Clare County, Michigan Explained

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]

History

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.

Geography

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.

Features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

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.

Religion

Government

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.

Elected officials

(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:

Activities include:

Communities

Cities

Village

Civil townships

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Education

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]

See also

External links

Official Visitor Information Site

News from Clare County

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bibliography on Clare County. Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. November 4, 2016.
  2. Web site: State & County QuickFacts. US Census Bureau. September 15, 2021.
  3. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. May 31, 2011.
  4. Book: George Dawson . 1840 . Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840 . Detroit . 196-200.
  5. Web site: Michigan: Individual County Chronologies. Newberry Library. Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. November 4, 2016. November 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161106151503/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm. dead.
  6. http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names.
  7. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files . https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt. dead. November 13, 2013. US Census Bureau. September 19, 2014. August 22, 2012.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website. US Census Bureau. March 11, 2012.
  9. Web site: Diocese of Saginaw.
  10. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses/@43.991477,-84.564447,9&cid=HP16FDM&lang=eng&id=:Clare+County:Michigan::United+States:43.813676,-85.088811,44.164239,-84.606012 Meetinghouse Locator LDS.org (accessed 6 September 2018)
  11. Web site: Kirtland. May 13, 2014. kirtland.edu. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080102164632/http://warbler.kirtland.edu/. January 2, 2008.
  12. http://www.kerchevalave.com/mtra/sh2sh.html Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail
  13. Web site: CGRESD: What do we do? . July 14, 2023 . Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District.
  14. Web site: Search for Public School Data - Clare County, MI . July 14, 2023 . . .
  15. Web site: Search for Private Schools - Clare County, MI . July 14, 2023 . . .

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