Saginaw County, Michigan

Saginaw County, Michigan
Saginaw County, officially the County of Saginaw, 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, as the Sauk 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 and ong. 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 Natives 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 , of which is land and (1.9%) is water. It is part of the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Mid-Michigan. The median elevation in Saginaw County, Michigan is 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 . There were 86,844 housing units at an average density of . 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.
Starting in 1988, Saginaw County became a reliable Democratic stronghold at the Presidential level. However, in recent elections it has become increasingly competitive, with Donald Trump narrowly winning the county in 2016 while narrowly losing it in 2020 by about 300 votes.
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 of 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:
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
, a major north–south freeway running from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Miami-Dade County, Florida
, a business route freeway from Interstate 75 passing through downtown Saginaw
runs from I-69 through downtown Saginaw and north to Standish.
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.
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.
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.
runs from M-47 to I-675.
runs east from M-13 to Caro and Cass City and ends at M-53 in Sanilac County.
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
See also
List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Saginaw County, Michigan
National Register of Historic Places listings in Saginaw County, Michigan
Saginaw Trail
References
Further reading
External links
Saginaw County
Historic Bridges: Saginaw County, Michigan
Michigan placenames of Native American origin
Michigan counties
1835 establishments in Michigan Territory
Populated places established in 1835