Ogemaw County, Michigan

Ogemaw County (/ˈoʊɡəmɔː/ OH-gə-maw) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 20,770.[2] The county seat is West Branch.[3]

Ogemaw County
County
Ogemaw County Building in West Branch
Ogemaw County Building in West Branch
Map of Michigan highlighting Ogemaw 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°20′N 84°08′W
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedG, 1840 (authorized)
1875 (organized)[1]
SeatWest Branch
Largest citySkidway Lake
West Branch (incorporated)
Area
 • Total575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total20,770
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteocmi.us

The county newspaper of record is the Ogemaw Herald.[4]

History
See also: History of Northern Michigan

Ogemaw County started as part of the Virginia Land owned by England. After the Revolutionary War, it broke up into smaller and smaller pieces. The county was originally created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840[5] from unorganized territory, but was absorbed into Iosco County in 1867. It was re-created in 1873, and was finally organized in 1875.[1] The county's name is an Anglicization of the Anishinaabemowin word ogimaa, meaning "chief".[1] Ogemaw's name came from an eloquent, respected Native American orator named Little Elk. One of the first settlements in the county was Ogemaw Springs, the genesis of lumbering operations in the county. The settlement of Ogemaw Springs ended when the lumber industry in the region ended. (Due to the lumber industry, railways were built to transport the lumber, and towns often sprang up along the tracks. After timber supplies in the Midwest dwindled, loggers shifted westward to the Pacific Northwest to find new sources of lumber, and many of these fledgling settlements foundered.) With Ogemaw Springs in decline, the people flocked to West Branch, causing an economic boom, including the construction of its first hotel. This created even more growth, causing many restaurants, hotels, and businesses to be built, a vast majority of which still stand today.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 563 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.0%) is water.[7] Ogemaw County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Highways
  • I-75 – Runs SE across the southwest part of the county; passes south of West Branch.
  • M-30 – Enters from Gladwin County at 5.5 miles (8.9 km) east of the SW corner of Ogemaw County; runs north and NE to intersection with M-55 near West Branch.
  • M-33 – Runs north–south through the middle of county; passes Rose City.
  • M-55 – Runs east–west across the lower part of county; enters from Iosco County at 6 miles (9.7 km) north of SE corner of Ogemaw County; runs west to intersection with I-75, west of West Branch.[8]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187012—
18801,91415,850.0%
18905,583191.7%
19007,76539.1%
19108,90714.7%
19207,786−12.6%
19306,595−15.3%
19408,72032.2%
19509,3457.2%
19609,6803.6%
197011,90323.0%
198016,43638.1%
199018,68113.7%
200021,64515.9%
201021,6990.2%
202020,770−4.3%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[13] 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 people/km2). There were 15,404 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/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. 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.

The county population contained 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

For many years, Ogemaw County has been reliably Republican. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 82% of the national presidential elections (28 of 35).

United States presidential election results for Ogemaw County, Michigan[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,253 69.23% 3,475 29.15% 193 1.62%
2016 6,827 65.39% 3,030 29.02% 583 5.58%
2012 5,437 52.31% 4,791 46.09% 166 1.60%
2008 5,133 47.54% 5,391 49.93% 274 2.54%
2004 5,454 50.52% 5,215 48.30% 127 1.18%
2000 4,706 47.75% 4,896 49.68% 253 2.57%
1996 2,904 32.04% 4,725 52.13% 1,435 15.83%
1992 2,936 32.17% 4,016 44.01% 2,174 23.82%
1988 4,091 50.20% 4,012 49.23% 47 0.58%
1984 4,901 60.81% 3,132 38.86% 27 0.33%
1980 4,169 51.29% 3,426 42.15% 533 6.56%
1976 3,212 47.07% 3,545 51.95% 67 0.98%
1972 3,367 60.77% 2,056 37.11% 118 2.13%
1968 2,526 54.56% 1,647 35.57% 457 9.87%
1964 1,609 36.36% 2,812 63.55% 4 0.09%
1960 2,664 58.65% 1,867 41.11% 11 0.24%
1956 2,931 69.18% 1,300 30.68% 6 0.14%
1952 2,983 73.91% 1,030 25.52% 23 0.57%
1948 2,062 64.70% 1,038 32.57% 87 2.73%
1944 2,339 69.55% 1,006 29.91% 18 0.54%
1940 2,447 65.45% 1,278 34.18% 14 0.37%
1936 1,631 45.24% 1,774 49.21% 200 5.55%
1932 1,472 45.94% 1,645 51.34% 87 2.72%
1928 1,630 73.39% 579 26.07% 12 0.54%
1924 1,714 79.32% 258 11.94% 189 8.75%
1920 1,687 75.55% 444 19.88% 102 4.57%
1916 878 51.20% 743 43.32% 94 5.48%
1912 541 31.64% 319 18.65% 850 49.71%
1908 1,218 68.47% 454 25.52% 107 6.01%
1904 1,320 75.47% 329 18.81% 100 5.72%
1900 1,186 67.31% 518 29.40% 58 3.29%
1896 793 56.64% 560 40.00% 47 3.36%
1892 594 50.64% 514 43.82% 65 5.54%
1888 620 48.44% 579 45.23% 81 6.33%
1884 478 49.48% 472 48.86% 16 1.66%

Ogemaw County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of 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.

Elected officials

(information as of February 2021)

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

Cities

Village

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "Bibliography on Ogemaw County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Ogemaw County Herald". Ogemaw County Herald. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  5. George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  6. 100 Voices Through 100 Years (1 ed.). West Branch Michigan: Arrowhead Book CO. 2008. pp. 1, 539. ISBN 978-0-9816201-0-7.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  8. Ogemaw County MI Google Maps (accessed 15 September 2018)
  9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  12. "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 27, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. US Election Atlas
  15. Ogemaw County website

44.33°N 84.13°W / 44.33; -84.13

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