list of counties in Michigan

{{Infobox subdivision type

| name = Counties of Michigan

| alt_name =

| map = {{Michigan County Labelled Map}}

| category =

| territory = Michigan

| start_date =

| current_number = 83

| number_date =

| population_range = 2,161 (Keweenaw) – 1,771,063 (Wayne)

| area_range = {{Convert|508|sqmi}} (Cass) – {{Convert|5966|sqmi}} (Keweenaw)

| government = County government

| subdivision = Cities, charter townships, civil townships, villages, unincorporated communities, census-designated places

}}

There are 83 counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The boundaries of these counties have not changed substantially since 1897. However, throughout the 19th century, the state legislature frequently adjusted county boundaries. County creation was intended to fulfill the goal of establishing government over unorganized territory, but a more important goal was encouraging settlement by surveying the land and dividing it into saleable sections.

The creation of counties generally occurred in two stages. First the boundaries of a county were declared and given a name. The county appeared on maps, even though this may have been the entire extent of a county's tangible existence for several years. During this period, the as-yet–unorganized county was attached to another already organized county for administrative purposes. The legislature frequently changed the administrative attachment of these unorganized counties. Residents of such an attached county could petition the legislature for organization, which was the granting of full legal recognition to the county.

There are many cities and villages that span county boundaries in Michigan, including its capital, Lansing. For a few years during the early 1970s, split cities briefly had authority to petition to change the county boundaries to accord with the city boundaries. The only city to take advantage of this brief opportunity was New Baltimore (previously split between Macomb County and St. Clair County; now completely in Macomb). This transfer of territory from St. Clair to Macomb was the only county boundary change in Michigan since the early 20th century.

The state constitution of 1850 permitted an incorporated city with a population of at least 20,000 to be organized into a separate county of its own.Constitution of the State of Michigan, 1850, Article 10, Section 2 The Constitution of 1908 retained this provision, but raised the population threshold to 100,000.Constitution of the State of Michigan, 1908, Article 8, Section 2 No city was ever organized into an independent county in this fashion and when a new Constitution took effect in 1963, the provision was removed.

Michigan's boundary with Illinois is formed by Lake Michigan, and three counties have water boundaries with Illinois{{Citation needed|reason=State of MI GIS disagress with US census definitions: which one wins?|date=July 2020}}: Berrien County, Van Buren County, and Allegan County. Michigan also has a boundary with Minnesota, which is formed by Lake Superior. The water boundary in this instance is formed by two counties: Ontonagon County and Keweenaw County. The land boundary with Wisconsin continues into Lake Superior, involving both Gogebic County (which shares a land border) and Ontonagon County (water boundary only).

Etymologies

Nine counties have names invented by the ethnologist Henry Schoolcraft, usually adapted from parts of Native American words, but sometimes having parts from Greek, Arabic and Latin roots.

Schoolcraft's made-up words have disputed sources. While he was a devotee of Native American words and culture, some of his words may have originated with tribes from other areas of the country, such as New York or the Northeast, where many settlers to Michigan came from. Real Native words were eradicated, and he substituted made-up words, sometimes with a kernel of Indian language or sound in them.{{cite book |last1=Romig |first1=Walter |last2= Massie |first2=Larry B (Designer) |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |place=Detroit, Michigan |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year= 1986 |isbn=978-0-8143-1838-6}}{{cite book |last1=Vogel |first1=Virgil J. |title=Indian Names in Michigan |place=Ann Arbor, Michigan |publisher=University of Michigan Press |year=1986 |pages=244, 8 B&W photographs & 3 maps |isbn=978-0-472-06365-9}}{{cite book |last1=Powers |first1=Perry F. |first2=H.G., assisting |last2= Cutler |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L3t5AAAAMAAJ&q=Powers%2C%20Perry%20F.%3B%20Cutler%2C%20H.G.%2C%20assisting%20(1912).%20A%20History%20of%20Northern%20Michigan%20and%20its%20People.&pg=PA961 |title=A History of Northern Michigan and its People |year=1912}} at Google books

A second group of four counties were renamed for Irish locales (counties Antrim, Clare, Roscommon and Wexford), apparently because it was close to the heart for certain Michigan legislators or their constituents.

Ten counties, the so-called "cabinet counties", were named for persons who served in Andrew Jackson's presidential administration, which was tied to Michigan's anticipated ascendancy to statehood. Eight were named in 1829. Livingston County was named in 1833. Cass County was also named in 1829, but Governor Lewis Cass did not become a member of Jackson's Cabinet until 1831.[https://www.cmich.edu/research/clarke-historical-library/explore-collection/explore-in-person/bibliographies/michigan-local-history/countymaterial/ Clarke Historical Library], Central Michigan University, Bibliography by county and region, including origin of county names[http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html "Michigan Counties"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728130613/http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0%2C1607%2C7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--%2C00.html |date=July 28, 2009 }} from the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, which contains additional references at the end of the article

The FIPS county code is the five-digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code which uniquely identifies counties and county equivalents in the United States. The three-digit number is unique to each individual county within a state, but to be unique within the entire United States, it must be prefixed by the state code. This means that, for example, the number 001 is shared by Alcona County, Michigan, Adams County, Wisconsin, and Adair County, Iowa. To uniquely identify Alcona County, Michigan, one must use the state code of 26 plus the county code of 001; therefore, the unique nationwide identifier for Alcona County, Michigan is 26001. The links in the column FIPS County Code are to the Census Bureau Info page for that county.{{cite web|url= http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/mn.html|title= EPA County FIPS Code Listing|publisher= EPA|access-date= April 9, 2007}}

List of counties

{{Countytabletop

| region_width =

| fips_ref = {{cite web|url= http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/mn.html|title= EPA County FIPS Code Listing|publisher= EPA|access-date= April 9, 2007}}

| region_seat_title = County seat

| region_seat_width =

| region_seat_ref ={{cite web|url=http://explorer.naco.org/index.html|title=NACo County Explorer|author=National Association of Counties|access-date=January 10, 2024}}

| data2_title = {{abbr|Est.|Established}}

| data2_width =

| data2_ref =

| data3_title = Origin

| data3_width =

| data3_ref =

| data4_title = Etymology

| data4_width =

| data4_ref =

| data4_unsortable = yes

| population_year = 2024

| population_ref ={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/MI/PST045223|title=Michigan QuickFacts|author=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=March 15, 2025}}

| area_ref =

}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=001|Name=Alcona|Seat=Harrisville|Data2=1840 (boundaries declared)
1869 (organized)|Data3=From unorganized territory; named Negwegon County until 1843 |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name|Population=10624|Area=1791|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=003|Name=Alger|Seat=Munising|Data2=1885|Data3=From part of Schoolcraft County |Data4=Russell A. Alger, (1836-1907):
Governor and national politician |Population=8695|Area=5049|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=005|Name=Allegan|Seat=Allegan|Data2=1831 (boundaries declared)
1835 (organized)|Data3=From part of Barry County, and unorganized territory |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name|Population=122429 |Area=1833|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=007|Name=Alpena|Seat=Alpena|Data2=1840 (boundaries declared)
1857 (organized)|Data3=From part of Mackinac County, and unorganized territory Was named Anamickee County until 1843. |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name|Population=28903 |Area=1695|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=009|Name=Antrim|Seat=Bellaire|Data2=1840 (boundaries declared)
1863 (organized)|Data3=From part of Mackinac County; named Meegisee County until 1843 |Data4=County Antrim, now in Northern Ireland |Population=24536 |Area=602|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=011|Name=Arenac|Seat=Standish|Data2=1831 (boundaries established)
1883 (organized)|Data3=From unorganized territory; annexed to Bay County in 1857, but reinstated in 1883 |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name|Population=15087 |Area=681|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=013|Name=Baraga|Seat=L'Anse|Data2=1875|Data3=From part of Houghton County |Data4=Frederic Baraga (1797-1868): Catholic missionary and first bishop of Sault Ste. Marie |Population=8169 |Area=1069|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=015|Name=Barry|Seat=Hastings|Data2=1829 (boundaries established)
1839 (organized)|Data3=From unorganized territory |Data4=William T. Barry (1784-1835): Postmaster General in the Jackson Administration |Population=64025 |Area=577|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=017|Name=Bay|Seat=Bay City|Data2=1857|Data3=From parts of Arenac, Midland, and Saginaw Counties |Data4=Saginaw Bay |Population=102651 |Area=631|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=019|Name=Benzie|Seat=Beulah|Data2=1863|Data3=From part of Leelanau County |Data4=French name of Betsie River: {{lang|fr|(rivière aux) Bec-scies}}, the "(river of) sawbill ducks" |Population=18520 |Area=860|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=021|Name=Berrien|Seat=St. Joseph|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory |Data4=John M. Berrien (1781-1856): Attorney General in the Jackson Administration |Population=152703 |Area=1581|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=023|Name=Branch|Seat=Coldwater|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory |Data4=John Branch (1782-1863): Secretary of the Navy in the Jackson Administration |Population=46187 |Area=519 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=025|Name=Calhoun|Seat=Marshall|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory |Data4=John C. Calhoun (1782-1850): Vice President of the United States in the Jackson Administration |Population=133785 |Area=718 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=027|Name=Cass|Seat=Cassopolis|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory |Data4=Lewis Cass (1782-1866): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration |Population=51550 |Area=508 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=029|Name=Charlevoix|Seat=Charlevoix|Data2=1869|Data3=From parts of Antrim, Emmet, and Otsego Counties |Data4=Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682-1761): Jesuit traveller and historian of New France |Population=26105 |Area=1391 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=031|Name=Cheboygan|Seat=Cheboygan|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County |Data4=Cheboygan River |Population=25964 |Area=885 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=033|Name=Chippewa|Seat=Sault Ste. Marie|Data2=1827|Data3=From part of Mackinac County |Data4=Ojibwa Native American tribe, also known as the Chippewa |Population=36253 |Area=2698 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=035|Name=Clare|Seat=Harrison|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County, and unorganized territory; named Kaykakee County until 1843 |Data4=County Clare, Ireland |Population=31405 |Area=575 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=037|Name=Clinton|Seat=St. Johns|Data2=1831|Data3=From unorganized territory |Data4=DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828): Governor of New York. |Population=80050 |Area=575 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=039|Name=Crawford|Seat=Grayling|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Shawano County until 1843. |Data4=William Crawford, (1732-82), American Revolutionary War colonel western surveyor |Population=13599 |Area=563 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=041|Name=Delta|Seat=Escanaba|Data2=1843|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Greek letter delta, referring to the triangular shape of the original county, which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties|Population=36687 |Area=1992 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=043|Name=Dickinson|Seat=Iron Mountain|Data2=1891|Data3=From parts of Iron County, Marquette County and Menominee County. |Data4=Donald M. Dickinson (1846-1917): Postmaster General in the Cleveland Administration |Population=25995 |Area=777 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=045|Name=Eaton|Seat=Charlotte|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory. |Data4=John Eaton (1790-1856): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration |Population=109494 |Area=579 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=047|Name=Emmet|Seat=Petoskey|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. Was named Tonegadana County until 1843. |Data4=Robert Emmet (1778-1803): Irish nationalist and rebel leader |Population=33949 |Area=882 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=049|Name=Genesee|Seat=Flint|Data2=1835|Data3=From parts of Lapeer County, Saginaw County and Shiawassee County. |Data4=Seneca word, "je-nis-hi-yeh," meaning "beautiful valley": named after western New York valley from which many settlers came|Population=402279 |Area=649 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=051|Name=Gladwin|Seat=Gladwin|Data2=1831|Data3=From unorganized territory. |Data4=Major Henry Gladwin, British commander of the fort at Detroit during the siege by Chief Pontiac in 1763-64.|Population=25995 |Area=516 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=053|Name=Gogebic|Seat=Bessemer|Data2=1887|Data3=From part of Ontonagon County. |Data4=Probably from the Chippewa "bic" which most references interpret as "rock."|Population=14217 |Area=1476 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=055|Name=Grand Traverse|Seat=Traverse City|Data2=1840 (boundaries declared)
1851 (organized)|Data3=From part of Mackinac County; named Omeena County until 1851. |Data4=French {{lang|fr|grande traverse}}{{refn|group=note|In modern standard French, {{lang|fr|la grande traversée}}; as the sense of 'crossing' is obsolete for {{lang|fr|traverse}}.[http://cnrtl.fr/definition/traverse Centre national de ressources textuelles]}} ("long crossing"), given first to Grand Traverse Bay by French voyageurs. |Population=96625 |Area=601 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=057|Name=Gratiot|Seat=Ithaca|Data2=1831|Data3=From unorganized territory. |Data4=Captain Charles Gratiot (1788-1855), built Fort Gratiot at the present site of Port Huron |Population=41372 |Area=572 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=059|Name=Hillsdale|Seat=Hillsdale|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory. |Data4=From its terrain, made up of hills and dales.{{cite web |url=http://www.co.hillsdale.mi.us/hc-history.htm |title=A Brief History of 'Hillsdale County' |access-date=November 24, 2008 |author=Dan Bisher |year=1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607054622/http://www.co.hillsdale.mi.us/hc-history.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2008 |url-status=dead }} |Population=45590 |Area=607 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=061|Name=Houghton|Seat=Houghton|Data2=1845|Data3=From parts of Marquette County and Ontonagon County. |Data4=Douglass Houghton (1809-1845), first state geologist of Michigan, physician and surgeon, mayor of Detroit (1842-1843) |Population=38041 |Area=1502 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=063|Name=Huron|Seat=Bad Axe|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Sanilac County. |Data4=Lake Huron, which the French named {{lang|fr|lac des Hurons}} after the Hurons. |Population=30780 |Area=2136 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=065|Name=Ingham|Seat=Mason|Data2=1829 (boundaries declared)
1838 (organized)|Data3=From parts of Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Samuel D. Ingham (1779-1860), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in the Jackson Administration |Population=290427 |Area=561 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=067|Name=Ionia|Seat=Ionia|Data2=1831|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Province in ancient Greece |Population=66250 |Area=580 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=069|Name=Iosco|Seat=Tawas City|Data2=1840|Data3=From unorganized territory. Was named Kanotin County until 1843. |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name |Population=25361 |Area=1891 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=071|Name=Iron|Seat=Crystal Falls|Data2=1885|Data3=From parts of Marquette County and Menominee County. |Data4=For the iron deposits and mines found in the county|Population=11709 |Area=1211 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=073|Name=Isabella|Seat=Mt. Pleasant|Data2=1831|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Queen Isabella I (1451-1504) of Spain, under whose patronage Columbus undertook his voyages.|Population=65072 |Area=578 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=075|Name=Jackson|Seat=Jackson|Data2=1829 (boundaries declared)
1832 (organised)|Data3=From part of Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), 7th President of the United States and President when Michigan was admitted to the Union |Population=160233 |Area=724 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=077|Name=Kalamazoo|Seat=Kalamazoo|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory. |Data4=Named for the Kalamazoo River. See Etymology of Kalamazoo for a discussion of the river's name. |Population=264780 |Area=580 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=079|Name=Kalkaska|Seat=Kalkaska|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. Was named Wabassee County until 1843. |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name|Population=18618 |Area=571 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=081|Name=Kent|Seat=Grand Rapids|Data2=1831|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. |Data4=New York jurist James Kent, who represented the Michigan Territory in its dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip. |Population=673002 |Area=872 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=083|Name=Keweenaw|Seat=Eagle River|Data2=1861|Data3=From part of Houghton County. |Data4=Ojibwe word gakiiwe-wewaning meaning "portage" |Population=2161 |Area=5966 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=085|Name=Lake|Seat=Baldwin|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. Was named Aischum County until 1843. |Data4=Has several small lakes and lies near Lake Michigan |Population=13005 |Area=575 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=087|Name=Lapeer|Seat=Lapeer|Data2=1822|Data3=From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County. |Data4=An Americanization of the French {{lang|fr|la pierre}}, meaning "the rock" (flint) |Population=89168 |Area=663 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=089|Name=Leelanau|Seat=Suttons Bay Township|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name |Population=22871 |Area=2532 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=091|Name=Lenawee|Seat=Adrian|Data2=1822|Data3=From part of Monroe County. |Data4=A Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name for man, from either the Delaware leno or lenno or the Shawnee lenawai |Population=97746 |Area=761 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=093|Name=Livingston|Seat=Howell|Data2=1833 (boundaries declared)
1836 (organized)|Data3=From parts of Shiawassee County and Washtenaw County. |Data4=Edward Livingston (1764-1836): second Secretary of State in the Andrew Jackson administration |Population=196976 |Area=585 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=095|Name=Luce|Seat=Newberry|Data2=1887|Data3=From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. |Data4=Named for Michigan Governor Cyrus G. Luce |Population=6328 |Area=1912 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=097|Name=Mackinac|Seat=St. Ignace|Data2=1818|Data3=From part of Wayne County. Was named Michilimackinac County until 1837. |Data4=Originally Michilimackinac, believed to be a French interpretation of the Native American name for Mackinac Island, meaning "big turtle" |Population=11144 |Area=2101 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=099|Name=Macomb|Seat=Mt. Clemens|Data2=1818|Data3=From part of Wayne County. |Data4=Named for U.S. General Alexander Macomb, a notable officer of the War of 1812 |Population=886175 |Area=570 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=101|Name=Manistee|Seat=Manistee|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. |Data4=Named for the Manistee River, which in turn is from the Ojibwe name, ministigweyaa meaning "(river) at whose mouth there are islands" |Population=25519 |Area=1281 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=103|Name=Marquette|Seat=Marquette|Data2=1843|Data3=From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. |Data4=Named for French Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette |Population=67979 |Area=3425 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=105|Name=Mason|Seat=Ludington|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. Was named Notipekago County until 1843. |Data4=Named for Michigan Governor Stevens T. Mason |Population=29093 |Area=1242 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=107|Name=Mecosta|Seat=Big Rapids|Data2=1840|Data3=From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County. |Data4=Named for Mecosta, a Native American leader |Population=41947 |Area=571 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=109|Name=Menominee|Seat=Menominee|Data2=1861|Data3=From part of Delta County. Was named Bleeker County until 1863. |Data4=Named for the Menominee Native American people |Population=23050 |Area=1338 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=111|Name=Midland|Seat=Midland|Data2=1831|Data3=From part of Saginaw County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Located near the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula |Population=84022 |Area=528 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=113|Name=Missaukee|Seat=Lake City|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. |Data4=Named for Missaukee, an Ottawa leader who signed land-grant treaties in 1831 and 1833 |Population=15239 |Area=574 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=115|Name=Monroe|Seat=Monroe|Data2=1817|Data3=From part of Wayne County. |Data4=Named for James Monroe, the fifth U.S. President |Population=156045 |Area=680 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=117|Name=Montcalm|Seat=Stanton|Data2=1831|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Named for Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, a French military commander in Quebec |Population=69314 |Area=721 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=119|Name=Montmorency|Seat=Atlanta|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Cheonoquet County until 1843. |Data4=House of Montmorency, influential in the history of French Canada|Population=9828 |Area=562 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=121|Name=Muskegon|Seat=Muskegon|Data2=1859|Data3=From parts of Oceana County and Ottawa County. |Data4=Muskegon River running through county, from the Ojibwa/Chippewa word mashkig meaning "swamp" or "marsh." |Population=177428 |Area=1459 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=123|Name=Newaygo|Seat=White Cloud|Data2=1840|Data3=From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County. |Data4=Named for a Chippewa leader who signed the Saginaw Treaty of 1819{{Cite web |url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Newaygo.htm |title=Clarke Historical Library bibliographic entry for Newaygo County |access-date=September 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605022637/http://www.clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Newaygo.htm |url-status=dead }} |Population=51504 |Area=861 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=125|Name=Oakland|Seat=Pontiac|Data2=1819 (boundaries declared)
1820 (organized)|Data3=From part of Macomb County. |Data4=The numerous "oak openings" in the area: "majestic orchard[s] of oaks and hickories varied by small prairies, grassy lawns and clear lakes"As described by Bela Hubbard, surveyor of Michigan |Population=1296888 |Area=908 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=127|Name=Oceana|Seat=Hart|Data2=1831|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. |Data4=Borders Lake Michigan, the freshwater "ocean."|Population=27014 |Area=1307 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=129|Name=Ogemaw|Seat=West Branch|Data2=1840|Data3=From unorganized territory. Annexed to Iosco County in 1867 and reinstated in 1873. |Data4=The Ojibwe word ogimaa, meaning "chief" or "leader" |Population=20985 |Area=575 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=131|Name=Ontonagon|Seat=Ontonagon|Data2=1843 (boundaries declared)
1848 (organized)|Data3=From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. |Data4=Named for the Ontonagon River. The Ojibwa word onagon means "dish" or "bowl."|Population=5824 |Area=3741 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=133|Name=Osceola|Seat=Reed City|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. Was named Unwattin County until 1843. |Data4=Osceola (1804-1838), Seminole chief |Population=23484 |Area=573 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=135|Name=Oscoda|Seat=Mio|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name |Population=8596 |Area=572 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=137|Name=Otsego|Seat=Gaylord|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. Was named Okkudo County until 1843. |Data4=Named for Otsego County, New York |Population=26083 |Area=526 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=139|Name=Ottawa|Seat=Grand Haven|Data2=1831|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. |Data4=Named for the Native American Ottawa people. |Population=306235 |Area=1632 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=141|Name=Presque Isle|Seat=Rogers City|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. |Data4=A derivation of the French phrase for "peninsula", literally "almost an island."|Population=13230 |Area=2573 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=143|Name=Roscommon|Seat=Roscommon|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Mikenauk County until 1843. |Data4=County Roscommon, Ireland |Population=23932 |Area=580 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=145|Name=Saginaw|Seat=Saginaw|Data2=1822|Data3=From part of Oakland County. |Data4=A Native American term, perhaps a reference to the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay, Ojibwe for "at the outlet" {{Cite web |url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Saginaw.htm |title=Clarke Historical Library bibliographic entry for Saginaw County |access-date=September 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605030558/http://www.clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Saginaw.htm |url-status=dead }} |Population=187714 |Area=816 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=147|Name=St. Clair|Seat=Port Huron|Data2=1820|Data3=From part of Macomb County. |Data4=Named for either Arthur St. Clair, first governor of the Northwest Territory, or Saint Clair on whose feast day Lake St. Clair was discovered |Population=160308 |Area=837 |Map=Map_of_Michigan_highlighting_St._Clair_County.svg|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=149|Name=St. Joseph|Seat=Centreville|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory. |Data4=The St. Joseph River, which flows through the county.{{cite web |url= http://www.stjosephcountymi.org/history/|title=Background History on St. Joseph County |access-date=November 24, 2008 |author=John Marvin |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080615054954/http://www.stjosephcountymi.org/history/ |archive-date = June 15, 2008}} |Population=61171 |Area=521 |Map=Map of Michigan highlighting Saint Joseph County.svg|Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=151|Name=Sanilac|Seat=Sandusky|Data2=1822|Data3=From part of St. Clair County. |Data4=Sanilac, a Wyandotte chief|Population=40293 |Area=1590 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=153|Name=Schoolcraft|Seat=Manistique|Data2=1843|Data3=From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County. |Data4=Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, (1793-1864):
American geographer and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Michigan |Population=8178 |Area=1884 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=155|Name=Shiawassee|Seat=Corunna|Data2=1822|Data3=From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County. |Data4=Named for the Shiawassee River, and means 'river that twists about.{{Cite web |url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Shiawassee.htm |title=Clarke Historical Library bibliographic entry for Shiawassee County |access-date=September 14, 2009 |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605031031/http://www.clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Shiawassee.htm |url-status=dead }} |Population=67982 |Area=541 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=157|Name=Tuscola|Seat=Caro|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Sanilac County. |Data4=Schoolcraft pseudo-Native American name |Population=52757 |Area=914 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=159|Name=Van Buren|Seat=Paw Paw|Data2=1829|Data3=From unorganized territory. |Data4=Martin Van Buren (1782-1862): Secretary of State in the Jackson Administration, later Vice President and eighth President of the United States|Population=76129 |Area=1090 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=161|Name=Washtenaw|Seat=Ann Arbor|Data2=1822 (boundaries declared)
1826 (organised)|Data3=From parts of Oakland County and Wayne County |Data4=From the Native American name for the Grand River, O-wash-ta-nong ("faraway water"),{{cite book|title=Publications of the Historical Society of Grand Rapids|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-lo0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36|year=1906|page=36}} whose headwaters were within the county's bounds. |Population=373875 |Area=723 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=163|Name=Wayne|Seat=Detroit|Data2=1815|Data3=All lands within Michigan Territory that had been ceded by Native Americans through the 1807 Treaty of Detroit. |Data4="Mad" Anthony Wayne, (1745-1796):
United States Army general and statesman |Population=1771063 |Area=672 |Size=100px}}

{{Countyrow|N=26|Num=165|Name=Wexford|Seat=Cadillac|Data2=1840|Data3=From part of Mackinac County. Was named Kautawaubet County until 1843. |Data4=County Wexford, Ireland |Population=34460 |Area=576 |Size=100px}}

Defunct counties and county precursors

This listing includes only counties or county precursors created by the Territory of Michigan or the State of Michigan. It excludes counties that existed in the Territory of Michigan or the modern boundaries of the State of Michigan but were created by any other entity (another state, a territorial government, the federal government, etc.) before the creation of the Territory of Michigan.[https://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm Michigan: Individual County Chronologies], John H. Long, Editor, 2007, The Newberry Library, accessed February 21, 2021 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515071234/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |date=May 15, 2018 }}

Brown County, formed on December 3, 1818, from unorganized territory when Michigan Territory was expanded to include area west of Lake Michigan upon formation of the state of Illinois. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory on July 3, 1836, and continues as Brown County, Wisconsin.
Crawford County, formed on December 3, 1818, from unorganized territory when Michigan Territory was expanded to include area west of Lake Michigan upon formation of the state of Illinois. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory on July 3, 1836, and continues as Crawford County, Wisconsin.
Des Moines County, formed on October 1, 1834, from unorganized territory. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory on July 3, 1836, and continues as Des Moines County, Iowa.
Detroit District, formed on July 3, 1805, as a county precursor by Territorial Governor Lewis Cass to carry out the Territory's judicial and administrative functions. Superseded by counties on October 2, 1818, as proclaimed by William Woodbridge, Secretary of Michigan Territory.
Dubuque County, formed on October 1, 1834, from unorganized territory. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory on July 3, 1836, and continues as Dubuque County, Iowa.
Erie District, formed on July 3, 1805, as a county precursor by Territorial Governor William Hull to carry out the Territory's judicial and administrative functions. Included parts of modern-day Indiana and the Toledo Strip. Although the Erie District was officially superseded by counties by proclamation of Michigan Territorial Secretary William Woodbridge on October 2, 1818, the area of the district had actually been lost to the State of Indiana when it was created on December 11, 1816.
Huron District formed on July 3, 1805, as a county precursor by Territorial Governor William Hull to carry out the Territory's judicial and administrative functions. Superseded by counties on October 2, 1818, as proclaimed by William Woodbridge, Secretary of Michigan Territory.
Iowa County, formed on January 1, 1830, from part of Crawford County. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory on July 3, 1836, and continues as Iowa County, Wisconsin.
Isle Royale County, formed on March 4, 1875, from part of Keweenaw County. County became officially unorganized on March 13, 1885, and was attached to Houghton County, for judicial and administrative purposes. Michigan Legislature officially dissolved Isle Royale County and returned it to Keweenaw County on April 9, 1897.
Keskkauko County, formed on April 1, 1840, from part of Mackinac County. Renamed Charlevoix County, on March 8, 1843. Annexed to Emmet County, on January 29, 1853, and eliminated as a county. Reformed as Charlevoix County from Emmet, Antrim, and Otsego, Counties on April 2, 1869, albeit with boundaries that differed somewhat from the 1840–1853 iteration of Keskkauko–Charlevoix County.
Manitou County, formed on February 12, 1855, from parts of Emmet County and Leelanau County. On March 16, 1861, Manitou County was attached to Mackinac County for meetings of the District Court, but all other County functions were unchanged. Four years later, on March 10, 1865, the District Court attachment was changed to Leelanau County instead of Mackinac. Another four years later, on March 24, 1869, the District Court attachment to Leelanau County was terminated. The entire Manitou County government was dissolved on April 4, 1895, and the county was abolished. It was absorbed by Charlevoix County, and Leelanau County.
Michilimackinac District formed on July 3, 1805, as a county precursor by Territorial Governor William Hull to carry out the Territory's judicial and administrative functions. Incorporated into Wayne County, on October 18, 1816.
Milwaukee County, formed on September 6, 1834, from part of Brown County. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory on July 3, 1836, and continues as Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Omeena County, formed on April 1, 1840, from part of Mackinac County. Annexed to Grand Traverse County, on February 3, 1853.
Wyandot County, formed on April 1, 1840, from part of Mackinac County. Annexed to Cheboygan County, on January 29, 1853.
Washington County, formed in 1867 from Marquette County, but declared unconstitutional.

References

=Further reading=

{{cite journal |last1=Armitage |first1=B. Phyllis. |title=A Study of Michigan's Place-Names |journal=Michigan History magazine |volume=27 |date=October–December 1943 |pages=626–637}}
County histories published in Michigan History Magazine. Some back issues that include these histories are still available for purchase.
{{cite journal |last1=Jenks |first1=William L. |title=History and Meaning of the County Names of Michigan |journal=Collections and Researches of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society |volume=38 |year=1912 |pages=439–478}}
{{cite book |title=Michigan Manual (the "Red Book") published biennially by the Legislative Service Bureau under the direction of the |publisher=Legislative Council, State of Michigan}}
{{cite book |last1=Powers |first1=Perry F. |first2=H.G., assisting |last2= Cutler |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L3t5AAAAMAAJ&q=Powers%2C%20Perry%20F.%3B%20Cutler%2C%20H.G.%2C%20assisting%20(1912).%20A%20History%20of%20Northern%20Michigan%20and%20its%20People.&pg=PA961 |title=A History of Northern Michigan and its People |year=1912}} at Google books
{{cite book |author=Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan |title=Pioneer Collections: Report of the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan. |edition=2nd |volume=I |orig-year=1874–1876 |year=1900|place=Lansing, Michigan |publisher=Robert Smith Printing Co. |pages=94–520}}
{{cite book |last1=Romig |first1=Walter |last2= Massie |first2=Larry B (Designer) |title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities |place=Detroit, Michigan |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year= 1986 |isbn=978-0-8143-1838-6}}
{{cite book |last1=Vogel |first1=Virgil J. |title=Indian Names in Michigan |place=Ann Arbor, Michigan |publisher=University of Michigan Press |year=1986 |pages=244, 8 B&W photographs & 3 maps |isbn=978-0-472-06365-9}}
{{cite web |last1=writer |first1=Statf |author-link1= |collaboration= |df= |year=2022 |location= |title=MICHIGAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT OVERVIEW |url=https://ce.naco.org//app/profiles/CountyGov/CountyGov_26000.pdf |url-access= |format= |department= |website=ce.naco.org |type= |language= |edition= |agency=National Association of Counties (NACo) |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |ref= }}

External links

[https://www.cmich.edu/research/clarke-historical-library/explore-collection/explore-in-person/bibliographies/michigan-local-history/countymaterial/ Bibliography by county and region, including origin of county names], Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University
[http://www.freelang.net/dictionary/ojibwe.html Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary]
[http://clarke.cmich.edu/lhbcohistory.htm History of County Creation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040625141411/http://clarke.cmich.edu/lhbcohistory.htm |date=June 25, 2004 }}
[http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/ Michigan County History and atlases, digitized database], including Powers, Perry F., assisted by H.G. Cutler, A History of Northern Michigan and its People (1912)
[http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html Michigan County names per the Michigan government.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728130613/http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0%2C1607%2C7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--%2C00.html |date=July 28, 2009 }}
[http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;sid=b92ef34ac7eae292063c88e0fdcc9d82;rgn=full%20text;idno=BAD6021.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000007 Table of dates counties laid out and organized]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080611160144/http://www.sheboygan.lib.wi.us/pages/sheboyganname.html History of the name Sheboygan]
[https://www.census.gov American FactFinder for the 2010 Census]

Michigan, counties in

Counties