Gladwin County, Michigan

Gladwin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,692.[2] The county seat is Gladwin.[3]

Gladwin 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°23′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1831 (created)
1875 (organized)[1]
Named forHenry Gladwin
SeatGladwin
Largest cityGladwin
Area
 • Total516 sq mi (1,340 km2)
 • Land502 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.7%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
25,337
 • Density51/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.gladwinco.com

History

Prehistory

Gladwin County is a headwaters area. Most of the water that flows out of the county via the Tittabawassee River comes from Gladwin County, only a very small portion flows in from Clare or Roscommon counties. Native Americans crossed this area, and even spent summers here where the fishing was good and summer berries plentiful.

Research is underway to determine the importance of an ancient trail that was noted by the crew of the 1839 re-survey of Township 17 north Range 2 west, which later became Beaverton Township. The eastern terminus of the "Muskegon River Trail" was plotted at the confluence of the three branches of the Tobacco (Assa-mo-quoi-Sepe) River in the northwest corner of Section 12. It is possible that an early cross-country route from Saginaw Bay to Lake Michigan proceeded up the Saginaw, Tittabawassee, and Tobacco Rivers to a point west across Ross Lake from the Beaverton City Cemetery. At that point, the canoes would be portaged along the trail to the Muskegon River, then floated down to Lake Michigan.

Many native artifacts have been found along that route that attest to seasonal occupation, but so far no signs have been found to indicate a permanent settlement.

European arrival

The earliest documented visitors to the area were surveyors who platted the lands under provision of the 1787 Northwest Ordinance. Most of the early work was completed during the 1830s, although some of the survey work was faulty - the surveyors reportedly doubted that the area would ever be settled.

The earliest census to mention residents in the area was in 1860.

The county is named for Henry Gladwin,[4] British military commandant at Detroit in 1763 during Pontiac's War. The county was set off and named in 1831, and its government was organized in 1875.[1]

Sesquicentennial

The year 2011 marked 150 years since the first permanent settler of record, Marvel Secord, took up residence along the Tittabawassee River in what is now Secord Township. He was a trapper and trader who provided supplies to lumbering camps in the area. Another man, William Brayton, may have been an earlier settler; the 1860 census listed 14 residents, including two families with children. Of these, 11 were associated with lumbering camps that had begun to appear that year, and three were listed as "hunters." One of the "day laborers" at a camp had brought his wife to the area. The first issue of the Gladwin County Record (1878) mentions his 20 acres (8 Ha) of wheat under cultivation. His stepson, Dr. Russell E. Finch arrived in the area in 1875, becoming the county's first physician. William Brayton died in 1895. His claim to being the first permanent settler appears valid, except that just before the 1880 census was taken he and his wife went to Lynn, Massachusetts to care for his dying father. He returned to Gladwin after settling his father's estate in 1882, thus missing being included in the Gladwin County census for 1880.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 516 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 502 square miles (1,300 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.7%) is water.[5] It is the second-smallest county in Michigan by total area. Gladwin County is sometimes considered to be a part of Central Michigan, and at other times is included in Northern Michigan.

Major highways
  • M-18 – runs north-south through the west part of the county. It runs south along the west line from the county's NW corner for 5 miles (8 km), then runs east and south to Gladwin, then west and south to Beaverton. It exits the county at 6 miles (9.6 km) from the SW county corner, running to an intersection with US 10.
  • M-30 – enters the NE part of county 2 miles (3.2 km) south of NE corner. Runs westerly through the northern part of county, then turns to run south through the center part of county. Passes White Star and Billings before exiting south line of county near its midpoint.
  • M-61 – runs east-west through center part of county. Passes Gladwin and White Star.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,127—
18904,208273.4%
19006,56456.0%
19108,41328.2%
19208,8274.9%
19307,424−15.9%
19409,38526.4%
19509,4510.7%
196010,76913.9%
197013,47125.1%
198019,95748.1%
199021,8969.7%
200026,02318.8%
201025,692−1.3%
Est. 201825,337[6]−1.4%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[11] of 2000, there were 26,023 people, 10,561 households, and 7,614 families in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 16,828 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.65% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.1% were of German, 11.5% American, 11.1% English, 9.4% Irish, 7.3% Polish and 6.4% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.3% spoke English, 1.7% German and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,561 households out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.85.

The county population contained 23.20% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,019, and the median income for a family was $37,090. Males had a median income of $33,871 versus $21,956 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,614. About 10.40% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Gladwin County has been reliably Republican from the beginning. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 85% of the elections (29 of 34 elections).

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 64.8% 8,124 30.3% 3,794 5.0% 624
2012 52.9% 6,661 45.8% 5,760 1.3% 162
2008 48.3% 6,391 49.8% 6,590 2.0% 260
2004 51.2% 6,770 48.0% 6,343 0.9% 114
2000 49.4% 5,743 47.9% 5,573 2.7% 313
1996 34.3% 3,670 51.4% 5,494 14.3% 1,528
1992 33.6% 3,616 41.4% 4,457 25.1% 2,703
1988 52.8% 4,746 46.3% 4,164 0.9% 76
1984 61.1% 5,401 38.1% 3,368 0.9% 75
1980 51.1% 4,509 42.3% 3,733 6.6% 583
1976 50.1% 3,794 49.2% 3,719 0.7% 54
1972 61.9% 3,484 35.8% 2,016 2.2% 125
1968 56.6% 2,840 33.2% 1,668 10.2% 514
1964 41.5% 1,941 58.2% 2,725 0.4% 17
1960 69.7% 3,282 30.2% 1,424 0.1% 6
1956 73.5% 3,121 26.3% 1,117 0.2% 10
1952 75.9% 3,031 23.4% 936 0.7% 29
1948 66.4% 2,062 31.0% 963 2.6% 79
1944 70.9% 2,457 28.4% 985 0.6% 22
1940 67.8% 2,741 32.0% 1,294 0.2% 9
1936 49.2% 1,645 45.9% 1,533 4.9% 165
1932 43.9% 1,378 52.9% 1,661 3.3% 103
1928 83.8% 1,795 15.9% 341 0.3% 7
1924 78.4% 1,908 10.5% 255 11.2% 272
1920 78.7% 1,687 14.6% 313 6.7% 144
1916 52.9% 935 41.2% 729 5.9% 104
1912 39.1% 638 20.3% 331 40.7% 664[13]
1908 71.4% 1,168 23.6% 386 5.1% 83
1904 79.5% 1,093 16.8% 231 3.7% 51
1900 75.2% 978 23.0% 299 1.8% 23
1896 67.1% 748 29.0% 323 4.0% 44
1892 60.8% 531 37.2% 325 2.1% 18
1888 58.8% 525 40.0% 357 1.2% 11
1884 55.5% 288 41.0% 213 3.5% 18

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
  • Prosecuting Attorney: Aaron W. Miller
  • Sheriff: Michael Shea
  • County Clerk: Laura Brandon-Maveal
  • County Treasurer: Christy VanTiem
  • Register of Deeds: Ann Manning-Clayton
  • Drain Commissioner: Robert "Bob" Evans
  • Road Commissioners: Doyle Donn; _ Cameron, Robert T. Brabon
  • Commissioner Dist. 1 – Charles Hinman
  • Commissioner Dist. 2 – Terry Walters
  • Commissioner Dist. 3 – Sandra Aultman
  • Commissioner Dist. 4 – Sharron Smith
  • Commissioner Dist. 5 – Don Birgel[14]

(information as of 2018)

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Ghost town

See also
  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Gladwin County, Michigan
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Gladwin County, Michigan

References
  1. "Bibliography on Gladwin County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 138.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  7. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. US Election Atlas
  13. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 549 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 85 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 25 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 5 votes.
  14. Departments Gladwin County website (accessed 2 October 2018)

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