Saginaw County, Michigan
| Saginaw County, Michigan | ||
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 Location in the state of Michigan |
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 Michigan's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | February 9, 1835[1][2] | |
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| Seat | Saginaw | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
815.78 sq mi (2,113 km²) 808.93 sq mi (2,095 km²) 6.85 sq mi (18 km²), 0.84% |
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| Population - (2010) - Density |
200,169 259/sq mi (100/km²) |
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| Website | www.saginawcounty.com | |
Saginaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,169.[3] The county seat is Saginaw[4].[1] The county was created by September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on February 9, 1835.[1] Another source opines that: "There are two possible derivations: from 'Sace-nong' or 'Sak-e-nong' (Sauk Town) because the Sauk (Sac) once lived there, or from Chippewa words meaning 'place of the outlet' from 'sag' (an opening) and 'ong' (place of)."[5]See List of Michigan county name etymologies.
Geography
- According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 815.78 square miles (2,112.9 km2), of which 808.93 square miles (2,095.1 km2) (or 99.16%) is land and 6.85 square miles (17.7 km2) (or 0.84%) is water.[6]
- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.[7]
- Saginaw is considered to be part of Flint/Tri-Cities.
Geographic features
The County has no natural lakes, but many rivers. The Saginaw River is the waterway that completes the Saginaw River Watershed, which is the largest watershed in the State of Michigan. Other rivers that source the Saginaw include Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, Bad, and Tittabawassee.
- Cass River has many branches, one of which flows into the Shiawassee River in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge at 43°22′N 84°01′W / 43.367°N 84.017°W less than a mile from where the Shiawassee merges with the Tittabawassee River to form the Saginaw River. The Refuge is entirely within Saginaw County.[8]
Adjacent counties
- Bay County (northeast)
- Midland County (northwest)
- Tuscola County (east)
- Gratiot County (west)
- Genesee County (southeast)
- Shiawassee County (south)
- Clinton County (southwest)
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Midland County | Bay County | |
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| Gratiot County |  |
Tuscola County | ||
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| Clinton County | Shiawassee County | Genesee County |
Federal reservation
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 892 |
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| 1850 | 2,609 | 192.5% | |
| 1860 | 12,693 | 386.5% | |
| 1870 | 39,097 | 208.0% | |
| 1880 | 59,095 | 51.1% | |
| 1890 | 82,273 | 39.2% | |
| 1900 | 81,222 | −1.3% | |
| 1910 | 89,290 | 9.9% | |
| 1920 | 100,286 | 12.3% | |
| 1930 | 120,717 | 20.4% | |
| 1940 | 130,468 | 8.1% | |
| 1950 | 153,515 | 17.7% | |
| 1960 | 190,752 | 24.3% | |
| 1970 | 219,743 | 15.2% | |
| 1980 | 228,059 | 3.8% | |
| 1990 | 211,946 | −7.1% | |
| 2000 | 210,039 | −0.9% | |
| 2010 | 200,169 | −4.7% | |
| Est. 2011 | 199,088 | −0.5% | |
The 2010 United States Census[9] indicates Saginaw County had a 2010 population of 200,169. This is a decrease of -9,870 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -4.7% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 79,011 households and 52,287 families in the county. The population density was 250.2 per square mile (96.6 square kilometers). There were 86,844 housing units at an average density of 108.5 per square mile (41.9 square kilometers). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 70.5% White, 18.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 7.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races.
There were 79,011 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were husband and wife families, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 28.2% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.4% under age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate[9] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $41,938 and the median income for a family was $52,243. Males had a median income of $27,691 versus $16,488 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,025. About 12.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under the age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
What is today Saginaw County was inhabited by the Ojibwe before the were driven out by Euro-Americans. The Ojibwe were still the dominant force in the area in the 1820s and in 1827 they were attacked by a two groups of Winnebago people coming from Wisconsin. The Ojibwe prevailed in this fight with the aid of local Euro-American settlers.[10]
In 1853 the Ojibwe and Ottawa both established large hunting camps along the Saginaw River, although Euro-American settlers were beginning saw mills and farms in the area by that point.[11]
Government and politics
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This article is outdated. (November 2010) |
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This section requires expansion. (October 2008) |
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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.
Saginaw County elected officials
- Prosecuting Attorney: Michael D. Thomas
- Sheriff: William Federspiel
- County Clerk: Susan Kaltenbach
- County Treasurer: Marvin D. Hare
- Register of Deeds: Mildred M. Dodak
- Public Works Commissioner: James A. Koski
All countywide officers are elected for four-year terms. The next scheduled election for these offices is November of 2012.
(information as of June 2010)
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities
Under Michigan law, cities are municipal corporations but are not completely independent of the counties in which they are located; once incorporated, they cease to be part of a township. A city resident is also a resident of a county, is liable for taxes to both units of government and may vote in both city and county elections, if eligible.
- City of Frankenmuth - located in, but independent of, Frankenmuth Township
- City of Saginaw - county seat; most populous political subdivision in the county; adjacent to and independent of Saginaw Charter Township
- City of Zilwaukee - located to the south of, and independent of, Zilwaukee Township
Villages
Under Michigan law, villages are municipal corporations but are not independent of the townships in which they are located. A village resident also is a resident of a township, is liable for taxes to both units of government and may vote in both village and township elections, if eligible.
- Village of Birch Run - located in Birch Run Township
- Village of Chesaning - located in Chesaning Township
- Village of Merrill - located in Jonesfield Township
- Village of Oakley - located in Brady Township
- Village of St. Charles - located mainly in St. Charles Township, with portions in Brant and Swan Creek townships
Townships
Under Michigan law, townships are organized as general law or charter townships. Charter townships have more taxing power than general law townships, and are generally protected from annexation by neighboring municipalities.
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Unincorporated Places
Saginaw County has nine Census-designated places (CDPs), areas where the Bureau of the Census collects statistics as if these were incorporated municipalities, and several unincorporated communities defined by the Postal Service, or by local tradition.
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated placesTransportationSaginaw County was the destination of a Sauk footpath that became one of the first roads in what is now Michigan, the Saginaw Trail. The trail, first authorized in 1819, was completed to Saginaw in 1841. Since then, Saginaw's access to the outside world has expanded with the development of maritime, rail, air, and freeway links to the major cities of Michigan and neighboring states and nations. AirportsScheduled airline service is available from MBS International Airport[12] near Freeland, Michigan and Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan.[13]Harry Browne Airport[14] in Buena Vista Charter Township also serves the region. Highways
MaritimeThe Saginaw River is maintained by the Corps of Engineers, and from time to time, dredged to maintain a shipping channel down the river to Bay City, and from there, to the Great Lakes. EducationPrimary and secondary educatonPublic schoolsMost of Saginaw County is served by the Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD), which coordinates the efforts of local boards of education, but has no operating authority over schools. Local school boards in Michigan retain great autonomy over day-to-day operations. As of November 2012, the communities of Saginaw County are served by the following members of the Saginaw ISD:[16]
(These are general descriptions; small parcels may be in a neighboring district.) Some parts of the county are served by neighboring intermediate districts. The most noteworthy of these are:[16]
Likewise, some of the districts in the Saginaw ISD extend into neighboring counties; the largest of these cases include the Chesaning Union district, which also serves the northern sections of Hazelton and New Haven townships in Shiawassee County; the Hemlock schools, which include the southern portion of Ingersoll Township in Midland County; and the Merrill district, which embraces most of Midland County's Mount Haley Township.[16] Charter and private schoolsThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw operates a number of school throughout the county, as do various Lutheran churches and denominations. A number of charter schools also operate in the county. Higher education
Notable nativesMain article: List of people from Saginaw, Michigan
See also: Category:People from Saginaw, Michigan\
Historical markersThere are twenty eight recognized historical markers in the county:[17] They are:
See also↑Jump back a sectionNotes
Further reading
External links
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