Clare County, Michigan

Clare County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 30,926.[2] The county seat is Harrison.[3]

"Clare County" redirects here. For the county in Ireland, see County Clare.
Clare County
U.S. county
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N 84°50′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1840 (established)
1871 (organized)[1]
Named forCounty Clare, Ireland
SeatHarrison
Largest cityClare
Area
 • Total575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.9%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
30,757
 • Density55/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th

History
A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Clare County as Kaykakee, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[4] Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

The county was created by the Michigan Legislature from part of Michilimackinac County in 1840, named Kaykakee County. 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.[4][1][5][lower-alpha 1] 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 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.9%) is water.[6] It is considered to be part of both Northern Michigan and Central Michigan.

Features

Major highways
  • I-73 (future)
  • US 10 – runs east-west through bottom of county. Enters west county line at 3.7 miles (6 km) north of SW corner of county. Runs easterly to intersection with US127 at 2.8 miles (4.5 km) north of Clare.
  • US 127 – runs north-south through eastern middle of county. Passes Harrison and Clare.
  • M-18 – runs along east line of county, from NE corner for 3.5 miles (5.6 km), then turns east into Gladwin County.
  • M-61 – runs east-west through middle of county. Enters west line from Osceola County and runs east to intersection with US127 at Harrison.
  • M-115 – runs SE and east across bottom of county. Enters west line from Osceola County at 9 miles above SW corner of county and runs to intersection with US127 at Clare.[7]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870366—
18804,1871,044.0%
18907,55880.5%
19008,36010.6%
19109,24010.5%
19208,250−10.7%
19307,032−14.8%
19409,16330.3%
195010,25311.9%
196011,64713.6%
197016,69543.3%
198023,82242.7%
199024,9524.7%
200031,25225.2%
201030,926−1.0%
Est. 201830,757[8]−0.5%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census[13] 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 per km²). There were 23,233 housing units at an average density of 41.2 per square mile (15.9 per km²). 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[13] 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

Government

Clare County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 71% of national elections (24 of 34).

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 63.2% 8,505 31.6% 4,249 5.2% 695
2012 51.6% 6,988 46.8% 6,338 1.5% 209
2008 46.5% 6,793 51.3% 7,496 2.2% 316
2004 49.8% 7,088 49.1% 6,984 1.1% 154
2000 47.1% 5,937 49.9% 6,287 3.0% 383
1996 32.0% 3,742 54.0% 6,311 14.0% 1,630
1992 32.2% 3,916 44.0% 5,346 23.9% 2,901
1988 54.2% 5,661 45.1% 4,710 0.7% 77
1984 63.3% 6,587 36.2% 3,764 0.6% 61
1980 53.4% 5,719 38.9% 4,164 7.8% 835
1976 53.5% 4,879 45.5% 4,153 1.0% 94
1972 63.0% 4,402 34.8% 2,434 2.2% 152
1968 56.9% 3,315 32.7% 1,909 10.4% 607
1964 43.5% 2,258 56.3% 2,927 0.2% 12
1960 70.5% 3,616 29.4% 1,507 0.1% 7
1956 75.5% 3,721 24.2% 1,194 0.3% 13
1952 76.2% 3,529 22.9% 1,059 0.9% 42
1948 66.0% 2,512 31.5% 1,197 2.5% 96
1944 70.6% 2,636 28.9% 1,078 0.6% 21
1940 69.9% 3,004 29.7% 1,277 0.4% 19
1936 53.4% 1,979 40.3% 1,494 6.3% 235
1932 44.3% 1,474 52.4% 1,741 3.3% 109
1928 82.6% 1,920 16.4% 381 1.0% 23
1924 77.7% 1,920 14.5% 358 7.9% 194
1920 73.5% 1,762 21.3% 511 5.2% 125
1916 54.4% 1,049 39.9% 769 5.8% 111
1912 31.0% 563 23.9% 435 45.1% 819
1908 68.1% 1,345 28.7% 567 3.1% 62
1904 70.9% 1,453 25.3% 519 3.8% 77
1900 63.6% 1,182 34.5% 640 1.9% 36
1896 53.1% 886 43.3% 723 3.6% 60
1892 41.9% 719 47.3% 811 10.8% 186
1888 48.0% 905 48.4% 912 3.7% 69
1884 46.2% 622 50.9% 685 2.9% 39

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: Carl Parks
  • County Surveyor: Paul A. Lapham
  • Road Commission: Richard Haynak; Tim Haskin; Karen Hulliberger
  • State Representative: 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:

Activities include:

  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Nordic skiing
  • ORV and groomed snowmobile trails.
  • Paddling (canoe and kayak)

Communities
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Clare County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities
  • Clare (partial)
  • Harrison (county seat)

Village

Civil townships

Unincorporated communities

See also

Notes
  1. For more details on Michigan county names and etymologies, see List of counties in Michigan.

References
  1. "Bibliography on Clare County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  5. Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names. Archived July 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  7. Clare County MI Google Maps (accessed 6 September 2018)
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  14. "Diocese of Saginaw".
  15. Meetinghouse Locator LDS.org (accessed 6 September 2018)
  16. US Election Atlas
  17. "Kirtland". kirtland.edu. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008.
  18. Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail

Official Visitor Information Site

News from Clare County

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