Cheboygan County, Michigan

Cheboygan County, Michigan
Cheboygan County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 25,579. The county seat is Cheboygan. The county boundaries were set off in 1840, with land partitioned from Michilimackinac County. The Cheboygan County government was organized and combined with the former Wyandot County in 1853.
Etymology of the name Cheboygan
The name of the county shares the same origin as that of the Cheboygan River, although the precise meaning is no longer known. It may have come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan, meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, the origin may have been Chabwegan, meaning "a place of ore". It has also been described as "a Native American word first applied to the river." See List of Michigan county name etymologies. "Cheboygan" is pronounced the same as "Sheboygan" (a city in Wisconsin).
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (19%) is water. The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
Adjacent counties
By land
Presque Isle County - east
Montmorency County - southeast
Otsego County - south
Charlevoix County - southwest
Emmet County - west
By water
Mackinac County - north
Transportation
Highways
(former highway)
County-designated highways
Airports
Cheboygan County Airport, located in Cheboygan, is a private airport. There are no commercial airline airports in Cheboygan County but the nearest ones are Alpena County Regional Airport, Chippewa County International Airport (Sault Ste. Marie, MI), and Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City). Delta Air Lines schedules flights daily out of the Pellston Regional Airport.
Demographics
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 26,448 people, 10,835 households, and 7,573 families in the county. The population density was . There were 16,583 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 2.55% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 10.4% English, 10.0% French, 9.5% Polish, 9.2% American and 8.9% Irish ancestry. 97.7% spoke English as their first language.
There were 10,835 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.
The county population contained 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,417, and the median income for a family was $38,390. Males had a median income of $30,054 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,088. About 8.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Cheyboygan County has tended to vote Republican through the years. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 71% (24 of 35) of the national elections.
Cheyboygan 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
Prosecuting Attorney: Daryl P. Vizina
Sheriff: Dale V. Clarmont
County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Karen Brewster
County Treasurer: Buffy Jo Werdon
Drain Commissioner: Cameron Cavitt
County Surveyor: James H. Granger
(information as of September 2018)
Communities
City
Cheboygan (county seat)
Villages
Mackinaw City (part)
Wolverine
Civil townships
Aloha Township
Beaugrand Township
Benton Township
Burt Township
Duncan Township (defunct)
Ellis Township
Forest Township
Grant Township
Hebron Township
Inverness Township
Koehler Township
Mackinaw Township
Maple Grove Township (defunct)
Mentor Township
Mullett Township
Munro Township
Nunda Township
Tuscarora Township
Walker Township
Waverly Township
Wilmot Township
Census-designated places
Indian River
Tower
Other unincorporated communities
Afton
Aloha
Alverno
Birchwood
Burt Lake
Cordwood Point
Dow
Elmhurst
Fingerboard Corner
Freedom
Geyersville
Giauque Beach
Grand View
Haakwood
Long Point
Mullett Lake
Mullett Lake Woods
Orchard Beach
Point Landing
Pries Landing
Riggsville
Rondo
Royal Oak
Silver Beach
Topinabee
Veery Point
Wildwood
Historical markers
There are eight recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:
Forty Mile Point Lighthouse / Graveyard of Ships
Inland Waterway
Jacob J. Post House
Jail and Sheriff's Residence
Newton-Allaire House
Old Cheboygan County Courthouse
St. Bernard Catholic Church
St. Mary's Church
See also
List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Cheboygan County, Michigan
National Register of Historic Places listings in Cheboygan County, Michigan
USS Cheboygan County (LST-533)
History of Northern Michigan
References
External links
Cheboygan County official site
Cheboygan County's Historic Bridges
Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.
YourCheboygan.org, Open forum for community feedback
Michigan counties
Michigan placenames of Native American origin
1853 establishments in Michigan
Populated places established in 1853