Kalkaska County, Michigan

County in Michigan, United States

U.S. county in Michigan

Kalkaska County

U.S. county

Kalkaska County Government Offices in Kalkaska

Kalkaska County Government Offices in Kalkaska

Map of Michigan highlighting Kalkaska County

Location within the U.S. state of Michigan

Michigan's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Michigan
Founded| 1840 (established)
1871 (organized)[1]
Seat| Kalkaska
Largest village| Kalkaska
Area

• Total| 571 sq mi (1,480 km2)
• Land| 560 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water| 11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.9%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 17,939
• Density| 31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 1st

Kalkaska County is located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 17,939.[2] The county seat is Kalkaska.[3]

Kalkaska County is included in the Traverse City Micropolitan Statistical Area. Although it is located on Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Kalkaska County is considered part of Northern Michigan.

## Contents

* 1 Etymology of the name
* 2 History
* 3 Geography
* 3.1 Lakes
* 3.2 Rivers
* 3.3 Major highways
* 3.4 Adjacent counties
* 4 Demographics
* 5 Government
* 6 Events
* 7 Communities
* 7.1 Village
* 7.2 Civil townships
* 7.3 Census-designated places
* 7.4 Other unincorporated communities
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 Further reading
* 11 External links

## Etymology of the name

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The county's name is a pseudo-Native American word coined by Henry Schoolcraft, a Michigan geographer and ethnologist.[4] The name 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 had been Calcraft, and the Ks may have been added to make the name appear more like a Native American word.[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 Kalkaska County as "Wabbassee" (a misspelling of Wabassee, 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 formed in 1840 and called Wabassee County until 1843.[6][1] The first settler in Kalkaska County was William Copeland, from England, who purchased land in the northwest corner of the county in 1855. 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.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 571 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 560 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.9%) is water.[7]

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

Kalkaska County has over 80 lakes and 275 miles (443 km) of streams and rivers. Much of the county is marshland. County elevation ranges from 595 feet (181 m) to about 1,246 feet (380 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 Grayling outwash plain, a 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.[8]

### Lakes

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* Torch Lake
* Starvation Lake
* Lake Skegemog
* Bear Lake
* Manistee Lake
* Grass Lake
* Rainbow Lake
* Blue Lake
* Cub Lake
* Twin Lake
* Little Twin Lake
* Pickerel Lake
* Squaw Lake
* Indian Lake
* Perch Lake
* Crawford Lake
* Lost Lake
* Johnson Rd Lake
* Log Lake
* Selkirk Lake
* Kettle Lake
* Lake Placid
* Sand Lake
* Twenty Eight Lakes
* East Lake
* Long Lake
* Lake Five
* Wheeler Lake

### Rivers

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* Boardman River
* Little Rapid River
* Manistee River
* Rapid River
* Torch River

### Major highways

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* US 131 – runs NE through the western part of the county. Enters at 4 miles (6.4 km) north of SW corner; exits into Antrim County near midpoint of north county line.
* M-66 – runs north–south through west-central part of county. Passes Kalkaska.
* File:M-72.svg M-72 – runs east and ESE through middle portion of county. Passes Kalkaska.

### Adjacent counties

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* Antrim County – north
* Otsego County – northeast
* Crawford County – east
* Roscommon County – southeast
* Missaukee County – south
* Wexford County – southwest
* Grand Traverse County – west

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1870| 424| | —
1880| 2,937| | 592.7%
1890| 5,160| | 75.7%
1900| 7,133| | 38.2%
1910| 8,097| | 13.5%
1920| 5,577| | −31.1%
1930| 3,799| | −31.9%
1940| 5,159| | 35.8%
1950| 4,597| | −10.9%
1960| 4,382| | −4.7%
1970| 5,272| | 20.3%
1980| 10,952| | 107.7%
1990| 13,497| | 23.2%
2000| 16,571| | 22.8%
2010| 17,153| | 3.5%
2020| 17,939| | 4.6%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census[13] 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 98.44% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other 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. 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.

The county population contained 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.

## Government

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Kalkaska County voters have been reliably Republican from the start. They have selected the Republican Party nominee in 85% of national elections (29 of 35).

United States presidential election results for Kalkaska County, Michigan[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 7,436  | 69.95% | 3,002  | 28.24%  | 193  | 1.82%
2016 | 6,116  | 69.24% | 2,280  | 25.81%  | 437  | 4.95%
2012 | 4,901  | 59.06% | 3,272  | 39.43%  | 126  | 1.52%
2008 | 4,527  | 53.27% | 3,780  | 44.48%  | 192  | 2.26%
2004 | 5,084  | 60.67% | 3,189  | 38.05%  | 107  | 1.28%
2000 | 3,842  | 56.10% | 2,774  | 40.50%  | 233  | 3.40%
1996 | 2,455  | 40.28%  | 2,666  | 43.74% | 974  | 15.98%
1992 | 2,173  | 33.82%  | 2,297  | 35.75% | 1,956  | 30.44%
1988 | 3,369  | 61.21% | 2,092  | 38.01%  | 43  | 0.78%
1984 | 3,623  | 69.15% | 1,595  | 30.44%  | 21  | 0.40%
1980 | 2,802  | 56.42% | 1,807  | 36.39%  | 357  | 7.19%
1976 | 2,280  | 53.13% | 1,957  | 45.61%  | 54  | 1.26%
1972 | 1,855  | 64.39% | 924  | 32.07%  | 102  | 3.54%
1968 | 1,190  | 53.29% | 753  | 33.72%  | 290  | 12.99%
1964 | 861  | 41.31%  | 1,220  | 58.54% | 3  | 0.14%
1960 | 1,341  | 65.77% | 693  | 33.99%  | 5  | 0.25%
1956 | 1,443  | 69.11% | 636  | 30.46%  | 9  | 0.43%
1952 | 1,326  | 72.74% | 483  | 26.49%  | 14  | 0.77%
1948 | 837  | 65.54% | 400  | 31.32%  | 40  | 3.13%
1944 | 992  | 70.25% | 409  | 28.97%  | 11  | 0.78%
1940 | 1,155  | 61.27% | 718  | 38.09%  | 12  | 0.64%
1936 | 855  | 45.72%  | 952  | 50.91% | 63  | 3.37%
1932 | 705  | 47.47% | 649  | 43.70%  | 131  | 8.82%
1928 | 988  | 84.59% | 160  | 13.70%  | 20  | 1.71%
1924 | 966  | 70.46% | 205  | 14.95%  | 200  | 14.59%
1920 | 890  | 73.19% | 224  | 18.42%  | 102  | 8.39%
1916 | 724  | 57.46% | 430  | 34.13%  | 106  | 8.41%
1912 | 448  | 32.28%  | 293  | 21.11%  | 647  | 46.61%
1908 | 1,153  | 69.33% | 356  | 21.41%  | 154  | 9.26%
1904 | 1,354  | 83.89% | 184  | 11.40%  | 76  | 4.71%
1900 | 1,312  | 75.45% | 361  | 20.76%  | 66  | 3.80%
1896 | 940  | 66.38% | 422  | 29.80%  | 54  | 3.81%
1892 | 717  | 59.45% | 389  | 32.26%  | 100  | 8.29%
1888 | 798  | 62.34% | 400  | 31.25%  | 82  | 6.41%
1884 | 630  | 60.93% | 369  | 35.69%  | 35  | 3.38%

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 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.

## Events

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The National Trout Festival is an annual festival since 1936, held in April. It notes the heritage and sportsmanship of Kalkaska.[15]

## Communities

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File:Kalkaska County, MI census map.pngU.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Kalkaska County

### Village

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* Kalkaska (county seat)

### Civil townships

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

### Census-designated places

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* Bear Lake
* Manistee Lake
* Rapid City
* South Boardman

### Other unincorporated communities

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* Barker Creek
* Crofton
* Darragh
* Lodi
* Torch River

## See also

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* List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Kalkaska County, Michigan
* Westwood Cemetery (Michigan)

## References

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1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Kalkaska County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Michigan Counties". Michigan.gov. Archive.org. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
5. ^ Michigan History, County Names.
6. ^ a b Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
8. ^ Michigan regional geology. Archived June 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. ^ US Election Atlas
15. ^ National Trout festival, and picture of 'the trout.'

## Further reading

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* Kalkaska Genealogical Society: Big Trout, Black Gold: History of Kalkaska County MI

## External links

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* Official website

Places adjacent to Kalkaska County, Michigan

| Lake Michigan | Antrim County | Otsego County

|
|

|  |
Grand Traverse County |

Kalkaska County, Michigan

| Crawford County
|  |
Wexford County | Missaukee County | Roscommon County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States

County seat: Kalkaska

Village|

* Kalkaska

File:Map of Michigan highlighting Kalkaska County.svgMap of Michigan highlighting Kalkaska County.svg

Civil townships|

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

CDPs|

* Bear Lake
* Manistee Lake
* Rapid City
* South Boardman

Other
unincorporated
communities|

* Barker Creek
* Crofton
* Darragh
* Lodi
* Torch River

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Northern Michigan

Central cities|

* Alpena
* Cadillac
* Charlevoix
* Gaylord
* Petoskey
* Traverse City

Counties|

* Alcona
* Alpena
* Antrim
* Arenac
* Benzie
* Charlevoix
* Cheboygan
* Clare
* Crawford
* Emmet
* Gladwin
* Grand Traverse
* Iosco
* Kalkaska
* Lake
* Leelanau
* Manistee
* Missaukee
* Montmorency
* Ogemaw
* Osceola
* Oscoda
* Otsego
* Presque Isle
* Roscommon
* Wexford

Geography|

* Au Sable River
* Cheboygan River
* Elk River watershed
* Grand Traverse Bay
* Houghton Lake
* Inland Waterway
* Leelanau Peninsula
* Lake Charlevoix
* Lake Huron
* Lake Michigan
* Little Traverse Bay
* Manistee River
* Straits of Mackinac
* Thunder Bay
* Walloon Lake

Transportation|

* Charlevoix Municipal Airport
* Cherry Capital Airport
* Great Lakes Central Railroad
* Lake State Railway
* Mackinac Bridge
* Pellston Regional Airport
* SS Badger

Economy|

* East Jordan Iron Works
* Georgia-Pacific
* Holcim
* Lafarge Cement
* Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company
* Michigan wine
* USG Corporation
* Weyerhaeuser

* Michigan
* Central Michigan
* Southeast Michigan
* Upper Peninsula
* West Michigan

* v
* t
* e

State of Michigan

Lansing (capital)

Topics|

* Congressional delegation
* Cuisine
* Fauna
* Geography
* Government
* Highways
* History
* Index
* Islands
* Law
* Lighthouses
* Municipalities
* Museums
* National Historic Landmarks
* National Register of Historic Places listings
* People
* State Historic Sites
* State parks
* Symbols
* Tallest buildings
* Timeline
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Elections
* Politics

Regions|

| Upper Peninsula|

* Copper Country
* Gogebic Range
* Keweenaw Peninsula

|

Lower Peninsula|

* Central Michigan
* Metro Detroit
* Michiana
* Northern Michigan
* Southeast Michigan
* The Thumb
* West Michigan

Largest
municipalities|

* Ann Arbor
* Battle Creek
* Bay City
* Bloomfield Township
* Canton
* Chesterfield Township
* Clinton Township
* Commerce Township
* Dearborn
* Dearborn Heights
* Detroit
* East Lansing
* Farmington Hills
* Flint
* Georgetown Township
* Grand Blanc Township
* Grand Rapids
* Holland Charter Township
* Independence Township
* Kalamazoo
* Kentwood
* Lansing
* Lincoln Park
* Livonia
* Macomb Township
* Meridian Charter Township
* Midland
* Muskegon
* Novi
* Orion Township
* Pontiac
* Portage
* Redford
* Rochester Hills
* Roseville
* Royal Oak
* Saginaw
* Saginaw Township
* St. Clair Shores
* Shelby Charter Township
* Southfield
* Sterling Heights
* Taylor
* Troy
* Warren
* Waterford Township
* West Bloomfield
* Westland
* Wyoming
* Ypsilanti Charter Township

Counties|

* Alcona
* Alger
* Allegan
* Alpena
* Antrim
* Arenac
* Baraga
* Barry
* Bay
* Benzie
* Berrien
* Branch
* Calhoun
* Cass
* Charlevoix
* Cheboygan
* Chippewa
* Clare
* Clinton
* Crawford
* Delta
* Dickinson
* Eaton
* Emmet
* Genesee
* Gladwin
* Gogebic
* Grand Traverse
* Gratiot
* Hillsdale
* Houghton
* Huron
* Ingham
* Ionia
* Iosco
* Iron
* Isabella
* Jackson
* Kalamazoo
* Kalkaska
* Kent
* Keweenaw
* Lake
* Lapeer
* Leelanau
* Lenawee
* Livingston
* Luce
* Mackinac
* Macomb
* Manistee
* Marquette
* Mason
* Mecosta
* Menominee
* Midland
* Missaukee
* Monroe
* Montcalm
* Montmorency
* Muskegon
* Newaygo
* Oakland
* Oceana
* Ogemaw
* Ontonagon
* Osceola
* Oscoda
* Otsego
* Ottawa
* Presque Isle
* Roscommon
* Saginaw
* Sanilac
* Schoolcraft
* Shiawassee
* St. Clair
* St. Joseph
* Tuscola
* Van Buren
* Washtenaw
* Wayne
* Wexford

Coordinates: 44°41′N 85°05′W﻿ / ﻿44.69°N 85.08°W﻿ / 44.69; -85.08
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