Isabella County, Michigan

County in Michigan, United States

U.S. county in Michigan

Isabella County

U.S. county

St. John's Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant

St. John's Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant

Official seal of Isabella County

Seal

Map of Michigan highlighting Isabella County

Location within the U.S. state of Michigan

Michigan's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Michigan
Founded| 1831 (created)
1859 (organized)[1]
Named for| Queen Isabella I of Castile
Seat| Mount Pleasant
Largest city| Mount Pleasant
Area

• Total| 578 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Land| 573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
• Water| 5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  0.9%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 64,394
• Density| 124/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| www.isabellacounty.org

Isabella County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 64,394.[2] Its county seat is Mount Pleasant.[3] The area was known as Ojibiway Besse, meaning "the place of the Ojibwa" (known as the Chippewa in the United States[4]).

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 4.1 Elected officials
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 Cities
* 5.2 Villages
* 5.3 Charter township
* 5.4 Civil townships
* 5.5 Census-designated places
* 5.6 Unincorporated communities
* 5.7 Indian reservation
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## History

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Isabella County was described by action of the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1831. But for purposes of population, revenue, and judicial matters, it was assigned to nearby counties. Its area was partitioned from unorganized territory plus a portion of Mackinac, which had existed as a Territorial County since 1818.

The Michigan Territory was admitted to the Union as Michigan State in early 1837. By 1859, Isabella had sufficient settlement and interest in self-government that the State legislature authorized its organization.[1] Based on a suggestion by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, the US Indian Agent in this area, the county was named after Queen Isabella I of Castile, who with her husband Ferdinand commissioned Columbus's expedition in which he discovered the New World.[1][5]

Isabella County comprises the Mount Pleasant, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area in Mid-Michigan, also known as Central Michigan. The county contains the Isabella Indian Reservation, which has a total area of 217.67 square miles (563.8 km2). It is the major land base of the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation. Part of the county seat of Mount Pleasant is located within the reservation.

## Geography

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According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) are land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (0.9%) are water.[6]

### Highways

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* I-73 (proposed) –
* US 10 – cuts across NE corner of county. Enters at Clare; runs ESE to east county line. Exits to Coleman.
* US 127 – runs north–south through the eastern central part of county. Passes Rosebush and Mt. Pleasant, runs SE to Shepherd, then runs south into Gratiot County.
* File:M-20.svg M-20 – runs east–west across lower central part of county. Enters from Remus. Ends at Mt. Pleasant.[7]

### Adjacent counties

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* Clare County – north
* Gladwin County – northeast
* Midland County – east
* Gratiot County – southeast
* Montcalm County – southwest
* Mecosta County – west
* Osceola County – northwest

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 1,443| | —
1870| 4,113| | 185.0%
1880| 12,159| | 195.6%
1890| 18,784| | 54.5%
1900| 22,784| | 21.3%
1910| 23,029| | 1.1%
1920| 22,610| | −1.8%
1930| 21,126| | −6.6%
1940| 25,982| | 23.0%
1950| 28,964| | 11.5%
1960| 35,348| | 22.0%
1970| 44,594| | 26.2%
1980| 54,110| | 21.3%
1990| 54,624| | 0.9%
2000| 63,351| | 16.0%
2010| 70,311| | 11.0%
2020| 64,394| | −8.4%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[12] there were 63,351 people, 22,425 households, and 13,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile (43/km2). There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.51% White, 2.75% Native American, 1.93% Black or African American, 1.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. 2.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.0% were of German, 10.1% English, 10.0% Irish, 7.5% American and 6.0% Polish ancestry, 95.9% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 22,425 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.40% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% 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 3.03.

The county population contained 20.30% under the age of 18, 29.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,262, and the median income for a family was $45,953. Males had a median income of $32,270 versus $24,180 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,242. 7.40% of families and 20.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

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United States presidential election results for Isabella County, Michigan[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 14,815  | 50.26% | 14,072  | 47.74%  | 589  | 2.00%
2016 | 12,338  | 48.31% | 11,404  | 44.65%  | 1,798  | 7.04%
2012 | 10,800  | 44.52%  | 13,038  | 53.74% | 422  | 1.74%
2008 | 11,220  | 39.49%  | 16,679  | 58.71% | 511  | 1.80%
2004 | 11,754  | 48.19%  | 12,334  | 50.57% | 302  | 1.24%
2000 | 10,053  | 47.71%  | 10,228  | 48.55% | 788  | 3.74%
1996 | 7,460  | 38.57%  | 9,635  | 49.81% | 2,247  | 11.62%
1992 | 7,706  | 34.97%  | 8,784  | 39.86% | 5,547  | 25.17%
1988 | 10,362  | 56.07% | 7,960  | 43.07%  | 160  | 0.87%
1984 | 12,215  | 65.00% | 6,435  | 34.24%  | 143  | 0.76%
1980 | 10,407  | 50.24% | 7,293  | 35.21%  | 3,015  | 14.55%
1976 | 10,577  | 57.66% | 7,281  | 39.69%  | 487  | 2.65%
1972 | 9,682  | 55.47% | 7,446  | 42.66%  | 326  | 1.87%
1968 | 7,111  | 57.37% | 4,450  | 35.90%  | 835  | 6.74%
1964 | 4,672  | 39.84%  | 7,040  | 60.03% | 15  | 0.13%
1960 | 7,880  | 63.88% | 4,431  | 35.92%  | 24  | 0.19%
1956 | 8,415  | 72.41% | 3,183  | 27.39%  | 23  | 0.20%
1952 | 8,222  | 73.54% | 2,881  | 25.77%  | 77  | 0.69%
1948 | 5,485  | 67.23% | 2,487  | 30.49%  | 186  | 2.28%
1944 | 6,356  | 71.02% | 2,522  | 28.18%  | 71  | 0.79%
1940 | 7,019  | 70.96% | 2,828  | 28.59%  | 44  | 0.44%
1936 | 4,051  | 46.79% | 3,871  | 44.71%  | 736  | 8.50%
1932 | 4,211  | 48.71%  | 4,272  | 49.42% | 162  | 1.87%
1928 | 4,926  | 73.13% | 1,762  | 26.16%  | 48  | 0.71%
1924 | 5,245  | 77.08% | 1,208  | 17.75%  | 352  | 5.17%
1920 | 5,089  | 73.82% | 1,627  | 23.60%  | 178  | 2.58%
1916 | 2,700  | 53.91% | 2,143  | 42.79%  | 165  | 3.29%
1912 | 1,417  | 29.71%  | 1,389  | 29.13%  | 1,963  | 41.16%
1908 | 3,171  | 63.18% | 1,658  | 33.03%  | 190  | 3.79%
1904 | 3,547  | 70.97% | 1,321  | 26.43%  | 130  | 2.60%
1900 | 2,969  | 58.64% | 1,996  | 39.42%  | 98  | 1.94%
1896 | 2,424  | 46.71%  | 2,679  | 51.63% | 86  | 1.66%
1892 | 1,859  | 45.42% | 1,762  | 43.05%  | 472  | 11.53%
1888 | 2,154  | 51.46% | 1,841  | 43.98%  | 191  | 4.56%
1884 | 1,617  | 48.78% | 1,610  | 48.57%  | 88  | 2.65%

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.

### Elected officials

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* Prosecuting Attorney: David Barberi
* Sheriff: Michael Main
* County Clerk: Minde B. Lux
* Register of Deeds: Karen Jackson
* County Treasurer: Steven W. Pickens
* Drain Commissioner: Rick Jakubiec

## Communities

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File:Isabella County, MI census map.pngU.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Isabella County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities. File:Isabella Indian Reservation (Isabella County, MI) location.pngIsabella Indian Reservation with underlying local boundaries

### Cities

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* Clare (part)
* Mount Pleasant (county seat)

### Villages

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* Lake Isabella
* Rosebush
* Shepherd

### Charter township

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* Union Charter Township

### Civil townships

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* Broomfield Township
* Chippewa Township
* Coe Township
* Coldwater Township
* Deerfield Township
* Denver Township
* Fremont Township
* Gilmore Township
* Isabella Township
* Lincoln Township
* Nottawa Township
* Rolland Township
* Sherman Township
* Vernon Township
* Wise Township

### Census-designated places

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* Beal City
* Loomis
* Weidman

### Unincorporated communities

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* Alembic
* Blanchard
* Brinton
* Broomfield Center
* Coe
* Delwin
* Leaton
* Isabella City
* Sherman City
* Two Rivers
* Vernon Center
* Vernon City
* Winn

### Indian reservation

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* Isabella Indian Reservation

## See also

[edit | edit source]

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

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Bibliography on Isabella County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". U.S. 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. ^ History of Isabella County Archived May 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Isabella County, Michigan website (accessed April 21, 2007)
5. ^ Isabella County History and Information Archived December 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Genealogy Inc. (accessed April 21, 2007)
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
7. ^ Google (September 6, 2018). "Isabella County MI" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
13. ^ US Election Atlas

## External links

[edit | edit source]

* "Bibliography on Isabella County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
* "Isabella County official website". Isabella County, Michigan.

Places adjacent to Isabella County, Michigan

| Osceola County | Clare County | Gladwin County

|
|

|  |
Mecosta County |

Isabella County, Michigan

| Midland County
|  |
Montcalm County |
| Gratiot County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Isabella County, Michigan, United States

County seat: Mt. Pleasant

Cities|

* Clare‡
* Mt. Pleasant

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

Villages|

* Lake Isabella
* Rosebush
* Shepherd

Charter township|

* Union

Civil townships|

* Broomfield
* Chippewa
* Coe
* Coldwater
* Deerfield
* Denver
* Fremont
* Gilmore
* Isabella
* Lincoln
* Nottawa
* Rolland
* Sherman
* Vernon
* Wise

CDPs|

* Beal City
* Loomis
* Weidman
* Winn

Other
communities|

* Brinton
* Blanchard
* Delwin
* Leaton
* Vernon City

Indian reservation|

* Isabella Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Central/Mid-Michigan including the Tri-Cities and Thumb

Central cities|

* Lansing
* Flint
* Saginaw
* Bay City
* Midland
* Mount Pleasant

Counties|

| Greater Lansing area|

* Clinton
* Eaton
* Ingham

|

Flint and Tri-Cities area|

* Arenac
* Bay
* Clare
* Genesee
* Gladwin
* Gratiot
* Isabella
* Midland
* Saginaw
* Shiawassee

The Thumb area|

* Huron
* Lapeer
* Tuscola
* Sanilac
* St. Clair

Geography|

* Bad River
* Black River
* Cass River
* Chippewa River
* Flint River
* Grand River
* Lake Huron
* Michigan Basin
* Pine River
* Red Cedar River
* Saginaw Bay
* Saginaw River
* St. Clair River
* Tittabawassee River

Transportation|

* Amtrak Blue Water
* Bishop International Airport
* Blue Water Bridge
* Capital Region International Airport
* CSX Saginaw Subdivision
* Grand Trunk Western Railroad
* MBS International Airport
* Zilwaukee Bridge

Economy|

* Ascension Genesys Hospital
* Auto-Owners Insurance
* Biggby Coffee
* CMS Energy
* Dow Chemical
* DTE Energy
* General Motors
* Hurley Medical Center
* Koegel Meat Company
* Michigan Sugar
* MidMichigan Health
* McLaren Health Care Corporation
* Nexteer Automotive
* Quality Dairy Company
* Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
* Spartan Motors
* TCF Financial Corporation

* Michigan
* Northern 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: 43°39′N 84°50′W﻿ / ﻿43.65°N 84.84°W﻿ / 43.65; -84.84
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