| County: | Clare County |
| State: | Michigan |
| Ex Image: | Clare County District Court 2022.jpg |
| Ex Image Size: | 300px |
| Seal: | Clare County mi seal.png |
| Founded Year: | 1840 (established) 1871 (organized)[1] |
| Seat Wl: | Harrison |
| Largest City Wl: | Clare |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 575 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 564 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 11 |
| Area Percentage: | 1.9% |
| Census Yr: | 2020 |
| Pop: | 30,856 |
| Density Sq Mi: | 55 |
| District: | 2nd |
| Time Zone: | Eastern |
| Named For: | County Clare, Ireland |
| Web: | clareco.net/ |
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]
The county was created by the Michigan Legislature from part of Michilimackinac County in 1840, named Kaykakee County[4] after a Sauk Indian Chief. 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.[5] [1] [6] Farwell was the first county seat; in 1877 the county seat was moved to Harrison.
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (1.9%) is water.[7] It is considered to be part of both Northern Michigan and Central Michigan.
The 2010 United States Census[8] 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/mi2. There were 23,233 housing units at an average density of 41.2/mi2. 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[8] 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.
Clare County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 72% of national elections (26 of 36).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.
(information as of January 2019)
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:
The Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District, based in Clare, services the students in the county along with those of Gladwin County. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services, early education and after-school programs, and technical career pathways for students of its districts.[13]
Clare County is served by the following regular public school districts:[14]
Clare County has the following private schools:[15]
Official Visitor Information Site
News from Clare County