Kalkaska County, Michigan

Infobox U.S. County
county = Kalkaska County
state = Michigan




map size = 200
founded = 1871
seat = Kalkaska | area_total_sq_mi =571
area_water_sq_mi =10
area percentage = 1.71%
census yr = 2000
pop = 16571
density_km2 =11
web = www.kalkaskacounty.net
|

Kalkaska County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Traverse City, Michigan Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 16,571. The county seat is KalkaskaGR|6.

Geography

*According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 571 square miles (1,478 km²), of which, 561 square miles (1,453 km²) of it is land and 10 square miles (25 km²) of it (1.71%) is water.

*Kalkaska Sand, the state soil of Michigan, was named after the county because of the large amounts deposited in the area from the glaciers in the Ice Age.

*The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Geographic features

*Kalkaska County has over 80 lakes and convert|275|mi|km of streams and rivers.
* Much of the county is marshland.
*County elevation ranges from convert|595|ft|m to about convert|1246|ft|m. This makes it one of the more uneven counties in the Lower Peninsula.
*The Pere Marquette State Forest covers much of the county.Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. A large portion of the area is the so-called Grayling outwash plain, which consists of broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges; jack pine barrens, some white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action. [ [http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/rlandscp/s7-2-2.htm Michigan regional geology.] ]

Lakes

*Starvation Lake
*Lake Skegemog
*Bear Lake

Rivers

*Boardman
*Manistee
*Rapid River

Major highways

US Highways

*

Michigan State Trunklines

*
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Adjacent counties

Geographic Location
Centre = Kalkaska County
North = Antrim County
Northeast = Otsego County
East = Crawford County
Southeast = Roscommon County
South = Missaukee County
Southwest = Wexford County
West = Grand Traverse County

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 16,571 people, 6,428 households, and 4,634 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 10,822 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.54% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of German, 12.4% English, 10.4% Irish, 10.0% American, 6.3% Polish and 5.1% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.8% spoke English as their first language.

There were 6,428 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,072, and the median income for a family was $39,932. Males had a median income of $31,860 versus $20,455 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,309. About 8.20% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

History

*The first settler in Kalkaska County was an Englishman named William Copeland, who purchased land in the northwest corner of the county in 1855. The county was set off in 1840 and originally called Wabasee until 1843. [ [http://www.clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Kalkaska.htm Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Kalkaska County] ] "See," List of Michigan counties. The name Kalkaska is thought to be a Chippewa word meaning flat or burned-over country. An alternative theory is that this is a neologism or neonym created by Henry Schoolcraft, originally spelled Calcasca. Some theorists suggest this is word play. Schoolcraft's family name formerly was Calcraft, and the Ks may have been added to make the name appear more like a Native American word. [ [http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html Michigan History, County Names.] ] "See also", List of Michigan county name etymologies.
*Logging was the first important industry.
*The discovery of substantial deposits of oil and natural gas resulted in the construction of a processing plant by Shell Oil Company in 1973 and a major economic boom in the community.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor 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 andother social services. The county board of commissioners controls thebudget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most localgovernment functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, streetmaintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Kalkaska County elected officials

* Prosecuting Attorney: Brian Donnelly
* Sheriff: William Artress
* County Clerk: Patricia Rodgers
* County Treasurer: Gwen Gehrcke
* Register of Deeds: Joan Hall
* Drain Commissioner: Francis Kelly

(information as of September 2005)

Landmarks

*The National Trout Festival is considered to be a 'holy day of obligation' in Kalkaska. Practitioners gather together to share stories and meet next to the giant trout in mid-town. [ [http://www.nationaltroutfestival.com/ National Trout festival, and picture of 'the trout.'] ]

Cities, villages, and townships

*Bear Lake Township
*Blue Lake Township
*Boardman Township
*Clearwater Township
*Coldsprings Township
*Excelsior Township
*Garfield Township
*Kalkaska Township
*Kalkaska, village
*Oliver Township
*Orange Township
*Rapid River Township
*Springfield Township

Notes

Further reading

*Kalkaska Genealogical Society: "Big Trout, Black Gold: History of Kalkaska County, Michigan". nd.

External links

* [http://www.kalkaskacounty.net Kalkaska County government]
* [http://www.kalkaskavillage.com Village of Kalkaska]
* [http://www.munsonhealthcare.org/locations/kmhc/kmhc.php Kalkaska Memorial Health Center]
* [http://www.kalkaskami.com Kalkaska Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.kiwaniskalkaska.org Kiwanis Club of Kalkaska]
* [http://www.michiganfallenheroes.org Michigan Heritage & Research Foundation]
* [http://www.nationaltroutfestival.com National Trout Festival]
* [http://www.visitkalkaska.com/HistoricalSociety.htm Historical Society of Kalkaska]
* [http://www.visitkalkaska.com Kalkaska Visitors Guide]