Wexford County, Michigan

Wexford County, Michigan
Wexford County is a county in the Northern Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 33,673. The seat of Wexford County is Cadillac, which is also the county's largest city.
Wexford County is largely covered by the Manistee National Forest, and thus is heavily wooded. The Manistee River flows from east to west in the north of the county. Briar Hill, the highest point in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, is located in northwestern Wexford County, at .
The county is the location of the first known sighting of the Michigan Dogman, in 1887.
History
The county was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Kautawaubet County, after a Potawatomi phrase meaning "broken tooth," and the name of a local Potawatomi chief. In 1843, legislators renamed the county Wexford, after County Wexford in Ireland.
In 1851, Wexford County was attached to Grand Traverse County for administrative purposes. It was then attached to Manistee County in 1855, before being organized on its own in 1869.
County seat battle
The Wexford County seat of government, originally located in Sherman, was moved to Manton in 1881, as the result of a compromise between the feuding residents of Cadillac and Sherman. Cadillac partisans, however, won the county seat by a county-wide vote in April 1882. The day following the election, a sheriff's posse left the city for Manton by special train to seize the county records. After they arrived and collected a portion of the materials, however, an angry crowd confronted the Cadillac men and drove them out of town.
When the sheriff returned to Cadillac, he encountered a force consisting of several hundred armed men; this group reportedly included a brass band. The Sheriff's force, some of whom may have been intoxicated, traveled back to Manton to seize the remaining records. Although Manton residents confronted the Cadillac men and barricaded the courthouse, the posse successfully seized the documents. They returned to Cadillac in dubious glory.
Geography
The Manistee River flows westward through the upper part of Wexford County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely tree-covered. The terrain slopes to the west, with its highest point, Briar Hill in Manistee National Forest at .
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575.46 sqmi (1,490 km2), of which 565.00 sqmi (1,463 km2) is land and 10.46 sqmi (27.1 km2) (1.8%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Grand Traverse County – north
Kalkaska County – northeast
Missaukee County – east
Osceola County – southeast
Lake County – southwest
Manistee County – west
Benzie County – northwest
Protected areas
Brandy Brook Waterfowl Area
Manistee National Forest (part)
Mitchell State Park
Lakes
Hodenpyl Dam Pond
Lake Cadillac
Lake Gitchegumee
Lake Mitchell
Long Lake
Round Lake (part)
Major highways
is a north–south highway that runs in the east of the county. Much of the highway within Wexford County is a freeway, including bypasses of Cadillac and Manton. South of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Reed City, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. North of Wexford County, the highway, as a two-lane road, can be used to access Kalkaska and Petoskey.
is a business route serving downtown Cadillac. The route was created in 2001 with the completion of the US 131 freeway on the east side of Cadillac.
is a business route serving downtown Manton. The route was created in 2003 with the completion of the US 131 freeway on the east side of Manton.
is a north–south route in the west of the county. The highway runs through the villages of Mesick and Buckley. South of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Baldwin, White Cloud, and Newaygo. North of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Traverse City.
is an east–west highway in the northeast of the county. The route begins in Manton, and continues east into Missaukee County, where it can be used to access Lake City. Prior to 2007, the highway continued west from Manton to M-37 near Mesick.
is an east–west route that runs in the south of the county. The highway passes to the south and east of Cadillac, concurrent at points with US 131 and M-115. West of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Manistee. East of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Lake City and Houghton Lake.
is a diagonal northwest–southeast highway. The highway passes through the village of Mesick and passes southwest of Cadillac. Northwest of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Copemish and Frankfort. Southeast of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Clare.
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 30,484 people, 11,824 households, and 8,383 families in the county. The population density was . There were 14,872 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.29% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 11.3% English, 9.5% American, 9.4% Irish, 6.1% Dutch, 5.8% Swedish and 5.3% Polish ancestry. 97.7% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 11,824 households, out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.
The county population contained 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,363, and the median income for a family was $39,915. Males had a median income of $31,198 versus $21,733 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,144. About 7.70% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government
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.
Elected officials
Prosecuting Attorney: Corey Wiggins
Sheriff: Trent Taylor
County Clerk: Alaina M. Nyman
County Treasurer: Kristi Nottingham
Register of Deeds: Lorie L. Sorensen
Drain Commissioner: Michael J. Solomon
County Surveyor: Craig J. Pullen
(information as of July 2019)
Politics
Wexford County is one of the few counties to have given majorities to both the first Republican candidate, John C. Frémont, and to John McCain in his 2008 presidential campaign. The county also twice favored Democrat Bill Clinton.
Wexford County is divided between Michigan's 1st and 2nd congressional districts, both represented by Republicans.
Tourism
There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford County. The Manistee National Forest is one recreation site. The Manistee River is used by fishermen, kayakers, and canoers. There are many lakes; the largest are Cadillac and Mitchell. Two hundred miles of snowmobile trails are maintained by the Cadillac Winter Promotions volunteer group. There are at least eight golf courses near Cadillac. There are several museums near Cadillac. The Wexford Civic Center is a 4,000 capacity arena, 300 capacity hockey facility, 300 capacity grand stand, and several buildings for agricultural shows and expos.
Communities
Cities
Cadillac (county seat)
Manton
Villages
Buckley
Harrietta
Mesick
Charter township
Haring Charter Township
Civil townships
Antioch Township
Boon Township
Cedar Creek Township
Cherry Grove Township
Clam Lake Township
Colfax Township
Greenwood Township
Hanover Township
Henderson Township
Liberty Township
Selma Township
Slagle Township
South Branch Township
Springville Township
Wexford Township
Census-designated places
Boon
Caberfae
Haring
Wedgewood
Other unincorporated communities
Axin
Bagnall
Baxter
Benson
Garletts Corner
Gilbert
Glengary
Harlan
Hobart
Hoxeyville
Meauwataka
Millersville
Missaukee Junction
Sherman
Wexford Corner
Yuma
Ghost towns
Angola
Bond's Mill
Bunyea
Cherry Grove
Claggettville
Coline
Elton
Haire
Mystic
Round Lake
Soper
Thorp
Wexford
Education
The Wexford–Missaukee Intermediate School District, based in Cadillac, services the school districts in the county (with the exception of Buckley Community Schools, which is covered by Northwest Educational Services). The intermediate school district offers regional special education services and technical career programs to students of its districts.
Wexford County is served by the following regular public school districts:
Buckley Community Schools
Cadillac Area Public Schools
Manton Consolidated Schools
Mesick Consolidated Schools
The county also has one charter school, the Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan.
Wexford County has the following private schools:
Cadillac Heritage Christian School
Northview Adventist School (Seventh-Day Adventist)
St. Ann School (Catholic)
Historical markers
There are several recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:
Battle of Manton
Caberfae Ski Resort
Cadillac Carnegie Library
Charles T. Mitchell House
Clam Lake Canal
Cobbs & Mitchell Building
Cobbs and Mitchell Mill No.1
First Wexford County Courthouse
Greenwood Disciples of Christ Church
Shay Locomotive
See also
List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Wexford County, Michigan
National Register of Historic Places listings in Wexford County, Michigan
References
External links
Wexford County
Wexford County Fact Book
Chapter XVII Wexford County in A history of northern Michigan and its people by Perry F. Powers; assisted by H.G. Cutler. Powers, Perry Francis, 1857–1945. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. p. 404
History of Wexford County, Michigan, comp. by John H. Wheeler, Logansport, Ind.:B. F. Bowen, 1903.
Wexford County Sheriff's Office
Michigan counties
1869 establishments in Michigan
Populated places established in 1869