Iosco County, Michigan

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




map size = 200
founded =
seat = Tawas City | area_total_sq_mi =1891
area_water_sq_mi =1342
area percentage = 70.96%
census yr = 2000
pop = 27339
density_km2 =19
web = iosco.m33access.com
|

Iosco County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 27,339. The county seat is Tawas CityGR|6.

Iosco is a Native American word meaning "water of light" In 1840 it was set off as Kanotin County, and renamed Iosco in 1843The county was organized in 1857. [ [http://clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Iosco.htm Clarke Historical Library Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Iosco County] ] "See", List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Geography

*According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,891 square miles (4,897 km²), of which, 549 square miles (1,422 km²) of it is land and 1,342 square miles (3,475 km²) of it (70.96%) is water.
*The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Geographic features

*Tawas Bay
*Pine River, rises in Alcona County and flows into Iosco County, where it empties into Van Etten Lake at [show location on an interactive map] 44°29′38″N, 83°23′16″W northwest of Oscoda
*Au Sable River
*Turtle Marsh Wildlife Area [ [http://www.n-sport.com/TuttleMarshWildlifeArea.html Turtle Marsh Wildlife Area] ]
*Van Etten Lake
*Tawas Lake
*Foote Dam Pond
*The County is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the
** Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties).

Major highways

US Highways

* is known as the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway.

Michigan State Trunklines

*. [ [http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m55/ Picture of M-55 end point.] ]
*

Iosco County Intercounty Highways

*

Other Highways

*River Road -- starting at M-65 and running parallel with the beautiful Au Sable River for 23 miles east -- ends at US 23 in Oscoda, Michigan. It is a designated National Scenic Byway. [ [http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/10781/ River Road Scenic Byway at America's Byways.] ] The road passes by the Lumberman's Monument.

Adjacent counties

Geographic Location
Centre = Iosco County
North = Alcona County
East = Lake Huron
Southeast = Saginaw Bay
Southwest = Arenac County
West = Ogemaw County
Northwest = Oscoda County|

National protected area

* Huron National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 27,339 people, 11,727 households, and 7,857 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 20,432 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.92% White, 0.41% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.2% were of German, 12.3% English, 10.6% Irish, 9.9% American, 8.3% Polish and 7.1% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.4% spoke English and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 11,727 households out of which 24.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.40% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 27.30% from 45 to 64, and 21.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,321, and the median income for a family was $37,452. Males had a median income of $30,338 versus $21,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,115. About 9.50% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.50% of those under age 18 and 7.60% 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.

Iosco County officials (elected 2002)

* Prosecuting Attorney: Gary W. Rapp
* Sheriff: Michael Fischer
* County Clerk: Michael A. Welsch
* County Treasurer: Elite P. Shellenbarger
* Register of Deeds: Bonita M. Coyle
* Drain Commissioner: Gary Adams

Iosco County commissioners (elected 2002)

* District 1: Clyde L. Soucie
* District 2: Jeff Mathews
* District 3: Bob Cudney
* District 4: John Moehring
* District 5: Patricia Schmidt

(current as of July 2006)

Education

Iosco County contains four public school districts: Hale Area Schools, Oscoda Area Schools, Tawas Area Schools, and Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools.

There are also 3 private elementary schools in the county: Emanuel Lutheran School in Tawas City, Holy Family School in East Tawas, and Shady Grove School in Whittemore.

Alpena Community College offers college-level courses at its campus on the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda and local public school facilities.

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities
* East Tawas
* Tawas City
* WhittemoreUnincorporated
* Au Sable
* Hale
* Long Lake
* Oscoda

Townships
* Alabaster Township
* Au Sable Township
* Baldwin Township
* Burleigh Township
* Grant Township
* Oscoda Township
* Plainfield Township
* Reno Township
* Sherman Township
* Tawas Township
* Wilber Township

Newspapers and communications

*The "Iosco County News-Herald" is the newspaper of record for Iosco County. [ [http://www.iosconews.com/about_us/ Iosco County News Herald home page] ]
*The "Oscoda Press" is a weekly newspaper serving northern Iosco County and southern Alcona County [ [http://www.oscodapress.com/about_us/ Oscoda Press home page] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Iosco.htm Clarke Historical Library Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Iosco County]
* [http://iosco.m33access.com/ County of Iosco, links, media, history, parks, services and more.]
* [http://www.theenchantedforest.com/ "Enchanted forest", Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.]