Crawford County, Michigan

County in Michigan, United States

U.S. county in Michigan

Crawford County

U.S. county

Crawford County Building in Grayling

Crawford County Building in Grayling

Map of Michigan highlighting Crawford County

Location within the U.S. state of Michigan

Michigan's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Michigan
Founded| 1840[1]
Named for| William Crawford
Seat| Grayling
Largest city| Grayling
Area

• Total| 563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Land| 556 sq mi (1,440 km2)
• Water| 7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  1.2%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 12,988
• Density| 25/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| www.crawfordco.org

Crawford County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 12,988.[2] The county seat is Grayling.[3]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 National protected area
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 4.1 Elected officials
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 City
* 5.2 Charter township
* 5.3 Civil townships
* 5.4 Unincorporated communities
* 5.5 Ghost towns
* 6 Historical markers
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

[edit | edit source]

File:1842 Negissee Okkuddo Cheonoquet Wabbassee Shawwano Oscoda counties Michigan.jpgA detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Crawford County as "Shawwano" (a misspelling of Shawono, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[4]) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

The county is named for Col. William Crawford,[5] a Revolutionary War soldier killed in 1782 while fighting Native Americans in Ohio. It was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Shawono County, then renamed Crawford County in 1843. The county was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties prior to the organization of county government in 1879.[4][1]

## Geography

[edit | edit source]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 563 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 556 square miles (1,440 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6] The county is part of Northern Michigan.

The county is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties). Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. A large portion of the area is the so-called Grayling outwash plain, which consists of 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.[7]

### Major highways

[edit | edit source]

* I-75
* File:Business Loop 75.svg BL I-75
* File:Business Loop 75.svg BL I-75
* File:US 127.svg US 127
* File:M-18.svg M-18
* File:M-72.svg M-72
* File:M-93.svg M-93
* File:County F-32.svg F-32
* File:County F-97.svg F-97
* County Highway 612

### Adjacent counties

[edit | edit source]

* Otsego County \- north
* Montmorency County \- northeast
* Oscoda County \- east
* Ogemaw County \- southeast
* Roscommon County \- south
* Missaukee County \- southwest
* Kalkaska County \- west
* Antrim County \- northwest

### National protected area

[edit | edit source]

* Huron National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1880| 1,159| | —
1890| 2,962| | 155.6%
1900| 2,943| | −0.6%
1910| 3,934| | 33.7%
1920| 4,049| | 2.9%
1930| 3,097| | −23.5%
1940| 3,765| | 21.6%
1950| 4,151| | 10.3%
1960| 4,971| | 19.8%
1970| 6,482| | 30.4%
1980| 9,465| | 46.0%
1990| 12,260| | 29.5%
2000| 14,273| | 16.4%
2010| 14,074| | −1.4%
2020| 12,988| | −7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[2]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 14,273 people, 5,625 households, and 4,038 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km2). There were 10,042 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.38% White, 1.50% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.8% were of German, 12.5% English, 10.1% American, 8.9% Irish, 7.4% Polish and 5.9% French ancestry. 97.7% spoke English and 1.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 5,625 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 104.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,364, and the median income for a family was $37,056. Males had a median income of $31,504 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,903. About 10.00% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

[edit | edit source]

Presidential election results

Presidential Elections Results[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties

|
|
|

2020 | 64.7% 5,087 | 34.0% 2,672 | 1.3% 102
2016 | 63.6% 4,354 | 30.8% 2,110 | 5.6% 380
2012 | 55.0% 3,744 | 43.9% 2,994 | 1.1% 76
2008 | 49.6% 3,561 | 47.9% 3,441 | 2.5% 176
2004 | 55.5% 4,017 | 43.2% 3,126 | 1.3% 92
2000 | 52.6% 3,345 | 43.8% 2,790 | 3.6% 229
1996 | 37.7% 2,157 | 46.6% 2,666 | 15.7% 898
1992 | 37.0% 2,193 | 38.0% 2,252 | 25.0% 1,480
1988 | 62.3% 3,097 | 36.7% 1,825 | 1.0% 51
1984 | 67.5% 3,303 | 31.8% 1,558 | 0.7% 35
1980 | 53.4% 2,652 | 36.8% 1,826 | 9.8% 486
1976 | 54.8% 2,359 | 43.9% 1,889 | 1.3% 55
1972 | 62.0% 1,953 | 36.3% 1,143 | 1.8% 55
1968 | 55.0% 1,266 | 36.7% 845 | 8.2% 189
1964 | 32.2% 696 | 67.8% 1,464 | 0.0% 0
1960 | 65.0% 1,464 | 34.8% 783 | 0.2% 4
1956 | 71.5% 1,380 | 28.3% 547 | 0.2% 3
1952 | 72.5% 1,331 | 26.7% 490 | 0.8% 14
1948 | 63.9% 849 | 34.3% 455 | 1.8% 24
1944 | 58.8% 797 | 40.6% 550 | 0.6% 8
1940 | 52.5% 873 | 46.8% 777 | 0.7% 12
1936 | 38.9% 580 | 58.7% 876 | 2.5% 37
1932 | 41.8% 559 | 56.5% 755 | 1.7% 23
1928 | 76.3% 776 | 23.3% 237 | 0.4% 4
1924 | 72.9% 840 | 14.2% 163 | 12.9% 149
1920 | 64.4% 726 | 32.0% 361 | 3.6% 40
1916 | 46.2% 409 | 50.9% 450 | 2.9% 26
1912 | 35.0% 257 | 25.2% 185 | 39.9% 293[14]
1908 | 67.8% 590 | 27.2% 237 | 4.9% 43
1904 | 73.6% 587 | 23.8% 190 | 2.6% 21
1900 | 62.6% 440 | 35.9% 252 | 1.6% 11
1896 | 49.7% 350 | 49.7% 350 | 0.7% 5
1892 | 48.6% 300 | 49.6% 306 | 1.8% 11
1888 | 47.1% 436 | 51.8% 479 | 1.1% 10
1884 | 56.7% 304 | 41.6% 223 | 1.7% 9

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.

### Elected officials

[edit | edit source]

* Prosecuting Attorney: Sierra Koch
* Sheriff: Shawn M Kraycs
* County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Sandra M. Moore
* County Treasurer: Kate Wagner

(information as of June 2019l)

## Communities

[edit | edit source]

File:Crawford County, MI census map2.pngU.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Crawford County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

### City

[edit | edit source]

* Grayling

### Charter township

[edit | edit source]

* Grayling Charter Township

### Civil townships

[edit | edit source]

* Beaver Creek Township
* Frederic Township
* Lovells Township
* Maple Forest Township
* South Branch Township

### Unincorporated communities

[edit | edit source]

* Babbits Resort
* Collens Landing
* Danish Landing
* Deerheart Valley
* Eldorado
* Five Corners
* Forbush Corner
* Frederic
* Ishaward
* Lake Margrethe
* Louis Cabin Landing
* Lovells
* McIntyre Landing
* Rasmus
* Skyline Village
* Wildwood

### Ghost towns

[edit | edit source]

* Bucks
* Deward
* Pere Cheney

## Historical markers

[edit | edit source]

There are six recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:[15]

* Beginning of State Reforestation
* Chief Shoppenagon / Shoppenagon's Homesite
* The Douglas House / Thomas E. Douglas
* Michigan Grayling
* Officer's Club
* 32nd Red Arrow Division

## See also

[edit | edit source]

* List of counties in Michigan
* List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Crawford County, Michigan
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Crawford County, Michigan

## References

[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Crawford County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States 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. ^ a b Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 95.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
7. ^ "NPWRC :: Regional Landscape". usgs.gov. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
14. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 249 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 35 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 8 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 1 vote.
15. ^ "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2008.

## External links

[edit | edit source]

* "Bibliography on Crawford County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
* Crawford County government
* Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.

Places adjacent to Crawford County, Michigan

| Antrim County | Otsego County | Montmorency County

|
|

|  |
Kalkaska County |

Crawford County, Michigan

| Oscoda County
|  |
Missaukee County | Roscommon County | Ogemaw County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Crawford County, Michigan, United States

County seat: Grayling

City|

* Grayling

File:Map of Michigan highlighting Crawford County.svgMap of Michigan

Charter township|

* Grayling

Civil townships|

* Beaver Creek
* Frederic
* Lovells
* Maple Forest
* South Branch

Unincorporated
communities|

* Babbits Resort
* Collens Landing
* Danish Landing
* Deerheart Valley
* Eldorado
* Five Corners
* Forbush Corner
* Frederic
* Ishaward
* Lake Margrethe
* Louis Cabin Landing
* Lovells
* McIntyre Landing
* Rasmus
* Skyline Village
* Wildwood

Ghost towns|

* Bucks
* Deward
* Pere Cheney

* 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 84°37′W﻿ / ﻿44.68°N 84.61°W﻿ / 44.68; -84.61
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template