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Iosco County, Michigan

Coordinates: 44°17′N 83°20′W / 44.28°N 83.34°W / 44.28; -83.34
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Iosco County
County
Tawas Point Light
Tawas Point Light
Official seal of Iosco County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Iosco 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°17′N 83°20′W / 44.28°N 83.34°W / 44.28; -83.34
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1840 (as "Kanotin")
1857 organized[1]
SeatTawas City
Largest cityEast Tawas
Area
 • Total
1,890 sq mi (4,900 km2)
 • Land549 sq mi (1,420 km2)
 • Water1,341 sq mi (3,470 km2)  71%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
25,237
 • Density47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteiosco.net

Iosco County (/aɪˈɒskoʊ/ eye-OSS-koh) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan; its eastern border is formed by Lake Huron. As of the 2020 census, its population was 25,237.[2] Its seat of government is Tawas City.[3]

Etymology

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Iosco has traditionally been said to be a Native American word meaning "water of light",[4] but was actually coined as a pseudo-Native American name by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, an American geographer and ethnologist who served as the U.S. Indian agent in Michigan in the late 19th century. He named several counties and towns during the state's formative years.[5]

History

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A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Iosco County as Kanotin, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[6] 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 Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Kanotin County,[7] and renamed Iosco County in 1843. It was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties before the organization of county government in 1857. A majority of the population was Ojibwe. The area offered shelter from tall white pines and food from the river and lake. Iosco County was cut from a piece of land ceded by the Ojibwe to the U.S. government. When the lumber boom hit, many more people moved to the area.[6][1]

The 400-acre Alabaster Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is associated with an operating gypsum open-pit mine south of Tawas City. The large company town included internal rail lines for transportation and a tramway extending over Lake Huron on long piers for loading gypsum onto ships. Started in 1862, the mine supplied gypsum for temporary buildings constructed in Chicago at the World Columbian Exposition of 1893.[8] Two companies continue to mine gypsum in Iosco County.

In 2009, Alabaster Township formed the nonprofit Alabaster Wind Power Development Corp. to conduct the necessary two-year studies of wind data at this site as a potential location for development of wind turbines. It proposed using 10 large tramway platforms that extend more than 6,000 feet into the lake to gauge winds. The turbines could be built on the tramways. At the time, the federal government was offering subsidies for such studies and development of alternative energy projects.[9]

Geography

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According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,890 square miles (4,900 km2), of which 549 square miles (1,420 km2) is land and 1,341 square miles (3,470 km2) (71%) is water.[10] It is considered part of Northern Michigan. In total, it covers about 6,361,837 acres.

Geographic features

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Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Loud Dam on the Au Sable River in Au Sable Township

By land

By water

National protected area

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Communities

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U.S. census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Iosco County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities

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Charter townships

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Civil townships

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860175—
18703,1631,707.4%
18806,873117.3%
189015,224121.5%
190010,246−32.7%
19109,753−4.8%
19208,199−15.9%
19307,517−8.3%
19408,56013.9%
195010,90627.4%
196016,50551.3%
197024,90550.9%
198028,34913.8%
199030,2096.6%
200027,339−9.5%
201025,887−5.3%
202025,237−2.5%
2023 (est.)25,373[15]0.5%
US Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States census,[20] there were 27,339 people, 11,727 households, and 7,857 families in the county. Most of the population is located on the shoreline along US-23,East Tawas, Tawas City, and Oscoda County. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 20,432 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile (14/km2). By the 2020 census, its population was 25,237.[2]

In 2000, the county's racial makeup 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. 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.

The county population included 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.

In 2000, 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

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The county government operates the 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, with 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

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Iosco County has been reliably Republican from the beginning. Since 1884, the Republican presidential nominee has carried the county in 29 of 36 elections.

United States presidential election results for Iosco County, Michigan[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 10,155 64.55% 5,344 33.97% 232 1.47%
2020 9,759 63.42% 5,373 34.92% 255 1.66%
2016 8,345 62.14% 4,345 32.36% 739 5.50%
2012 6,909 51.62% 6,242 46.63% 234 1.75%
2008 6,583 46.28% 7,309 51.38% 333 2.34%
2004 7,301 52.13% 6,557 46.82% 148 1.06%
2000 6,345 47.99% 6,505 49.20% 372 2.81%
1996 4,410 35.50% 6,240 50.23% 1,774 14.28%
1992 4,912 36.41% 5,369 39.79% 3,211 23.80%
1988 7,234 59.17% 4,929 40.32% 62 0.51%
1984 7,907 66.99% 3,850 32.62% 47 0.40%
1980 6,680 56.54% 4,255 36.01% 880 7.45%
1976 5,500 52.39% 4,875 46.44% 123 1.17%
1972 5,750 64.10% 3,065 34.17% 156 1.74%
1968 4,068 55.42% 2,533 34.51% 739 10.07%
1964 2,704 38.39% 4,336 61.56% 4 0.06%
1960 4,308 62.74% 2,549 37.12% 9 0.13%
1956 4,385 72.50% 1,660 27.45% 3 0.05%
1952 3,772 74.56% 1,274 25.18% 13 0.26%
1948 2,599 68.90% 1,115 29.56% 58 1.54%
1944 2,340 67.26% 1,127 32.39% 12 0.34%
1940 2,504 65.46% 1,303 34.07% 18 0.47%
1936 1,768 50.88% 1,547 44.52% 160 4.60%
1932 1,581 49.62% 1,500 47.08% 105 3.30%
1928 1,873 76.79% 552 22.63% 14 0.57%
1924 1,713 71.43% 304 12.68% 381 15.89%
1920 2,013 76.71% 548 20.88% 63 2.40%
1916 984 56.00% 729 41.49% 44 2.50%
1912 521 28.90% 418 23.18% 864 47.92%
1908 1,224 63.03% 668 34.40% 50 2.57%
1904 1,482 75.30% 426 21.65% 60 3.05%
1900 1,402 66.41% 679 32.16% 30 1.42%
1896 1,470 60.25% 912 37.38% 58 2.38%
1892 1,393 49.57% 1,336 47.54% 81 2.88%
1888 1,505 45.45% 1,639 49.50% 167 5.04%
1884 1,016 52.83% 864 44.93% 43 2.24%

County elected officials

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County commissioners

  • District 1: Robert Huebel III
  • District 2: Terry Dutcher
  • District 3: Charles Finley
  • District 4: John Moehring
  • District 5: Donald "Jay" O'Farrell

Education

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Iosco County has four public school districts:

There are also three private elementary schools:

  • Emanuel Lutheran School (Tawas City)
  • Holy Family School (East Tawas)
  • Shady Grove School (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.

Media

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Iosco County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "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. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 165.
  5. ^ "Michigan Counties". Michigan.gov. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  7. ^ George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. ^ Amy L. Payne, "Planners propose retrofitting old gypsum tramway for wind turbines on Lake Huron", MLive, Booth Mid-Michigan, February 26, 2009
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  11. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pine River (Iosco/Alcona Counties
  12. ^ FMU definition
  13. ^ "Picture of M-55 end point". state-ends.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007.
  14. ^ "River Road Scenic Byway at America's Byways". Archived from the original on February 3, 2007. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  15. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  17. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  18. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  19. ^ "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 26, 2014.
  20. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  21. ^ US Election Atlas
  22. ^ Iosco County News Herald home page
  23. ^ "Iosco County News Herald".

Further reading

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  • Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Great Lakes Books. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0814318386.
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44°17′N 83°20′W / 44.28°N 83.34°W / 44.28; -83.34

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