Ogemaw County, Michigan

Ogemaw County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1840
Seat	West Branch
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	574.63 sq mi (1,488 km²) 564.30 sq mi (1,462 km²) 10.33 sq mi (27 km²), 1.80%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	21,645 39/sq mi (15/km²)
Website	www.OgemawCountyMi.Gov

Ogemaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 21,645. The county seat is West Branch^[1]. The county's name is an anglicization of the Anishinaabemowin word ogimaa meaning "chief".

Geography

• According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 574.63 square miles (1,488.3 km²), of which 564.30 square miles (1,461.5 km²) (or 98.20%) is land and 10.33 square miles (26.8 km²) (or 1.80%) is water.^[2]
• Ogemaw County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan

Highways

Interstates

• I-75
• I-75 Business Loop is a loop route through downtown West Branch.

Michigan State Trunklines

• M-30
• M-33
• M-55

Ogemaw County Intercounty Highways

• F-18
• F-28

Adjacent counties

• Oscoda County - north
• Alcona County - northeast
• Iosco County - east
• Arenac County - southeast
• Gladwin County - southwest
• Roscommon County - west
• Crawford County - northwest

National protected area

• Huron National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 21,645 people, 8,842 households, and 6,189 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 15,404 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.48% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.7% were of German, 12.3% American, 10.2% English, 9.2% Irish, 7.0% French and 6.7% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.9% spoke only English at home.

There were 8,842 households out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.50% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,474, and the median income for a family was $34,988. Males had a median income of $31,003 versus $20,544 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,768. About 11.00% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 9.90% 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.

Ogemaw County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: LaDonna Schultz
• Sheriff: Howie Hanft
• County Clerk: Gary R. Klacking
• County Treasurer: Dwight McIntyre
• Register of Deeds: Denise Simmons
• Drain Commissioner: Michael DeMatio

(information as of Jan. 2009)

Cities, villages, and townships

Churchill Township Cumming Township Edwards Township Foster Township Goodar Township

Hill Township Horton Township Klacking Township Logan Township Lupton

Mills Township Ogemaw Township Prescott, village Richland Township Rose City, city

Rose Township Skidway Lake, CDP West Branch Township West Branch, city

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ogemaw County, Michigan

Notes

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Ogemaw County Website
• Ogemaw County Herald - Newspaper
• OgemawLive - Community site with news, weather, and forum.
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography Ogemaw County.

Coordinates: 44°20′N 84°08′W / 44.33°N 84.13°W / 44.33; -84.13