Presque Isle County, Michigan

This article is about the Michigan county. For other areas, see Presque Isle (disambiguation).
Presque Isle County, Michigan

Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Presque Isle County
Location in the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded 1840 (created)
1875 (reorganized)[1]
Seat Rogers City
Largest city Rogers City
Area
 • Total 2,573 sq mi (6,664 km2)
 • Land 659 sq mi (1,707 km2)
 • Water 1,914 sq mi (4,957 km2), 74%
Population
 • (2010) 13,376
 • Density 20/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district [[Michigan's 1st (US Senate)
37th (State Senate)
106th (State HR)[2] congressional district|1st (US Senate)
37th (State Senate)
106th (State HR)[3]]]
Time zone Eastern
Website www.presqueislecounty.org

Presque Isle County is a county located in the Lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,376.[4] The county seat is Rogers City.[1][5] The county was set off on April 1, 1840 and a county government was first organized in 1871. The government was re-organized in 1875[1]

Both the county and Presque Isle Township are named for Presque Isle (French, "almost an island"; the term for a narrow peninsula).[1] A large part of the township consists of that peninsula, with Lake Huron on the east and Grand Lake on the west and narrow strips of land connecting it to the mainland at the north and south ends. The community of Presque Isle is situated near the center of this peninsula.

History

Early Native Americans living in the area were nomadic, using the land as hunting grounds. To them the land between the Ocqueoc and Swan Rivers was sacred ground. The name "Presque Isle" was given to the area by fur traders who portaged over the strip of land that attaches Presque Isle to the mainland.

Early development of the area was delayed because it had no navigable river. The Ocqueoc River was Presque Isle's largest river but it was shallow and crooked, with many rapids. In the spring of 1839 a surveying party, contracted by the state of Michigan, reported that the land of this area was worthless. This further discouraged development until the 1860s when the Crawford family settled into a quiet cove of Lake Huron, south of present-day Rogers City. They intended to develop a stone quarry, but found the stone too flaky to be used as building material. Turning to lumbering, they sold the wood to steamers traveling the Great Lakes.

In 1868 W.E. Rogers, an Army officer, organized a surveying party to Presque Isle, with Albert Molitor as supervisor. Seeing the huge forests, they attempted to purchase Crawford's Quarry but were refused. They formed the Molitor-Rogers Company purchasing the land at the site of Rogers City. The following year a large party of German and Polish immigrants arrived and began settling in the area. The Molitor-Rogers Company built a sawmill, store, boarding house, and blacksmith shop. The small city was solely supplied by the company. After a difficult winter in 1870-71, the community began to thrive.

The original settlers of this county were lumbermen, fishermen and farmers. In 1907 a mining engineer/geologist from New York, H.H. Hindshaw, visited Crawford's Quarry and found it to be rich in limestone. Following this discovery, the Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company of Calcite, Michigan, was founded. The company purchased 8,000 acres (32 km2) at Calcite, the new name for Crawford's Quarry. Recognizing the need for a means of shipping their product, the Bradley Transportation Company was formed. The company is known in the area for being the chief business, employing a significant portion of the area's residents. One of the darker aspects of the county's history involved the Bradley Transportation Company when one of their cargo ships, the Carl D. Bradley sank on Lake Michigan during a windstorm in November 1958 with the loss of 33 lives, 29 of whom resided in Presque Isle County (26 were from Rogers City, two were from Onaway, and one was from Metz Township).

Today the world's largest limestone processing plant is located in Rogers City, which is also a major Great Lakes Port. This is the best natural harbor on Lake Huron between Port Huron and Mackinaw City.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,573 square miles (6,660 km2), of which 659 square miles (1,710 km2) is land and 1,914 square miles (4,960 km2) (74%) is water.[6] It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

Geographic features

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Air

There are two private airports in Presque Isle County:

The nearest commercial airline airports are Alpena County Regional Airport and Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City).

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
186026—
18703551,265.4%
18803,113776.9%
18904,68750.6%
19008,82188.2%
191011,24927.5%
192012,1317.8%
193011,330−6.6%
194012,2508.1%
195011,996−2.1%
196013,1179.3%
197012,836−2.1%
198014,26711.1%
199013,743−3.7%
200014,4114.9%
201013,376−7.2%
Est. 201512,841[7]−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[4]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 14,411 people, 6,155 households, and 4,203 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 9,910 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.07% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.5% were of German, 28.2% Polish, 7.9% English, 6.3% American, 5.6% French and 5.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.7% spoke English and 3.1% Polish as their first language.

There were 6,155 households, of which 24.50% had children under age 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.90% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.40% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 22.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,656, and the median income for a family was $37,426. Males had a median income of $31,275 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,363. About 6.80% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those over age 64.

Government

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

As of January 2013:

Historical markers

There are ten recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:[13]

Media

Newspapers

Television

The following television stations broadcast in Presque Isle County:

Radio

The following radio stations can be heard in Rogers City

FM
Call Sign Frequency City Broadcast From
WPHN 90.5 Gaylord
WCML 91.7 Alpena
WFCX 92.5 Atlanta
WKJZ 94.9 Hillman
WRZG 96.7 Rogers City
WHAK-FM 99.9 Rogers City
WYPV 106.3 Onaway
WHSB 107.7 Alpena
AM
Call Sign Frequency City Broadcast From
WTCM 580 Traverse City
WHAK 960 Rogers City
NOAA Weather Radio

NOAA Weather Radio can be heard on 162.550 MHz (Call Sign KIG83, Alpena)

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Bibliography on Presque Isle County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  2. ↑ County website
  3. ↑ County website
  4. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  13. ↑ "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com.
  14. ↑ The Alpena News
 Mackinac County Lake Huron; Chippewa County Manitoulin District, Ontario
Cheboygan County Lake Huron; Manitoulin District, Ontario
   Presque Isle County  
Montmorency County Alpena County

Coordinates: 45°19′N 83°28′W / 45.32°N 83.46°W / 45.32; -83.46

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