Alcona County, Michigan

Alcona County (/ælˈkoʊnə/ al-KOH-nə) is a county of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 10,167.[2] Its county seat is Harrisville.[3] Alphabetically it is the first county in Michigan; as its flag states, it is the "First of 83".

Alcona County
County
Sturgeon Point Light near Harrisville
Sturgeon Point Light near Harrisville
Official logo of Alcona County
Logo
Map of Michigan highlighting Alcona County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°43′N 83°16′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Foundedestablished 1840
organized 1869[1]
SeatHarrisville
Largest cityHarrisville
Area
 • Total1,791 sq mi (4,640 km2)
 • Land675 sq mi (1,750 km2)
 • Water1,116 sq mi (2,890 km2)  62.%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,167
 • Density16/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitehttps://alconacountymi.com/ motto="First of 83"

History
A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Alcona County as Negwegon, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[4] Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.
See also: History of Northern Michigan

The county was created by the state legislature on April 1, 1840.[5][6] It was at first named Negwegon County,[4] after the name of a well-known Chippewa chief, also known as "Little Wing". He was honored as having been an American ally against the British in the War of 1812.

It was renamed to Alcona County on March 8, 1843, after a neologism created by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft from parts of words from Native American languages, plus Arabic, Greek and Latin.[7][8] These were amalgamated to mean "fine or excellent plain".[1][9] He was an influential US Indian agent and geographer.

Alcona County was initially attached to Mackinac County for purposes of revenue, taxation, and judicial matters. The attachment shifted to Cheboygan County in 1853, to Alpena County in 1857, to Iosco County in 1858, and to Alpena County in 1859.

Harrisville Township, then comprising the entire county, was organized in 1860. County government was organized in 1869, becoming effective on May 8, 1869.[10][11] The county's slogan on its seal (a single gold star on a green field in the shape of Alcona County) is "First of 83," which refers to its place alphabetically among Michigan counties.[12]

In 2007, Alcona County was forced to explore options to remedy a major budget shortfall resulting from an official's embezzlement. Former County Treasurer Thomas Katona pleaded guilty in June 2007 to charges that he embezzled more than 1.2 million dollars from county funds to invest them in a Nigerian scam which he fell for.[13][14]

Katona was sentenced to 9–14 years imprisonment on June 12, 2007, by the 23rd Circuit Court. Judge William Myles said Katona's crimes warranted more severe punishment than called for in state sentencing guidelines, due to the amount of money involved and the number of victims in the case.[15]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,791 square miles (4,640 km2), of which 675 square miles (1,750 km2) is land and 1,116 square miles (2,890 km2) (62%) is water.[16]

The area is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties). The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Alcona County has a shoreline on Lake Huron. Through Lake Huron, Alcona County has a water boundary with the Canadian province of Ontario. The Au Sable River flows through the southwest of the county.

Lakes

Lakes in the county include:[17]

  • Lake Huron
  • Alcona Lake
  • Badger Lake
  • Bear Lake
  • Brownlee Lake
  • Byron Lake
  • Cedar Lake
  • Clear Lake
  • Crooked Lake
  • Crystal Lake
  • Curtis Lake
  • Honawan Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake
  • Hubbard Lake, one of the state's twenty largest inland lakes.[18]
  • Hunter Lake
  • Indian Lake
  • Jenkins lake
  • Jewell Lake
  • Lost Lake
  • North Hoist Lake
  • North Lake
  • O'Brien Lake
  • Poplar Lake
  • Reid Lake
  • South Hoist Lake
  • Tompson Lake

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Government

The county government maintains rural roads, operates the local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and works with state agencies to provide social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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.

The Alcona County Circuit Court is part of the 23rd Circuit of Michigan. This multicounty circuit also includes Arenac, Iosco and Oscoda Counties. This court was previously part of the 26th Circuit, which included Alpena and Montmorency Counties.

Elected officials

(as of May 2018)

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860185—
1870696276.2%
18803,107346.4%
18905,40974.1%
19005,6915.2%
19105,7030.2%
19205,9123.7%
19304,989−15.6%
19405,4639.5%
19505,8567.2%
19606,3528.5%
19707,11312.0%
19809,74036.9%
199010,1454.2%
200011,71915.5%
201010,942−6.6%
202010,167−7.1%
US Decennial Census[20]
1790-1960[21] 1900-1990[22]
1990-2000[23] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,942 people living in the county. 97.9% were White, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the 2000 United States Census,[24] the county held 11,719 people, 5,132 households, and 3,566 families. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 10,584 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.04% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.4% were of English, 23.0% German, 9.2% Irish, 7.7% Polish, 7.5% French and 5.0% French-Canadian ancestry according to 2012 American Community Survey. 98.2% spoke English as their first language. Those citing "American" ancestry in Alcona County are of overwhelmingly English extraction, however most English Americans identify simply as having American ancestry because their roots have been in North America for so long, in some cases since the 1600s.[25][26][27][28][29]

There were 5,132 households; 20.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.67.

The county population spread showed 19.00% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 20.90% from 25 to 44, 31.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,362, and the median income for a family was $35,669. Males had a median income of $29,712 versus $20,566 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,653. About 9.10% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Alcona County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord.[30] and the Presbytery of Mackinac (http://www.presbymac.org/) and the Presbyterian Church USA (Presbyterian Church/USA- https://www.pcusa.org/).

As of 2012, these church meetinghouses were listed in Alcona County:

  • Baptist (general listing) – 7
  • Lutheran – 7
  • Presbyterian (general) – 3
  • Methodist (general) – 3 –
  • Episcopal – 1
  • Seventh-Day Adventist – 1[31]
  • Rome Catholic Church - 3

There were no meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alcona in 2018.[32]

Education

Alcona County is served by three public school districts. Public school district boundaries are not coterminous with the county boundary or any municipality boundaries within the county. Only one district, Alcona Community Schools, is entirely contained within the county, enrolling 690 students for the 2021-2022 school year.[33]

Students on the southern side of the county are assigned to Oscoda Area Schools in the neighboring county of Iosco, while students on the western side of the county in Mitchell Township are assigned to Fairview Area School District, based in Oscoda County.[34] Each school district is supported by a different intermediate school district, with the majority of students enrolled in the county being covered by the Alpena–Montmorency–Alcona Education Service District, based in Alpena.[35]

Districts

School districts include:[33][34]

Politics

Alcona County has been reliably Republican since the beginning. Since 1884, the county has voted against the Republican nominee for president only five times.

United States presidential election results for Alcona County, Michigan[36]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,848 68.63% 2,142 30.32% 74 1.05%
2016 4,201 67.78% 1,732 27.94% 265 4.28%
2012 3,571 58.50% 2,472 40.50% 61 1.00%
2008 3,404 53.02% 2,896 45.11% 120 1.87%
2004 3,592 55.00% 2,871 43.96% 68 1.04%
2000 3,152 52.56% 2,696 44.96% 149 2.48%
1996 2,227 40.09% 2,619 47.15% 709 12.76%
1992 2,247 38.88% 2,383 41.24% 1,149 19.88%
1988 2,966 60.47% 1,918 39.10% 21 0.43%
1984 3,223 66.41% 1,616 33.30% 14 0.29%
1980 2,905 57.39% 1,857 36.69% 300 5.93%
1976 2,328 52.87% 2,038 46.29% 37 0.84%
1972 2,434 65.91% 1,195 32.36% 64 1.73%
1968 1,852 58.76% 958 30.39% 342 10.85%
1964 1,199 42.59% 1,611 57.23% 5 0.18%
1960 2,053 66.25% 1,038 33.49% 8 0.26%
1956 1,991 71.52% 788 28.30% 5 0.18%
1952 1,441 65.06% 766 34.58% 8 0.36%
1948 1,425 65.73% 708 32.66% 35 1.61%
1944 1,503 67.40% 716 32.11% 11 0.49%
1940 1,648 65.89% 847 33.87% 6 0.24%
1936 1,276 52.95% 919 38.13% 215 8.92%
1932 881 47.83% 884 47.99% 77 4.18%
1928 1,149 78.81% 302 20.71% 7 0.48%
1924 1,027 72.32% 184 12.96% 209 14.72%
1920 1,043 75.85% 264 19.20% 68 4.95%
1916 573 53.20% 453 42.06% 51 4.74%
1912 291 29.45% 145 14.68% 552 55.87%
1908 824 76.37% 175 16.22% 80 7.41%
1904 901 87.31% 92 8.91% 39 3.78%
1900 849 84.06% 145 14.36% 16 1.58%
1896 743 70.90% 275 26.24% 30 2.86%
1892 556 57.32% 380 39.18% 34 3.51%
1888 645 55.60% 502 43.28% 13 1.12%
1884 545 61.51% 339 38.26% 2 0.23%

Transportation

Highways

Airport

Alcona County has been a part of developing the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport, which became a public airport in 1993. It now occupies a portion of the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, which is in Oscoda Township, Michigan in neighboring Iosco County, Michigan. It is primarily used for cargo and light general aviation activities. The Airport offers 24-hour near all weather daily access.

Media

Newspapers

Radio

Communities
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Alcona County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

City

Village

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Historical markers

Parks and recreation

There is a senior citizens center building that opened in the 1940s. In 2023 there was a controversy over how to use a $12,500,000 grant that was to be used to build a replacement building.[45]

See also

References
  1. "Bibliography on Alcona County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  5. Powers, p. 87
  6. George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  7. Romig, Walter (October 1, 1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. Names of Michigan Counties Archived March 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Powers, p. 94
  10. Powers, p. 88
  11. Alcona Review
  12. Neighbor Hub. "Alcona County website".
  13. "Officials begin talks on how to make painful budget cuts," Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine The Bay City Times, May 31, 2007.
  14. "Michigan Attorney General press release", June 12, 2007
  15. "Former Alcona treasurer sentenced to 9-14 years," Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine The Bay City Times, June 13, 2007. Accessed June 24, 2007.
  16. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  17. "DNR - DNR". www.michigan.gov.
  18. Top 20 Michigan inland lakes Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  19. Alcona County Government
  20. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  21. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  22. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  23. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  24. Statistical profile of Alcona County, Michigan Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  25. "Ancestry of the Population by State: 1980 - Table 3" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  26. Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.
  27. Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.
  28. Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44-46.
  29. Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82-86.
  30. "Diocese of Gaylord".
  31. "Alcona County Review/Church.html". Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  32. churchofjesuschrist.org Meetinghouse Locator
  33. "Search for Public School Districts: Alcona County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  34. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Alcona County, MI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 19, 2023. - Text list
  35. "Welcome to Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District". AMA Educational Service District. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  36. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  37. "Photos of ends of M-72". state-ends.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007.
  38. History of Michigan highways
  39. "Alcona County Review".
  40. "News, Sports, Jobs - The Alpena News".
  41. "Oscoda Press home page". Iosco County News Herald. East Tawas MI. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  42. "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
  43. "Springport Inn". Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
  44. "Platt, Connie Faussett, Northern Journal (November-December, 2004), Captain Joseph VanBuskirk of Springport (Harrisville, Michigan)" (PDF). mieastsidepubs.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2008.
  45. Moore, Lindsay (February 2, 2023). "Conservative politics, alleged racism and $12.5M divide Northern Michigan county". MLive. Retrieved February 4, 2023.

Further reading

44.71°N 83.27°W / 44.71; -83.27

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