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Tuscola County, Michigan

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Tuscola County (/ˈtʌs.koʊlə/ TUSS-koh-lə) is a county in the Thumb region of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,323.[3] The county seat is Caro.[1][4] The county was created by Michigan Law on April 1, 1840, from land in Sanilac County and attached to Saginaw County for administrative purposes.[5] The Michigan Legislature passed an act on March 2, 1850, that empowered the county residents to organize governmental functions.[1][2]

Tuscola County
County
Tuscola County Courthouse in Caro
Tuscola County Courthouse in Caro
Map of Michigan highlighting Tuscola County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°28′N 83°27′W / 43.47°N 83.45°W / 43.47; -83.45
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedApril 1, 1840
organized March 2, 1850[1][2]
SeatCaro
Largest cityCaro
Area
 • Total914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Land803 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Water111 sq mi (290 km2)  12%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total53,323
 • Density66/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts8th, 9th
Websitewww.tuscolacounty.org

Tuscola County is one of five counties in the Thumb area. Like the rest of the Thumb, Tuscola County enjoys seasonal tourism from cities like Flint, Detroit and Saginaw.

History

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The name Tuscola was a neologism created by Henry Schoolcraft and had an aboriginal root. That source likely was the native Ojibwe name "desakamigaa" that means the flat level ground or simply the flat country.[6] For an ending, Mr. Schoolcraft then used a form of the Latin word "colo" that means to cultivate, till, or farm or a land that is cultivated. For the suffix, the related Latin word "colonia" from which we get today the word colony means a farm estate.[7] Tuscola then means the flat cultivated land. Henry Schoolcraft once wrote that Tuscola was derived from Native words and meant level lands.[8] A similar word to desakamigaa is the Ojibwe word "desinaagan" that is translated as dinner plate. Shell in their language is "ess". The Ojibwe often used a shell or bark from a tree for a dish. The Ojibwe prefixes "desi-" and "tessa" are used to form their words for flat objects such as a shelf, platform, bench, or plate.[9]

The Thumb of Michigan, which also includes Huron and Sanilac Counties, was originally called by Iroquois speaking people "Skenchioe" in the 17th century, which may be related to the Onondaga word "uschwuntschios" meaning a champaign or large extended plain.[10] In the early 18th century, the French called the Thumb of Michigan "Le Pays Plat" that means The Flat Country. The French word "pays" means country while "plat" means flat. The English in the later 18th Century also called the land back from the shoreline around the Thumb of Michigan the Flat Country. The Thumb of Michigan forms a tableland with knolls or hillocks located in the central part of the Thumb along the Cass River. The county seat of Tuscola is Caro that is located north of the Cass River along one of these large knolls. The land around Caro particularly to the west, north, and northeast is widely farmed and cultivated. The township in which Caro lies was named Indianfields because it was a place of many early Native American gardens.

At the Treaty of Saginaw of 1819, the native leader who represented the Cass River and the Tuscola area was Chief Otusson. Otusson's Reservation was located where today lies Frankenmuth, MI. Otusson's Reservation along with a large amount of the surrounding land was sold by the Treaty of 1837.[11]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 803 square miles (2,080 km2) is land and 111 square miles (290 km2) (12%) is water.[12]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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  •   M-15, runs north and south
  •   M-24, runs north and south
  •   M-25, runs north and south
  •   M-46, runs east and west
  •   M-81, runs east and west
  •   M-138, runs east and west

Airport

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850291—
18604,8861,579.0%
187013,714180.7%
188025,73887.7%
189032,50826.3%
190025,890−20.4%
191034,91334.9%
192033,320−4.6%
193032,934−1.2%
194035,6948.4%
195038,2587.2%
196043,30513.2%
197048,60312.2%
198056,96117.2%
199055,498−2.6%
200058,2665.0%
201055,729−4.4%
202053,323−4.3%
2023 (est.)52,826[13]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2018[3]

The 2010 United States Census[18] indicates Tuscola County had a 2010 population of 55,729. This is a decrease of -2,537 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -4.4% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 21,590 households and 15,423 families in the county. The population density was 69.4 per square mile (26.8 per square kilometer). There were 24,451 housing units at an average density of 30.4 per square mile (11.7 per square kilometer). 96.1% of the population were White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.7% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 2.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 32.3% were of German, 9.0% English, 8.4% Polish, 8.0% Irish, 7.8% American and 6.2% French, French Canadian or Cajun ancestry.[19]

There were 21,590 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were husband and wife families, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.6% were non-families, and 24.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate[18] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $40,839 and the median income for a family was $49,274. Males had a median income of $28,288 versus $15,314 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,470. About 1.7% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under the age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.[20]

Government

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Tuscola County has been strongly Republican for most of its history, only failing to back a Republican candidate four times in presidential elections from 1884 to the present day, and in only one of those elections did the Democratic nominee win a majority of the county's vote.

United States presidential election results for Tuscola County, Michigan[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 20,297 68.85% 8,712 29.55% 470 1.59%
2016 17,102 65.96% 7,429 28.65% 1,397 5.39%
2012 14,240 54.54% 11,425 43.76% 445 1.70%
2008 13,740 49.33% 13,503 48.48% 611 2.19%
2004 15,389 54.31% 12,631 44.57% 318 1.12%
2000 13,213 53.60% 10,845 43.99% 594 2.41%
1996 9,154 40.43% 10,314 45.55% 3,173 14.01%
1992 8,636 35.01% 9,138 37.05% 6,892 27.94%
1988 12,093 56.90% 9,060 42.63% 101 0.48%
1984 14,698 70.01% 6,212 29.59% 83 0.40%
1980 13,306 59.12% 7,632 33.91% 1,567 6.96%
1976 12,059 59.86% 7,932 39.38% 153 0.76%
1972 12,198 67.96% 5,449 30.36% 302 1.68%
1968 10,205 61.44% 4,698 28.28% 1,707 10.28%
1964 7,509 44.42% 9,374 55.45% 22 0.13%
1960 11,931 68.93% 5,357 30.95% 20 0.12%
1956 12,052 75.63% 3,864 24.25% 19 0.12%
1952 11,788 77.97% 3,251 21.50% 80 0.53%
1948 8,125 73.59% 2,676 24.24% 240 2.17%
1944 9,789 76.55% 2,938 22.98% 60 0.47%
1940 10,146 75.45% 3,257 24.22% 45 0.33%
1936 6,188 56.07% 3,743 33.91% 1,106 10.02%
1932 6,110 53.75% 5,077 44.66% 180 1.58%
1928 8,188 84.39% 1,464 15.09% 51 0.53%
1924 7,490 80.37% 1,076 11.55% 753 8.08%
1920 7,282 82.67% 1,269 14.41% 258 2.93%
1916 4,461 63.49% 2,329 33.15% 236 3.36%
1912 2,559 34.65% 1,255 16.99% 3,571 48.35%
1908 4,430 68.84% 1,563 24.29% 442 6.87%
1904 4,992 72.15% 1,518 21.94% 409 5.91%
1900 4,726 61.26% 2,648 34.32% 341 4.42%
1896 4,277 53.10% 3,564 44.25% 214 2.66%
1892 3,201 54.47% 2,067 35.17% 609 10.36%
1888 3,888 52.78% 3,112 42.24% 367 4.98%
1884 2,914 49.73% 2,624 44.78% 322 5.49%

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.

Elected officials

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(information as of December 14, 2023)

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Charter township

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General law townships

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bibliography on Tuscola County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 29, 2013.[dead link]
  2. ^ a b Acts of Michigan Legislature
  3. ^ a b "Census 2020: Look up population changes in your Michigan community". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  6. ^ The Ojibwe People's Dictionary
  7. ^ Cassell's Latin Dictionary
  8. ^ Henry R. Schoolcraft (1855). Information Respecting the History, Condition and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States. p. 624. ISBN 9780665404498.
  9. ^ Frederic Baraga; Albert Lacombe (1878). A Dictionary of the Otchipwe Language, Explained in English. Beauchemin & Valois. ISBN 9781404709126.
  10. ^ Zeisberger's Indian Dictionary
  11. ^ History of Sagimaw County, Michigan (Chicago: Chaples C. Chapman & Co, 1881) p. 155
  12. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  13. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  16. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  17. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  18. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  19. ^ "American FactFinder"
  20. ^ Saginaw County Diocese home page,
  21. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".

Further reading

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  • Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Great Lakes Books. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0814318386.
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43°28′N 83°27′W / 43.467°N 83.450°W / 43.467; -83.450

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