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Chippewa County, Michigan
2009-0618-Soo-ChippewaCtyCt
Chippewa County Courthouse, Sault Ste. Marie
Logo of Chippewa County, Michigan
Logo
Map of Michigan highlighting Chippewa County
Location in the state of Michigan
Map of the U.S
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded December 22, 1826[1][2]
Named for Chippewa people
Seat Sault Ste. Marie
Largest city Sault Ste. Marie
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

2,698 sq mi (6,988 km²)
1,558 sq mi (4,035 km²)
1,140 sq mi (2,953 km²), 42%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

36,785
25/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.chippewacountymi.gov
Chippewa county, MI 1904

Chippewa County, Michigan from 1904 Michigan County Maps

Chippewa County is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 36,785.[3] The county seat is Sault Ste. Marie.[4] The county is named for the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people, and was set off and organized in 1826.[1]

Chippewa County comprises the Sault Ste. Marie, MI micropolitan statistical area.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,698 square miles (6,990 km2), of which 1,558 square miles (4,040 km2) is land and 1,140 square miles (3,000 km2) (42%) is water.[5] It is the second-largest county in Michigan by land area and fifth-largest by total area.

The Michigan Meridian runs through the eastern portion of the county. South of Nine Mile Road, M-129 (Meridian Road) overlays the meridian. In Sault Ste. Marie, Meridian Street north of 12th Avenue overlays the meridian.

Adjacent counties & districts[]

National protected areas[]

  • Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge
  • Hiawatha National Forest (part)
  • Whitefish Point Unit of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Game areas[]

The Munuscong Bay is open for hunting, boating and bird watching. The area is known for its duck hunting, including mallards, divers and green-winged teal ducks. The Bay is most known for its icefishing and duck hunting. During opening weekend of duck season (late September), hundreds of hunters come from all over the state to begin their season on the Bay. This area has many types of waterfowl pass through it on their annual migrations.

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

All Interstate and US Highways in Michigan are all state-maintained highways and part of the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System.

  • I-75 I-75 is Michigan's longest state highway overall; it ends on the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge at the Canada border.
  • Business Spur 75 BS I-75 travels from I-75 into downtown Sault Ste. Marie, and ends at the ferry to Sugar Island.
  • M-28 M-28 is Michigan's longest state highway; it ends at M-129 8 miles (13 km) south of Sault Ste. Marie.
  • M-48 M-48 is a highway that goes through Pickford and Rudyard, and ends at exit 373 on I-75.
  • M-80 M-80 is a highway that begins at exit 378 on I-75, goes through the former base in Kincheloe, and terminates at M-129.
  • M-123 M-123 is a highway that is the main connector from Tahquamenon Falls to M-28.
  • M-129 M-129 (also known as Meridian Road) runs through the eastern part of the county, and ends at BS I-75 just south of Sault Ste. Marie.
  • M-134 M-134 is a highway that goes to and terminates on Drummond Island.
  • M-221 M-221 is the shortest highway in Chippewa County, just going through Brimley and ending at M-28.

County-designated highways[]

The following highways are maintained by the Chippewa County Road Commission as part of the county road system. They are assigned numbers by the Michigan Department of Transportation as part of the County-Designated Highway System.

  • Chippewa County H-40 H-40
  • Chippewa County H-63 H-63 runs via Mackinac Trail, the former route of US 2 before it was replaced by I-75 in 1962.
  • Forest Route 42 FFH 42(Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway), is a National Forest Scenic Byway with the US Forest Service the Chippewa County Road Commission jointly maintains.

Airports[]

  • Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) serves Chippewa county and the surrounding communities, providing commercial connection to hub airports.
  • Drummond Island Airport (DRM) is a public-owned, public-use general-aviation airport with 2 runways (1 hard-surfaced).

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association announced that Chippewa County will house its new command and control center. In last year, this is the third major announcement from the organization  –  guiding Michigan's aerospace and defense manufacturing community within the global industry. Previously, MAMA announced plans for a Oscoda, Michigan Wurtsmith Airport horizontal launch site at and a Marquette, Michigan vertical launch site.[6][7]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 626
1840 534 −14.7%
1850 898 68.2%
1860 1,603 78.5%
1870 1,689 5.4%
1880 5,248 210.7%
1890 12,019 129.0%
1900 21,338 77.5%
1910 24,472 14.7%
1920 24,818 1.4%
1930 25,047 0.9%
1940 27,807 11.0%
1950 29,206 5.0%
1960 32,655 11.8%
1970 32,412 −0.7%
1980 29,029 −10.4%
1990 34,604 19.2%
2000 38,543 11.4%
2010 38,520 −0.1%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[3]

The 2010 United States Census[12] indicates Chippewa County had a population of 38,520. This decrease of 23 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a -0.1% change in population. In 2010 there were 14,329 households and 9,106 families in the county. The population density was 24.7 per square mile (9.5 square kilometers). There were 21,253 housing units at an average density of 13.6 per square mile (5.3 square kilometers). 72.3% of the population were White, 15.8% Native American, 6.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% of some other race and 4.6% of two or more races. 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 17.0% were of German, 11.8% English, 12.2% Irish, 8.8% French, 6.4% Polish ancestry.[13]

There were 14,329 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were husband and wife families, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.5% were non-families, and 29.5% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.88.

The county population contained 20.1% under age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. The population was 55.1% male and 44.9% female.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate[14] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $39,351 and the median income for a family was $54,625. Males had a median income of $25,760 versus $16,782 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,334. About 2.3% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under the age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Chippewa County voters have been reliably Republican from the start. Since 1876, they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 86% of national elections (31 of 36).

United States presidential election results for Chippewa County, Michigan[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,681 60.44% 6,648 37.62% 342 1.94%
2016 9,122 58.65% 5,379 34.59% 1,051 6.76%
2012 8,278 52.86% 7,100 45.34% 282 1.80%
2008 8,267 49.48% 8,184 48.98% 257 1.54%
2004 9,122 55.33% 7,203 43.69% 163 0.99%
2000 7,526 52.43% 6,370 44.38% 458 3.19%
1996 5,137 38.74% 6,532 49.26% 1,590 11.99%
1992 5,462 40.02% 5,434 39.82% 2,751 20.16%
1988 6,786 56.23% 5,222 43.27% 60 0.50%
1984 8,135 63.77% 4,575 35.86% 47 0.37%
1980 7,059 52.31% 5,268 39.04% 1,167 8.65%
1976 7,025 53.32% 6,022 45.71% 128 0.97%
1972 7,028 59.03% 4,744 39.85% 134 1.13%
1968 5,359 52.04% 4,132 40.13% 806 7.83%
1964 4,098 38.45% 6,537 61.33% 23 0.22%
1960 6,490 55.23% 5,239 44.58% 22 0.19%
1956 6,957 62.81% 4,106 37.07% 14 0.13%
1952 7,075 62.12% 4,257 37.38% 57 0.50%
1948 4,977 53.34% 3,860 41.37% 494 5.29%
1944 5,335 54.86% 4,344 44.67% 46 0.47%
1940 5,851 51.54% 5,473 48.21% 29 0.26%
1936 4,901 47.13% 5,259 50.58% 238 2.29%
1932 5,252 54.34% 4,221 43.67% 192 1.99%
1928 5,326 68.68% 2,355 30.37% 74 0.95%
1924 5,443 77.44% 516 7.34% 1,070 15.22%
1920 4,732 74.36% 1,266 19.89% 366 5.75%
1916 2,365 54.64% 1,768 40.85% 195 4.51%
1912 889 23.31% 879 23.05% 2,046 53.64%
1908 2,418 64.19% 1,175 31.19% 174 4.62%
1904 2,920 77.78% 662 17.63% 172 4.58%
1900 2,477 71.59% 893 25.81% 90 2.60%
1896 2,105 65.52% 1,001 31.15% 107 3.33%
1892 1,247 52.33% 1,083 45.45% 53 2.22%
1888 1,055 51.56% 909 44.43% 82 4.01%
1884 686 51.12% 635 47.32% 21 1.56%
1880 396 53.15% 347 46.58% 2 0.27%
1876 172 37.80% 283 62.20% 0 0.00%



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: Robert L. Stratton
  • Sheriff: Michael Bitnar
  • County Clerk: Cathy Maleport
  • County Treasurer: Carmen Fazzari
  • Register of Deeds: Sharon H. Kennedy
  • Drain Commissioner: James Zimmerman
  • County Surveyor: Robert Laitinen [16]

(Current as of October 2018)[17]

Communities[]

Chippewa County, MI census map

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

City[]

  • Sault Ste. Marie (county seat)

Village[]

  • DeTour Village

Charter township[]

  • Kinross Charter Township

Civil townships[]

  • Bay Mills Township
  • Bruce Township
  • Chippewa Township
  • Dafter Township
  • Detour Township
  • Drummond Township
  • Hulbert Township
  • Pickford Township
  • Raber Township
  • Rudyard Township
  • Soo Township
  • Sugar Island Township
  • Superior Township
  • Trout Lake Township
  • Whitefish Township

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Barbeau
  • Bay Mills
  • Bay Mills Indian Community (Indian Reservation)
  • Brimley (named Superior until 1896)
  • Dafter (named Stevensburg until 1893)
  • Drummond
  • Eckerman
  • Emerson
  • Goetzville (named Gatesville until 1917)
  • Homestead
  • Johnswood
  • Hulbert
  • Kelden (also spelled Keldon)
  • Kincheloe
  • Kinross
  • Mission
  • Neebish Island
  • Paradise
  • Pickford
  • Raber
  • Raco
  • Rudyard (named Pine River until 1890)
  • Shelldrake (Ghost town)
  • Stalwart
  • Stirlingville (named Jolly's Landing until 1888)
  • Strongs
  • Trout Lake
  • Whitefish Point
  • Vermilion

Indian reservations[]

  • The Bay Mills Indian Community occupies a portion of land within Bay Mills Township and Superior Township, within another smaller portion within Sugar Island Township.
  • The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians occupies scattered pieces of land within Kinross Charter Township, Sugar Island Township, and in the city limits of Sault Ste. Marie.

See also[]

  • Delirium Wilderness
  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Chippewa County, Michigan
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Chippewa County, Michigan

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Chippewa County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. http://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/chippewa.aspx. 
  2. ^ Chapman, C.H. (February 23, 1893). "Early History of Chippewa County: Lore of Old" (PDF). Lansing MI: The News/Chippewa County Government. http://www.chippewacountymi.gov/PDF_Documents/EARLY%20HISTORY%20OF%20CHIPPEWA%20COUNTY.pdf. 
  3. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/chippewacountymichigan/POP010220. 
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt. 
  6. ^ "News: U.P. airport selected as command center for Michigan’s rocket launch sites". MLive. January 28, 2021. https://www.mlive.com/news/2021/01/up-airport-selected-as-command-center-for-michigans-rocket-launch-sites.html. 
  7. ^ Lawrence, Eric D. (January 29, 2021). "Upper Peninsula's Chippewa County to host Michigan rocket launch command center". Detroit Free Press: p. 12. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt. 
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". https://www.census.gov. 
  13. ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov. https://www.census.gov. 
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  15. ^ US Election Atlas
  16. ^ "Press Release: NCEES honors Michigan surveyor William Karr for service". National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. http://cdn1.ncees.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Annual-Meeting_Karr.pdf. 
  17. ^ Chippewa County website

External links[]

Template:Chippewa County, Michigan

Coordinates: 46°19′N 84°31′W / 46.32, -84.52

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Chippewa County, Michigan. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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