3,764 | 36.15% | 61 | 0.59% |
| 1980 | 5,719 | 53.36% | 4,164 | 38.85% | 835 | 7.79% |
| 1976 | 4,879 | 53.46% | 4,153 | 45.51% | 94 | 1.03% |
| 1972 | 4,402 | 62.99% | 2,434 | 34.83% | 152 | 2.18% |
| 1968 | 3,315 | 56.85% | 1,909 | 32.74% | 607 | 10.41% |
| 1964 | 2,258 | 43.45% | 2,927 | 56.32% | 12 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 3,616 | 70.49% | 1,507 | 29.38% | 7 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 3,721 | 75.51% | 1,194 | 24.23% | 13 | 0.26% |
| 1952 | 3,529 | 76.22% | 1,059 | 22.87% | 42 | 0.91% |
| 1948 | 2,512 | 66.02% | 1,197 | 31.46% | 96 | 2.52% |
| 1944 | 2,636 | 70.58% | 1,078 | 28.86% | 21 | 0.56% |
| 1940 | 3,004 | 69.86% | 1,277 | 29.70% | 19 | 0.44% |
| 1936 | 1,979 | 53.37% | 1,494 | 40.29% | 235 | 6.34% |
| 1932 | 1,474 | 44.34% | 1,741 | 52.38% | 109 | 3.28% |
| 1928 | 1,920 | 82.62% | 381 | 16.39% | 23 | 0.99% |
| 1924 | 1,920 | 77.67% | 358 | 14.48% | 194 | 7.85% |
| 1920 | 1,762 | 73.48% | 511 | 21.31% | 125 | 5.21% |
| 1916 | 1,049 | 54.38% | 769 | 39.87% | 111 | 5.75% |
| 1912 | 563 | 30.99% | 435 | 23.94% | 819 | 45.07% |
| 1908 | 1,345 | 68.14% | 567 | 28.72% | 62 | 3.14% |
| 1904 | 1,453 | 70.91% | 519 | 25.33% | 77 | 3.76% |
| 1900 | 1,182 | 63.62% | 640 | 34.45% | 36 | 1.94% |
| 1896 | 886 | 53.09% | 723 | 43.32% | 60 | 3.59% |
| 1892 | 719 | 41.90% | 811 | 47.26% | 186 | 10.84% |
| 1888 | 905 | 47.99% | 912 | 48.36% | 69 | 3.66% |
| 1884 | 622 | 46.21% | 685 | 50.89% | 39 | 2.90% |
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

* County Commission: Dale Majewski; Samantha Pitchford; Leonard Strouse; Jack Kleinhardt; Mark Fitzpatrick; David Hoefling; Jeff Haskell
* Prosecuting Attorney: Michelle Ambrozaitis
* Sheriff: John Wilson
* County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Lori Martin
* County Treasurer: Jenny Beemer-Fritzinger
* Drain Commissioner: Bill Faber
* County Surveyor: Paul A. Lapham
* Road Commission: Dave Coker; Tim Haskin; Karen Hulliberger; Bill Simpson; Max Schunk
* State Representative: Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth
(information as of January 2019)

## Attractions

Clare County is in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's warblers, and turkeys, are located nearby. Local attractions include:
* Kirtland's Warbler Habitat and Festival
* Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail passes through the area, running from Empire to Oscoda and points beyond. It is a 500-mile interconnected system of trails.
Activities include:
* Birding
* Boating
* Fishing
* Hiking
* Hunting
* Nordic skiing
* ORV and groomed snowmobile trails.
* Paddling (canoe and kayak)

## Communities
### Cities

* Clare (partial)
* Harrison (county seat)

### Village

* Farwell

### Civil townships

* Arthur Township
* Franklin Township
* Freeman Township
* Frost Township
* Garfield Township
* Grant Township
* Greenwood Township
* Hamilton Township
* Hatton Township
* Hayes Township
* Lincoln Township
* Redding Township
* Sheridan Township
* Summerfield Township
* Surrey Township
* Winterfield Township

### Unincorporated communities

* Airport Forest
* Allendale
* Ash Acres
* Buck Trails
* Colonville
* Cooperton
* Dover
* Hatton
* Lake
* Lake George
* Leota
* Long Lake Heights
* Meredith (partial)
* Phelps
* Piney Woods
* Rainbow Bend
* Temple

### Ghost town

* Clarence

## Education

The Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District, based in Clare, services the students in the county along with those of Gladwin County. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services, early education and after-school programs, and technical career pathways for students of its districts.
Clare County is served by the following regular public school districts:
* Clare Public Schools
* Farwell Area Schools
* Harrison Community Schools
Clare County has the following private schools:
* East Dover School (Amish)
* Great Lakes Mennonite School (Mennonite)
* Shady Lawn Amish Parochial School (Amish)