List of counties in Michigan

Counties of Michigan
MR LN HD BN SJ CS BE WY WA JK CA KA VB MB OK LV IN ET BR AG SC LP GE SH CN IO KN OW SN TS SG GT MT MK HR BA MD IB ME NW OE AR GL CL OS LK MS IS OG RS MI WX MA AC OD CR KK GT BZ AP MM OT AN LL PI CB EM CV ↘ ↑ MC CH LU SO AL DL MO MQ DK IR BG HO ON GO KW ↓ ↑
Location	State of Michigan
Number	83
Populations	2,156 (Keweenaw) – 1,820,584 (Wayne)
Areas	508 square miles (1,320 km2) (Cass) – 5,966 square miles (15,450 km2) (Keweenaw)
Government	County government
Subdivisions	cities, towns, townships, villages, unincorporated communities, census designated place

There are 83 counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The boundaries of these counties have not changed substantially since 1897. However, throughout the 19th century, the state legislature frequently adjusted county boundaries. County creation was intended to fulfill the goal of establishing government over unorganized territory, but a more important goal was encouraging settlement by surveying the land and dividing it into salable sections.

The creation of counties generally occurred in two stages. First the boundaries of a county were declared and given a name. The county appeared on maps, even though this may have been the entire extent of a county's tangible existence for several years. During this period, the as-yet–unorganized county was attached to another already organized county for administrative purposes. The legislature frequently changed the administrative attachment of these unorganized counties. Residents of such an attached county could petition the legislature for organization, which was the granting of full legal recognition to the county.

There are many cities and villages that span county boundaries in Michigan, including its capital, Lansing. For a few years during the early 1970s, split cities briefly had authority to petition to change the county boundaries to accord with the city boundaries. The only city to take advantage of this brief opportunity was New Baltimore (previously split between Macomb County and St. Clair County; now completely in Macomb). This transfer of territory from St. Clair to Macomb was the only county boundary change in Michigan since the early 20th century.

The state constitution of 1850 permitted an incorporated city with a population of at least 20,000 to be organized into a separate county of its own.^[1] The Constitution of 1908 retained this provision, but raised the population threshold to 100,000.^[2] No city was ever organized into an independent county in this fashion and when a new Constitution took effect in 1963, the provision was removed.

Michigan's boundary with Illinois is formed by Lake Michigan, and three counties have water boundaries with Illinois: Berrien County, Van Buren County, and Allegan County. Michigan also has a boundary with Minnesota, which is formed by Lake Superior. The water boundary in this instance is formed by two counties: Ontonagon County and Keweenaw County.

Etymologies

Nine counties have names invented by the ethnologist Henry Schoolcraft, usually adapted from parts of Native American words, but sometimes having parts from Greek, Arabic and Latin roots.^[3] Schoolcraft's made-up words have disputed sources. While he was a devotee of Native American words and culture, some of his words may have originated with tribes from other areas of the country, such as New York or the Northeast, where many settlers to Michigan came from. Real Native words were eradicated, and he substituted made-up words, sometimes with a kernel of Indian language or sound in them.^[4][5][6]

A second group of four counties were renamed for Irish locales (counties Antrim, Clare, Roscommon and Wexford), apparently because it was close to the heart for certain Michigan legislators or their constituents.

Ten counties, the so-called "cabinet counties", were named for persons who served in Andrew Jackson's presidential administration, which was tied to Michigan's anticipated ascendancy to statehood. Eight were named in 1829. Livingston County was named in 1833. Cass County was also named in 1829, but Governor Lewis Cass did not become a member of Jackson's Cabinet until 1831.^[3][4][7]

List of counties

County	FIPS Code[8]	County seat	Created	Origin	Etymology	Population	Area	Map
Alcona County	001	Harrisville	1840 (boundaries declared) 1869 (organized)	From unorganized territory. Was named Negwegon County until 1843.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7004109420000000000♠10,942	7003179100000000000♠1,791 sq mi (7003463900000000000♠4,639 km2)
Alger County	003	Munising	1885	From part of Schoolcraft County.	Russell A. Alger, (1836-1907): Governor of Michigan; Senator; and Secretary of War during the McKinley Administration	7003960100000000000♠9,601	7003504900000000000♠5,049 sq mi (7004130770000000000♠13,077 km2)
Allegan County	005	Allegan	1831 (boundaries declared) 1835 (organized)	From part of Barry County and unorganized territory.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7005111408000000000♠111,408	7003183300000000000♠1,833 sq mi (7003474700000000000♠4,747 km2)
Alpena County	007	Alpena	1840 (boundaries declared) 1857 (organized)	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Anamickee County until 1843.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7004295980000000000♠29,598	7003169500000000000♠1,695 sq mi (7003439000000000000♠4,390 km2)
Antrim County	009	Bellaire	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Meegisee County until 1843.	County Antrim, Ireland	7004235980000000000♠23,598	7002602000000000000♠602 sq mi (7003155900000000000♠1,559 km2)
Arenac County	011	Standish	1831	From unorganized territory. Annexed to Bay County in 1857 and reinstated in 1883.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7004158990000000000♠15,899	7002681000000000000♠681 sq mi (7003176400000000000♠1,764 km2)
Baraga County	013	L'Anse	1875	From part of Houghton County.	Frederic Baraga (1797-1868): Catholic missionary and first bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie	7003886000000000000♠8,860	7003106900000000000♠1,069 sq mi (7003276900000000000♠2,769 km2)
Barry County	015	Hastings	1829	From unorganized territory.	William T. Barry (1784-1835): Postmaster General in the Jackson Administration	7004591730000000000♠59,173	7002577000000000000♠577 sq mi (7003149400000000000♠1,494 km2)
Bay County	017	Bay City	1857	From parts of Arenac County, Midland County and Saginaw County.	Saginaw Bay	7005107771000000000♠107,771	7002631000000000000♠631 sq mi (7003163400000000000♠1,634 km2)
Benzie County	019	Beulah	1863	From part of Leelenau County.	French name of Betsie River: (rivière aux) Bec-scies, the "(river of) sawbill ducks"	7004175250000000000♠17,525	7002860000000000000♠860 sq mi (7003222700000000000♠2,227 km2)
Berrien County	021	St. Joseph	1829	From unorganized territory.	John M. Berrien (1781-1856): Attorney General in the Jackson Administration	7005156813000000000♠156,813	7003158100000000000♠1,581 sq mi (7003409500000000000♠4,095 km2)
Branch County	023	Coldwater	1829	From unorganized territory.	John Branch (1782-1863): Secretary of the Navy in the Jackson Administration	7004452480000000000♠45,248	7002519000000000000♠519 sq mi (7003134400000000000♠1,344 km2)
Calhoun County	025	Marshall	1829	From unorganized territory.	John C. Calhoun (1782-1850): Vice President of the United States in the Jackson Administration	7005136146000000000♠136,146	7002718000000000000♠718 sq mi (7003186000000000000♠1,860 km2)
Cass County	027	Cassopolis	1829	From unorganized territory.	Lewis Cass (1782-1866): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration	7004522930000000000♠52,293	7002508000000000000♠508 sq mi (7003131600000000000♠1,316 km2)
Charlevoix County	029	Charlevoix	1869	From parts of Antrim County, Emmet County and Otsego County.	Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix (1682-1761): Jesuit traveller and historian of New France	7004259490000000000♠25,949	7003139100000000000♠1,391 sq mi (7003360300000000000♠3,603 km2)
Cheboygan County	031	Cheboygan	1840	From part of Mackinac County.	Cheboygan River	7004261520000000000♠26,152	7002885000000000000♠885 sq mi (7003229200000000000♠2,292 km2)
Chippewa County	033	Sault Ste. Marie	1827	From part of Mackinac County.	Ojibwa Native American tribe, also known as the Chippewa	7004385200000000000♠38,520	7003269800000000000♠2,698 sq mi (7003698800000000000♠6,988 km2)
Clare County	035	Harrison	1840	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Kaykakee County until 1843.	County Clare, Ireland	7004309260000000000♠30,926	7002575000000000000♠575 sq mi (7003148900000000000♠1,489 km2)
Clinton County	037	St. Johns	1831	From unorganized territory.	DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828): Governor of New York.	7004753820000000000♠75,382	7002575000000000000♠575 sq mi (7003148900000000000♠1,489 km2)
Crawford County	039	Grayling	1840	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Shawano County until 1843.	William Crawford, (1732-82), American Revolutionary War colonel western surveyor	7004140740000000000♠14,074	7002563000000000000♠563 sq mi (7003145800000000000♠1,458 km2)
Delta County	041	Escanaba	1843	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory.	Greek letter delta, referring to the triangular shape of the original county, which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Marquette counties	7004370690000000000♠37,069	7003199200000000000♠1,992 sq mi (7003515900000000000♠5,159 km2)
Dickinson County	043	Iron Mountain	1891	From parts of Iron County, Marquette County and Menominee County.	Donald M. Dickinson (1846-1917): Postmaster General in the Cleveland Administration	7004261680000000000♠26,168	7002777000000000000♠777 sq mi (7003201200000000000♠2,012 km2)
Eaton County	045	Charlotte	1829	From unorganized territory.	John Eaton (1790-1856): Secretary of War in the Jackson Administration	7005107759000000000♠107,759	7002579000000000000♠579 sq mi (7003150000000000000♠1,500 km2)
Emmet County	047	Petoskey	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Tonegadana County until 1843.	Robert Emmet (1778-1803): Irish nationalist and rebel leader	7004326940000000000♠32,694	7002882000000000000♠882 sq mi (7003228400000000000♠2,284 km2)
Genesee County	049	Flint	1835	From parts of Lapeer County, Saginaw County and Shiawassee County.	Seneca word, "je-nis-hi-yeh," meaning "beautiful valley": named after western New York valley from which many settlers came	7005425790000000000♠425,790	7002649000000000000♠649 sq mi (7003168100000000000♠1,681 km2)
Gladwin County	051	Gladwin	1831	From unorganized territory.	Major Henry Gladwin, British commander of the fort at Detroit during the siege by Chief Pontiac in 1763-64.	7004256920000000000♠25,692	7002516000000000000♠516 sq mi (7003133600000000000♠1,336 km2)
Gogebic County	053	Bessemer	1887	From part of Ontonagon County.	Probably from the Chippewa "bic" which most references interpret as "rock."	7004164270000000000♠16,427	7003147600000000000♠1,476 sq mi (7003382300000000000♠3,823 km2)
Grand Traverse County	055	Traverse City	1851	From part of Omeena County.	French grande traverse[note 1] ("long crossing"), given first to Grand Traverse Bay by French voyageurs.	7004869860000000000♠86,986	7002601000000000000♠601 sq mi (7003155700000000000♠1,557 km2)
Gratiot County	057	Ithaca	1831	From unorganized territory.	Captain Charles Gratiot (1788-1855), built Fort Gratiot at the present site of Port Huron	7004424760000000000♠42,476	7002572000000000000♠572 sq mi (7003148100000000000♠1,481 km2)
Hillsdale County	059	Hillsdale	1829	From unorganized territory.	From its terrain, made up of hills and dales.[10]	7004466880000000000♠46,688	7002607000000000000♠607 sq mi (7003157200000000000♠1,572 km2)
Houghton County	061	Houghton	1845	From parts of Marquette County and Ontonagon County.	Dr. Douglass Houghton (1809-1845), first state geologist of Michigan, physician and surgeon, mayor of Detroit (1842-1843)	7004366280000000000♠36,628	7003150200000000000♠1,502 sq mi (7003389000000000000♠3,890 km2)
Huron County	063	Bad Axe	1840	From part of Sanilac County.	Lake Huron, which the French named lac des Hurons after the Hurons.	7004331180000000000♠33,118	7003213600000000000♠2,136 sq mi (7003553200000000000♠5,532 km2)
Ingham County	065	Mason	1829 (boundaries declared) 1838 (organized)	From parts of Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County and unorganized territory.	Samuel D. Ingham (1779-1860), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in the Jackson Administration	7005280895000000000♠280,895	7002561000000000000♠561 sq mi (7003145300000000000♠1,453 km2)
Ionia County	067	Ionia	1831	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory.	Province in ancient Greece	7004639050000000000♠63,905	7002580000000000000♠580 sq mi (7003150200000000000♠1,502 km2)
Iosco County	069	Tawas City	1840	From unorganized territory. Was named Kanotin County until 1843.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7004258870000000000♠25,887	7003189100000000000♠1,891 sq mi (7003489800000000000♠4,898 km2)
Iron County	071	Crystal Falls	1885	From parts of Marquette County and Menominee County.	For the iron deposits and mines found in the county	7004118170000000000♠11,817	7003121100000000000♠1,211 sq mi (7003313600000000000♠3,136 km2)
Isabella County	073	Mt. Pleasant	1831	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory.	Queen Isabella I (1451-1504) of Spain, under whose patronage Columbus undertook his voyages.	7004703110000000000♠70,311	7002578000000000000♠578 sq mi (7003149700000000000♠1,497 km2)
Jackson County	075	Jackson	1829 (boundaries declared) 1832 (organised)	From part of Washtenaw County and unorganized territory.	Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), 7th President of the United States and President when Michigan was admitted to the Union	7005160248000000000♠160,248	7002724000000000000♠724 sq mi (7003187500000000000♠1,875 km2)
Kalamazoo County	077	Kalamazoo	1829	From unorganized territory.	Named for the Kalamazoo River. See Etymology of Kalamazoo for a discussion of the river's name.	7005250331000000000♠250,331	7002580000000000000♠580 sq mi (7003150200000000000♠1,502 km2)
Kalkaska County	079	Kalkaska	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Wabassee County until 1843.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7004171530000000000♠17,153	7002571000000000000♠571 sq mi (7003147900000000000♠1,479 km2)
Kent County	081	Grand Rapids	1831	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory.	New York jurist James Kent, who represented the Michigan Territory in its dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip.	7005602622000000000♠602,622	7002872000000000000♠872 sq mi (7003225800000000000♠2,258 km2)
Keweenaw County	083	Eagle River	1861	From part of Houghton County.	Ojibwe word gakiiwe-wewaning meaning "portage"	7003215600000000000♠2,156	7003596600000000000♠5,966 sq mi (7004154520000000000♠15,452 km2)
Lake County	085	Baldwin	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Aischum County until 1843.	Has several small lakes and lies near Lake Michigan	7004115390000000000♠11,539	7002575000000000000♠575 sq mi (7003148900000000000♠1,489 km2)
Lapeer County	087	Lapeer	1822	From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County.	An Americanization of the French la pierre, meaning "the flint"	7004883190000000000♠88,319	7002663000000000000♠663 sq mi (7003171700000000000♠1,717 km2)
Leelanau County	089	Suttons Bay Township	1840	From part of Mackinac County.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7004217080000000000♠21,708	7003253200000000000♠2,532 sq mi (7003655800000000000♠6,558 km2)
Lenawee County	091	Adrian	1822	From part of Monroe County.	A Henry Schoolcraft neologism signifying a Native American word for man, either from the Delaware leno or lenno or the Shawnee lenawai	7004998920000000000♠99,892	7002761000000000000♠761 sq mi (7003197100000000000♠1,971 km2)
Livingston County	093	Howell	1833 (boundaries declared) 1836 (organized)	From parts of Shiawassee County and Washtenaw County.	Edward Livingston (1764-1836): second Secretary of State in the Andrew Jackson administration	7005180967000000000♠180,967	7002585000000000000♠585 sq mi (7003151500000000000♠1,515 km2)
Luce County	095	Newberry	1887	From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County.	Named for Michigan Governor Cyrus G. Luce	7003663100000000000♠6,631	7003191200000000000♠1,912 sq mi (7003495200000000000♠4,952 km2)
Mackinac County	097	St. Ignace	1818	From part of Wayne County. Was named Michilimackinac County until 1837.	Originally Michilimackinac, believed to be a French interpretation of the Native American name for the place	7004111130000000000♠11,113	7003210100000000000♠2,101 sq mi (7003544200000000000♠5,442 km2)
Macomb County	099	Mt. Clemens	1818	From part of Wayne County.	Named for U.S. General Alexander Macomb, a notable officer of the War of 1812	7005840978000000000♠840,978	7002570000000000000♠570 sq mi (7003147600000000000♠1,476 km2)
Manistee County	101	Manistee	1840	From part of Mackinac County.	Named for the Manistee River, which in turn is from the Ojibwe name, ministigweyaa meaning "(river) at whose mouth there are islands"	7004247330000000000♠24,733	7003128100000000000♠1,281 sq mi (7003331800000000000♠3,318 km2)
Marquette County	103	Marquette	1843	From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County.	Named for French Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette	7004670770000000000♠67,077	7003342500000000000♠3,425 sq mi (7003887100000000000♠8,871 km2)
Mason County	105	Ludington	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Notipekago County until 1843.	Named for Michigan Governor Stevens T. Mason	7004287050000000000♠28,705	7003124200000000000♠1,242 sq mi (7003321700000000000♠3,217 km2)
Mecosta County	107	Big Rapids	1840	From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County.	Named for Mecosta, a Native American leader	7004427980000000000♠42,798	7002571000000000000♠571 sq mi (7003147900000000000♠1,479 km2)
Menominee County	109	Menominee	1861	From part of Delta County. Was named Bleeker County until 1863.	Named for the Menominee Native American people	7004240290000000000♠24,029	7003133800000000000♠1,338 sq mi (7003346500000000000♠3,465 km2)
Midland County	111	Midland	1831	From part of Saginaw County and unorganized territory.	Located near the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula	7004836290000000000♠83,629	7002528000000000000♠528 sq mi (7003136800000000000♠1,368 km2)
Missaukee County	113	Lake City	1840	From part of Mackinac County.	Named for Missaukee, an Ottawa leader who signed land-grant treaties in 1831 and 1833	7004148490000000000♠14,849	7002574000000000000♠574 sq mi (7003148700000000000♠1,487 km2)
Monroe County	115	Monroe	1817	From part of Wayne County.	Named for James Monroe, the fifth U.S. President	7005152021000000000♠152,021	7002680000000000000♠680 sq mi (7003176100000000000♠1,761 km2)
Montcalm County	117	Stanton	1831	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory.	Named for the Marquis de Montcalm, a French military commander in Quebec	7004633420000000000♠63,342	7002721000000000000♠721 sq mi (7003186700000000000♠1,867 km2)
Montmorency County	119	Atlanta	1840	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Cheonoquet County until 1843.	House of Montmorency, influential in the history of French Canada	7003976500000000000♠9,765	7002562000000000000♠562 sq mi (7003145600000000000♠1,456 km2)
Muskegon County	121	Muskegon	1859	From parts of Oceana County and Ottawa County.	Muskegon River running through county, from the Ojibwa/Chippewa word mashkig meaning "swamp" or "marsh."	7005172188000000000♠172,188	7003145900000000000♠1,459 sq mi (7003377900000000000♠3,779 km2)
Newaygo County	123	White Cloud	1840	From parts of Mackinac County and Oceana County.	Named for a Chippewa leader who signed the Saginaw Treaty of 1819[11]	7004484600000000000♠48,460	7002861000000000000♠861 sq mi (7003223000000000000♠2,230 km2)
Oakland County	125	Pontiac	1819 (boundaries declared) 1820 (organized)	From part of Macomb County.	The numerous "oak openings" in the area: "majestic orchard[s] of oaks and hickories varied by small prairies, grassy lawns and clear lakes"[12]	7006120236200000000♠1,202,362	7002908000000000000♠908 sq mi (7003235200000000000♠2,352 km2)
Oceana County	127	Hart	1831	From part of Mackinac County.	Borders Lake Michigan, the freshwater "ocean."	7004265700000000000♠26,570	7003130700000000000♠1,307 sq mi (7003338500000000000♠3,385 km2)
Ogemaw County	129	West Branch	1840	From unorganized territory. Annexed to Iosco County in 1867 and reinstated in 1873.	The Ojibwe word ogimaa, meaning "chief" or "leader"	7004216990000000000♠21,699	7002575000000000000♠575 sq mi (7003148900000000000♠1,489 km2)
Ontonagon County	131	Ontonagon	1843	From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County.	Named for the Ontonagon River. The Ojibwa word onagon means "dish" or "bowl."	7003678000000000000♠6,780	7003374100000000000♠3,741 sq mi (7003968900000000000♠9,689 km2)
Osceola County	133	Reed City	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Unwattin County until 1843.	Osceola (1804-1838), Seminole chief	7004235280000000000♠23,528	7002573000000000000♠573 sq mi (7003148400000000000♠1,484 km2)
Oscoda County	135	Mio	1840	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7003864000000000000♠8,640	7002572000000000000♠572 sq mi (7003148100000000000♠1,481 km2)
Otsego County	137	Gaylord	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Okkudo County until 1843.	Named for Otsego County, New York	7004241640000000000♠24,164	7002526000000000000♠526 sq mi (7003136200000000000♠1,362 km2)
Ottawa County	139	Grand Haven	1831	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory.	Named for the Native American Ottawa people.	7005263801000000000♠263,801	7003163200000000000♠1,632 sq mi (7003422700000000000♠4,227 km2)
Presque Isle County	141	Rogers City	1840	From part of Mackinac County.	A derivation of the French phrase for "peninsula", literally "almost an island."	7004133760000000000♠13,376	7003257300000000000♠2,573 sq mi (7003666400000000000♠6,664 km2)
Roscommon County	143	Roscommon	1840	From part of Mackinac County and unorganized territory. Was named Mikenauk County until 1843.	County Roscommon, Ireland	7004244490000000000♠24,449	7002580000000000000♠580 sq mi (7003150200000000000♠1,502 km2)
Saginaw County	145	Saginaw	1822	From part of Oakland County.	A Native American term, perhaps a reference to the Sauks, who lived at the mouth of the river[13]	7005200169000000000♠200,169	7002816000000000000♠816 sq mi (7003211300000000000♠2,113 km2)
St. Clair County	147	Port Huron	1820	From part of Macomb County.	Either named for Arthur St. Clair, first governor of the Northwest Territory, or for Saint Clair on whose feast day Lake St. Clair was discovered	7005163040000000000♠163,040	7002837000000000000♠837 sq mi (7003216800000000000♠2,168 km2)
St. Joseph County	149	Centreville	1829	From unorganized territory.	The St. Joseph River, which gains much of its volume within the county.[14]	7004612950000000000♠61,295	7002521000000000000♠521 sq mi (7003134900000000000♠1,349 km2)
Sanilac County	151	Sandusky	1822	From part of St. Clair County.	Sanilac, a Wyandotte chief	7004431140000000000♠43,114	7003159000000000000♠1,590 sq mi (7003411800000000000♠4,118 km2)
Schoolcraft County	153	Manistique	1843	From parts of Chippewa County and Mackinac County.	Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, (1793-1864): American geographer and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Michigan	7003848500000000000♠8,485	7003188400000000000♠1,884 sq mi (7003488000000000000♠4,880 km2)
Shiawassee County	155	Corunna	1822	From parts of Oakland County and St. Clair County.	Named for the Shiawassee River, and means 'river that twists about.[15]	7004706480000000000♠70,648	7002541000000000000♠541 sq mi (7003140100000000000♠1,401 km2)
Tuscola County	157	Caro	1840	From part of Sanilac County.	Pseudo-Native American name created by Henry Schoolcraft	7004557290000000000♠55,729	7002914000000000000♠914 sq mi (7003236700000000000♠2,367 km2)
Van Buren County	159	Paw Paw	1829	From unorganized territory.	Martin Van Buren (1782-1862): Secretary of State in the Jackson Administration, later Vice President and eighth President of the United States	7004762580000000000♠76,258	7003109000000000000♠1,090 sq mi (7003282300000000000♠2,823 km2)
Washtenaw County	161	Ann Arbor	1822 (boundaries declared) 1826 (organised)	From parts of Oakland County and Wayne County	From the Native American name for the Grand River, O-wash-ta-nong ("faraway water"),[16] whose headwaters were within the county's bounds.	7005344791000000000♠344,791	7002723000000000000♠723 sq mi (7003187300000000000♠1,873 km2)
Wayne County	163	Detroit	1815	All lands within Michigan Territory that had been ceded by Native Americans through the 1807 Treaty of Detroit.	"Mad" Anthony Wayne, (1745-1796): United States Army general and statesman	7006182058400000000♠1,820,584	7002672000000000000♠672 sq mi (7003174000000000000♠1,740 km2)
Wexford County	165	Cadillac	1840	From part of Mackinac County. Was named Kautawaubet County until 1843.	County Wexford, Ireland	7004327350000000000♠32,735	7002576000000000000♠576 sq mi (7003149200000000000♠1,492 km2)

Defunct counties

1. Brown County formed in 1818 from unorganized territory when Michigan Territory was expanded to include area west of Lake Michigan upon formation of the state of Illinois. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Brown County, Wisconsin.
2. Keskkauko County formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Renamed Charlevoix County in 1843. Annexed to Emmet County in 1853. Reformed as Charlevoix County from Emmet County in 1869.
3. Crawford County formed in 1818 from unorganized territory when Michigan Territory was expanded to include area west of Lake Michigan upon formation of the state of Illinois. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Crawford County, Wisconsin.
4. Des Moines County formed in 1834 from unorganized territory. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Des Moines County, Iowa.
5. Dubuque County formed in 1834 from unorganized territory. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Dubuque County, Iowa.
6. Iowa County formed in 1830 from part of Crawford County. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Iowa County, Wisconsin.
7. Isle Royale County formed in 1875 from part of Keweenaw County. Returned to it in 1897.
8. Manitou County formed in 1855 from parts of Emmet County and Leelenau County. County government was disorganized in 1861 and attached for administrative purposes to Mackinac County. In 1865, it was attached to Leelanau and reattached to Mackinac in 1869. County was abolished in 1895 and absorbed by Charlevoix County and Leelanau County.
9. Milwaukee County formed in 1834 from part of Brown County. Transferred to Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and continues as Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
10. Omeena County formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Annexed to Grand Traverse County in 1853.
11. Wyandot County formed in 1840 from part of Mackinac County. Annexed to Cheboygan County in 1853.

See also

• Cabinet counties
• List of abolished U.S. counties

References

Further reading

• Armitage, B. Phyllis. (October–December 1943). "A Study of Michigan's Place-Names". Michigan History magazine 27: 626–637. 
• County histories published in Michigan History Magazine. Some back issues that include these histories are still available for purchase.
• Jenks, William L. (1912). "History and Meaning of the County Names of Michigan". Collections and Researches of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society 38: 439–478. 
• Michigan Manual (the "Red Book") published biennially by the Legislative Service Bureau under the direction of the. Legislative Council, State of Michigan. 
• Powers, Perry F.; Cutler, H.G., assisting (1912). A History of Northern Michigan and its People.  at Google books
• Reports of Counties, Towns and Districts. Report of the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan. I (2nd ed.) (Lansing, Michigan: Robert Smith Printing Co.). 1874-6 (1900). pp. 94–520.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Romig, Walter; Massie, Larry B (Designer) (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6. 
• Vogel, Virgil J. (1986). Indian Names in Michigan. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. pp. 244, 8 B&W photographs & 3 maps. ISBN 978-0-472-06365-9. 

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External links

• Bibliography by county and region, including origin of county names, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University
• Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary
• History of County Creation
• Michigan County History and atlases, digitized database, including Powers, Perry F., assisted by H.G. Cutler, A History of Northern Michigan and its People (1912)
• Michigan County names per the Michigan government.
• Table of dates counties laid out and organized
• History of the name Sheboygan
• American FactFinder for the 2010 Census