Schoolcraft County, Michigan

Schoolcraft County (/ˈsklkræft/ SKOOL-kraft) is a county located in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,047, making it Michigan's fourth-least populous county.[3] The county seat is Manistique,[4] which lies along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. The county is named in honor of Henry Schoolcraft, who explored the area with the expedition of Lewis Cass.[1] The county was founded in 1843 and organized in 1876.[5] The county is largely rural and forested, with much of its western portion within Hiawatha National Forest.

Schoolcraft County
Schoolcraft County Courthouse
Map of Michigan highlighting Schoolcraft County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°01′N 86°11′W / 46.02°N 86.19°W / 46.02; -86.19
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedMarch 9, 1843 (created)
1876 (organized)[1][2]
Named forHenry Schoolcraft
SeatManistique
Largest cityManistique
Area
 • Total1,884 sq mi (4,880 km2)
 • Land1,171 sq mi (3,030 km2)
 • Water713 sq mi (1,850 km2)  38%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,047
 • Density7.2/sq mi (2.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteschoolcraftcounty.net

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,884 square miles (4,880 km2), of which 1,171 square miles (3,030 km2) is land and 713 square miles (1,850 km2) (38%) is water.[6]

Major highways

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  •   US 2 – runs east and NE across south edge of county. Passes Cooks, Manistique, Gulliver, Parkington, Blaney Park.
  •   M-28 – runs east–west across upper middle part of county. Passes Seney.
  •   M-77 – enters county near NE corner. Runs south past Seney to intersection with US2 near Blaney Park.
  •   M-94 – enters county near NW corner. Runs south and SE to intersection with US2 near Manistique.
  •   M-149 – enters near SW corner of county. Runs east to intersection with US2 at Manistique.
  •    H-13 / FFH 13 – runs north from Cooks through Hiawatha National Forest.

Airport

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Border of Schoolcraft and Delta counties, taken from the ISS.

Adjacent counties

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By land

By water

National protected areas

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Communities

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

City

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Civil townships

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Unincorporated communities

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Indian reservation

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Former settlements

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18801,575
18905,818269.4%
19007,88935.6%
19108,68110.0%
19209,97714.9%
19308,451−15.3%
19409,52412.7%
19509,148−3.9%
19608,953−2.1%
19708,226−8.1%
19808,5754.2%
19908,302−3.2%
20008,9037.2%
20108,485−4.7%
20208,047−5.2%
2023 (est.)8,149[7]1.3%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[3]

The 2010 United States census indicated Schoolcraft County had a population of 8,485.[12] Of its population in 2001, 87.6% of the population were White, 8.8% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% of some other race and 3.3% of two or more races. Among them, 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race); 16.2% were of German, 13.2% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 7.8% Swedish, 6.7% Irish, 5.3% Polish, 5.2% English and 5.1% American ancestry.[13] By the 2020 census, its population was 8,047.[3]

In 2010, there were 3,759 households, out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.72.

The county population contained 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.3 years. The population was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $38,367, and the median income for a family was $49,561. The per capita income for the county was $21,134. About 11.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over. The 2021 estimates determined the median household income was approximately $54,163.[3]

Government

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Schoolcraft County has been Republican-leaning from its start. Since 1876, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 69% of the elections (25 of 36 elections).

United States presidential election results for Schoolcraft County, Michigan[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,090 65.12% 1,589 33.49% 66 1.39%
2016 2,556 61.19% 1,369 32.77% 252 6.03%
2012 2,142 52.75% 1,865 45.92% 54 1.33%
2008 2,058 47.47% 2,184 50.38% 93 2.15%
2004 2,267 51.05% 2,137 48.12% 37 0.83%
2000 2,088 49.74% 2,036 48.50% 74 1.76%
1996 1,200 31.00% 2,187 56.50% 484 12.50%
1992 1,253 30.35% 2,139 51.80% 737 17.85%
1988 1,802 46.37% 2,071 53.29% 13 0.33%
1984 2,139 52.47% 1,920 47.09% 18 0.44%
1980 2,097 47.94% 1,964 44.90% 313 7.16%
1976 1,933 46.53% 2,158 51.95% 63 1.52%
1972 2,310 56.01% 1,759 42.65% 55 1.33%
1968 1,745 45.40% 1,869 48.62% 230 5.98%
1964 1,397 34.27% 2,675 65.63% 4 0.10%
1960 2,183 50.79% 2,107 49.02% 8 0.19%
1956 2,453 58.73% 1,723 41.25% 1 0.02%
1952 2,352 58.05% 1,692 41.76% 8 0.20%
1948 1,713 49.70% 1,651 47.90% 83 2.41%
1944 1,704 49.43% 1,724 50.01% 19 0.55%
1940 2,003 46.22% 2,320 53.53% 11 0.25%
1936 1,430 36.81% 2,333 60.05% 122 3.14%
1932 1,722 49.05% 1,660 47.28% 129 3.67%
1928 1,826 66.81% 877 32.09% 30 1.10%
1924 1,515 61.34% 190 7.69% 765 30.97%
1920 1,776 71.33% 428 17.19% 286 11.49%
1916 994 58.96% 623 36.95% 69 4.09%
1912 595 37.95% 337 21.49% 636 40.56%
1908 1,360 79.44% 289 16.88% 63 3.68%
1904 1,472 83.49% 225 12.76% 66 3.74%
1900 1,141 69.91% 460 28.19% 31 1.90%
1896 973 62.86% 548 35.40% 27 1.74%
1892 570 41.79% 650 47.65% 144 10.56%
1888 590 47.81% 589 47.73% 55 4.46%
1884 518 62.48% 289 34.86% 22 2.65%
1880 157 79.29% 41 20.71% 0 0.00%
1876 121 52.84% 103 44.98% 5 2.18%

Schoolcraft County operates the County jail, Schoolcraft County Public Transit, 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.

Historic places

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The National Register of Historic Places listings in Schoolcraft County, Michigan are:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Schoolcraft County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "History :: Houghton County, Michigan". houghtoncounty.net. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "Schoolcraft County – Early 1880s". cityofmanistique.org. Schoolcraft County Historical Society. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  13. ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
  14. ^ US Election Atlas
  15. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 570 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 49 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 14 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 3 votes.
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46°01′N 86°11′W / 46.02°N 86.19°W / 46.02; -86.19