Shiawassee County, Michigan

Shiawassee County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1822
Seat	Corunna
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	540.73 sq mi (1,400 km²) 538.73 sq mi (1,395 km²) 2.00 sq mi (5 km²), 0.37%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	70,648 132/sq mi (51/km²)
Website	www.shiawassee.net

Shiawassee ( /ˌʃaɪ.əˈwɒsiː/) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan, the sole county of the Owosso Micropolitan Statistical Area, and part of the greater Lansing Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 70,648. The county seat is Corunna^[1]. The center of population of Michigan is located in Shiawassee County, in the village of Morrice ^[2] Shiawassee County is named for the Shiawassee River, and means 'river that twists about'.^[3] The Shiawassee County Courthouse was built by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 540.73 square miles (1,400.5 km²), of which 538.73 square miles (1,395.3 km²) (or 99.63%) is land and 2.00 square miles (5.2 km²) (or 0.37%) is water.^[4] The Shiawassee River enters it from Genesee County in the southeast and flows through Corunna and Owosso in the center of the county, exiting to Saginaw County in the north.

Adjacent counties

• Saginaw County (north)
• Genesee County (east)
• Clinton County (west)
• Livingston County (southeast)
• Ingham County (southwest)
• Gratiot County (northwest)

Transportation

	I-69
	M-13
	M-21
	M-52
	M-71

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	33,866		—
1910	33,246		−1.8%
1920	35,924		8.1%
1930	39,517		10.0%
1940	41,207		4.3%
1950	45,967		11.6%
1960	53,446		16.3%
1970	63,075		18.0%
1980	71,140		12.8%
1990	69,770		−1.9%
2000	71,687		2.7%
Est. 2010	70,648		−1.4%

As of the census^[5] of 2000, there were 71,687 people, 26,896 households, and 19,849 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile (51/km²). There were 29,087 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile (21/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.39% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. 1.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.3% were of German, 14.2% English, 13.9% American and 9.9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.4% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 26,896 households out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,553, and the median income for a family was $49,329. Males had a median income of $39,190 versus $25,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,229. About 5.70% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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.

Shiawassee County elected officials

Governor:Rick Snyder (R) LT. Governor: Brian Calley (R) Attorney General: Bill Schuette (R) Secretary of State: Ruth Johnson (R) State Senator 22nd District: Joe Hune (R) State Rep. 85th District: Ben Glardon (R) U.S.Rep 4th District: Dave Camp (R) U.S. Rep 8th District: Mike Rogers (R) Prosecutor: Randy Colbry (R) Sheriff: George Braidwood (D) County Clerk: Lauri Braid (R) County Treasurer: Thomas W. Dwyer (R) Register of Deeds: Lori Kimble (R) Drain Commissioner: Tony Newman(D) County Surveyor: Norman Caldwell (R) Road Commissioners: Mike Constine; Stephen A. Zemcik; John Michalec County Commissioners District 1: Dan Stewart (R) District 2: Ron Elder (R) District 3: Gary Holhausen (R) District 4: Jon Michael Fuja (R) District 5: Gerald Cole (R) District 6: Dale Roszman (R) District 7: John Plowman (R) (information as of November 2010)

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities Corunna Durand Laingsburg Owosso Perry

Villages Bancroft Byron Lennon (partially) Morrice New Lothrop Vernon

Unincorporated Antrim Center Bennington Burton Carland Easton Five Points

Five Points North Forest Green Estates Henderson Hoovers Corners Juddville Kerby

Middletown Newburg New Haven Nicholson‡ Olney Corners‡ Pittsburg

Shaftsburg Shiawasseetown Smith Crossing Union Plains Wolf Crossing

Townships

Antrim Township Bennington Township Burns Township Caledonia Charter Township

Fairfield Township Hazelton Township Middlebury Township New Haven Township

Owosso Charter Township Perry Township Rush Township Sciota Township

Shiawassee Township Venice Township Vernon Township Woodhull Township

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Shiawassee County, Michigan
• McArthur Mining Company – Michigan's first coal mine.

Notes

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ Population and Population Centers by State: 2000 U.S. Census Bureau
3. ^ Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Shiawassee County.
4. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
5. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Shiawassee County History
• Shiawassee County
• City of Corunna, Michigan U.S.
• Shiawassee County Democratic Party
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Shiawassee County.
• Owosso Independent

Coordinates: 42°57′N 84°08′W / 42.95°N 84.14°W / 42.95; -84.14