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Clare County, Michigan
Clare Congregational Church-Clare
Clare Congregational Church
Seal of Clare County, Michigan
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Clare County
Location in the state of Michigan
Map of the U.S
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded 1840 (established)
1871 (organized)[1]
Named for County Clare, Ireland
Seat Harrison
Largest city Clare
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

575 sq mi (1,489 km²)
564 sq mi (1,461 km²)
11 sq mi (28 km²), 1.9%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

30,856
55/sq mi (21/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Clare County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 30,856.[2] The county seat is Harrison.[3]

History[]

1842 Manistee Kawtawwabet Missaukee Mickenauk Ogemaw Kanotin Notipeskago Aishcum Unwattin Kaykakee Gladwin Arenac counties Michigan

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[]

  • Au Sable State Forest

Major highways[]

  • US 10 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.
  • Business plate
    US 10 BUS US 10 runs through Clare with Bus. US 127 until they meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 runs eastward to US 10.
  • US 127 US 127 runs north–south through eastern middle of county, Passing Harrison and Clare.
  • No imageBusiness plateNo image
    US 127 BUS US 127 runs through Clare with Bus. US 10 until the two meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 turns eastward while Bus. US 127 continues southward to US 127.
  • No imageBusiness plateNo image
    US 127 BUS US 127 runs from US 127 to go through Harrison. Bus. US 127 intersects M-61, and the two have a concurrency with each other until they both intersect US 127, where Bus. US 127 ends with M-61 continues eastward to Gladwin.
  • M-18 M-18 runs along east line of county, from the northeast corner for 3.5 miles (5.6 km), then turns east into Gladwin County.
  • M-61 M-61 runs east–west through middle of county, entering the west line from Osceola County and running east to intersection with US 127 at Harrison.
  • M-115 M-115 runs southeast and east across bottom of county. It enters the west line from Osceola County at 9 miles (14 km) above the southwest corner of county and runs to an intersection with Bus. US 127/Bus. US 10 at Clare.[7]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1870 366
1880 4,187 1,044.0%
1890 7,558 80.5%
1900 8,360 10.6%
1910 9,240 10.5%
1920 8,250 −10.7%
1930 7,032 −14.8%
1940 9,163 30.3%
1950 10,253 11.9%
1960 11,647 13.6%
1970 16,695 43.3%
1980 23,822 42.7%
1990 24,952 4.7%
2000 31,252 25.2%
2010 30,926 −1.0%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[2]

The 2010 United States Census[12] 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[12] 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).

United States presidential election results for Clare County, Michigan[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,861 66.65% 5,199 31.91% 235 1.44%
2016 8,505 63.24% 4,249 31.59% 695 5.17%
2012 6,988 51.63% 6,338 46.83% 209 1.54%
2008 6,793 46.51% 7,496 51.32% 316 2.16%
2004 7,088 49.82% 6,984 49.09% 154 1.08%
2000 5,937 47.09% 6,287 49.87% 383 3.04%
1996 3,742 32.03% 6,311 54.02% 1,630 13.95%
1992 3,916 32.20% 5,346 43.95% 2,901 23.85%
1988 5,661 54.18% 4,710 45.08% 77 0.74%
1984 6,587 63.26% 3,764 36.15% 61 0.59%
1980 5,719 53.36% 4,164 38.85% 835 7.79%
1976 4,879 53.46% 4,153 45.51% 94 1.03%
1972 4,402 62.99% 2,434 34.83% 152 2.18%
1968 3,315 56.85% 1,909 32.74% 607 10.41%
1964 2,258 43.45% 2,927 56.32% 12 0.23%
1960 3,616 70.49% 1,507 29.38% 7 0.14%
1956 3,721 75.51% 1,194 24.23% 13 0.26%
1952 3,529 76.22% 1,059 22.87% 42 0.91%
1948 2,512 66.02% 1,197 31.46% 96 2.52%
1944 2,636 70.58% 1,078 28.86% 21 0.56%
1940 3,004 69.86% 1,277 29.70% 19 0.44%
1936 1,979 53.37% 1,494 40.29% 235 6.34%
1932 1,474 44.34% 1,741 52.38% 109 3.28%
1928 1,920 82.62% 381 16.39% 23 0.99%
1924 1,920 77.67% 358 14.48% 194 7.85%
1920 1,762 73.48% 511 21.31% 125 5.21%
1916 1,049 54.38% 769 39.87% 111 5.75%
1912 563 30.99% 435 23.94% 819 45.07%
1908 1,345 68.14% 567 28.72% 62 3.14%
1904 1,453 70.91% 519 25.33% 77 3.76%
1900 1,182 63.62% 640 34.45% 36 1.94%
1896 886 53.09% 723 43.32% 60 3.59%
1892 719 41.90% 811 47.26% 186 10.84%
1888 905 47.99% 912 48.36% 69 3.66%
1884 622 46.21% 685 50.89% 39 2.90%


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: Dave Coker; Tim Haskin; Karen Hulliberger; Bill Simpson; Max Schunk
  • State Representative: Speaker of the House 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:

  • Kirtland's Warbler Habitat and Festival[16]
  • Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail passes through the area, running from Empire to Oscoda and points beyond. It is a 500-mile interconnected system of trails.[17]

Activities include:

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

Communities[]

Clare County, MI census map

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

Cities[]

  • Clare (partial)
  • Harrison (county seat)

Village[]

  • Farwell

Civil townships[]

  • Arthur Township
  • Franklin Township
  • Freeman Township
  • Frost Township
  • Garfield Township
  • Grant Township
  • Greenwood Township
  • Hamilton Township
  • Hatton Township
  • Hayes Township
  • Lincoln Township
  • Redding Township
  • Sheridan Township
  • Summerfield Township
  • Surrey Township
  • Winterfield Township

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Airport Forest
  • Allendale
  • Ash Acres
  • Clarence
  • Colonville
  • Dover
  • Hatton
  • Lake
  • Lake George
  • Leota
  • Long Lake Heights
  • Meredith
  • Piney Woods
  • Temple

See also[]

  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Clare County, Michigan
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Clare County, Michigan

Notes[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Clare County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/clare.aspx. 
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/clarecountymichigan/POP010220. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ a b Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm. 
  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. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt. 
  7. ^ Google Inc. Google Maps (Map). Cartography by Google, Inc. 
  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. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  13. ^ "Diocese of Saginaw". http://www.saginaw.org/. 
  14. ^ Meetinghouse Locator LDS.org (accessed 6 September 2018)
  15. ^ US Election Atlas
  16. ^ "Kirtland". kirtland.edu. May 13, 2014. http://warbler.kirtland.edu/. 
  17. ^ Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail

External links[]

Official Visitor Information Site

News from Clare County

Template:Clare County, Michigan Template:Northern Michigan Template:Central Michigan

Coordinates: 43°59′N 84°50′W / 43.99, -84.84

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Clare 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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