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Gratiot County, Michigan
Gratiot County MI Courthouse c1908
Gratiot County Courthouse
Seal of Gratiot County, Michigan
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Gratiot County
Location in the state of Michigan
Map of the U.S
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded 1855[1]
Named for Charles Gratiot
Seat Ithaca
Largest city Alma
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

572 sq mi (1,481 km²)
568 sq mi (1,471 km²)
3.1 sq mi (8 km²), 0.6%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

41,761 decrease
75/sq mi (29/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Gratiot County ( /ˈɡræʃɪt/ GRASH-it) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 41,761.[2] The county seat is Ithaca,[3] although its most populous city is Alma.

Gratiot County comprises the Alma, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the Mount Pleasant-Alma, MI Combined Statistical Area. The Gratiot County Courthouse was designed in the classical revival style by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect. It is one of seven sites in the county listed on the National Register of Historic Places (No. 76002291 added 1976).[4] In June 2012, the 212.8 MW Gratiot County Wind Project opened, the largest wind power installation in the state.[5]

History[]

The county is named for Captain Charles Gratiot, who supervised the building of Port Huron's Fort Gratiot. It was described by the Territorial Legislature in 1831. By 1855, the Territory had been admitted to the Union as a state; the State Legislature authorized the organization of Gratiot County that year – the death year of the county's namesake.

Gratiot County was a New England settlement. The original founders of Ithaca and of Alma were settlers from New England, "Yankees", descended from the English Puritans who settled the northeastern coast of the new continent in the 1600s. The Gratiot County settlers were farmers who headed west into what was then the wilds of the Northwest Territory during the early 1800s. Most of them arrived as a result of the completion of the Erie Canal as well as the close of the Black Hawk War. They arrived to virgin forest and wild prairie, but laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. They maintained their customs, such as passion for education, and abhorrence of the existing slave trade. They were members of the Congregationalist Church or the Episcopal Church.[6][7][8]

In the 1890s, German immigrants began settling in Gratiot County.[1][9] See List of Michigan county name etymologies. Emil Lockwood, a noted Michigan legislator, represented Gratiot County in the Michigan Senate from 1963 to 1970, much of the time as Senate Majority Leader.

There are six Michigan historical markers in Gratiot County:

  • Alma College
  • Gratiot County
  • Jackson Weller House
  • Lumberjack Park
  • Michigan Masonic Home
  • Saginaw and Gratiot County State Road / Saginaw Valley & St. Louis Railroad[10]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 572 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) (0.6%) is water.[11] It is considered to be part of Central Michigan.

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • US 127 US 127 – runs north to I-75 and south to Lansing.
  • No imageBusiness plateNo image
    US 127 BUS US 127business loop through downtown Alma.
  • No imageBusiness plateNo image
    US 127 BUS US 127 – business loop through downtown Ithaca.
  • No imageBusiness plateNo image
    US 127 BUS US 127 – business loop through downtown St. Louis.
  • M-46 M-46 – cross-peninsular highway that runs east to Saginaw and Port Sanilac; runs west to Muskegon.
  • M-57 M-57 – runs east to Flint; runs west to US 131 near Grand Rapids.

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1860 4,042
1870 11,810 192.2%
1880 21,936 85.7%
1890 28,668 30.7%
1900 29,889 4.3%
1910 28,820 −3.6%
1920 33,914 17.7%
1930 30,252 −10.8%
1940 32,205 6.5%
1950 33,429 3.8%
1960 37,012 10.7%
1970 39,246 6.0%
1980 40,448 3.1%
1990 38,982 −3.6%
2000 42,285 8.5%
2010 42,476 0.5%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[16] there were 42,285 people, 14,501 households, and 10,397 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile (29/km2). There were 15,516 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.01% White, 3.72% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.76% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. 4.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.8% were of English ancestry, 24.4% were of German ancestry and 6.9% Irish ancestry, 96.1% spoke English and 2.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 14,501 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

The county population included 23.80% under the age of 18, 11.60% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,262, and the median income for a family was $43,954. Males had a median income of $32,442 versus $22,333 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,118. About 7.30% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Religion[]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.[17]

Government[]

Gratiot County has been reliably Republican from the beginning. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 76% of the elections (26 of 34 elections).

United States presidential election results for Gratiot County, Michigan[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 12,102 63.20% 6,693 34.95% 353 1.84%
2016 9,880 60.01% 5,666 34.41% 919 5.58%
2012 8,241 51.39% 7,610 47.46% 184 1.15%
2008 8,322 46.92% 9,105 51.33% 311 1.75%
2004 9,834 56.59% 7,377 42.45% 168 0.97%
2000 8,312 54.76% 6,538 43.07% 329 2.17%
1996 6,214 41.77% 6,793 45.67% 1,868 12.56%
1992 6,280 39.55% 5,678 35.76% 3,921 24.69%
1988 8,447 59.36% 5,719 40.19% 64 0.45%
1984 10,456 72.08% 4,000 27.57% 50 0.34%
1980 9,294 59.30% 4,916 31.37% 1,462 9.33%
1976 9,526 63.01% 5,429 35.91% 163 1.08%
1972 9,904 68.41% 4,370 30.18% 204 1.41%
1968 8,404 62.68% 4,040 30.13% 964 7.19%
1964 5,369 42.02% 7,383 57.78% 26 0.20%
1960 9,854 71.75% 3,859 28.10% 21 0.15%
1956 10,319 75.71% 3,267 23.97% 44 0.32%
1952 10,034 77.06% 2,887 22.17% 100 0.77%
1948 7,035 70.16% 2,659 26.52% 333 3.32%
1944 7,987 71.03% 3,160 28.10% 97 0.86%
1940 8,661 69.01% 3,825 30.48% 65 0.52%
1936 5,322 47.11% 5,457 48.30% 519 4.59%
1932 5,123 44.40% 6,124 53.08% 291 2.52%
1928 8,823 82.14% 1,854 17.26% 64 0.60%
1924 6,720 76.09% 1,839 20.82% 273 3.09%
1920 6,578 77.41% 1,846 21.72% 74 0.87%
1916 3,434 52.16% 2,960 44.96% 190 2.89%
1912 1,809 30.64% 1,835 31.08% 2,261 38.29%
1908 4,158 61.65% 2,372 35.17% 214 3.17%
1904 4,530 67.59% 1,863 27.80% 309 4.61%
1900 4,263 55.49% 3,202 41.68% 218 2.84%
1896 3,380 44.97% 3,971 52.83% 165 2.20%
1892 3,037 48.83% 1,661 26.70% 1,522 24.47%
1888 3,667 52.35% 2,854 40.74% 484 6.91%
1884 2,676 46.99% 2,736 48.04% 283 4.97%



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 other 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[]

  • Prosecuting Attorney: Keith J. Kushion
  • Sheriff: Mike Morris
  • County Clerk: Angie Thompson
  • County Treasurer: Michelle Thomas
  • Register of Deeds: Mary Merchant
  • Drain Commissioner: Bernard J. Barnes

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Alma
  • Ithaca (county seat)
  • St. Louis

Villages[]

  • Ashley
  • Breckenridge
  • Perrinton

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Bannister
  • Beebe
  • Edgewood
  • Elm Hall
  • Elwell
  • Forest Hill
  • Galloway
  • Middleton
  • Newark
  • New Haven Center
  • North Star
  • Pompeii
  • Rathbone
  • Riverdale
  • Sethton
  • Sickles
  • Sumner
  • Wheeler

Ghost towns[]

  • Bridgeville
  • Langport
  • Ola

Townships[]

  • Arcada Township
  • Bethany Township
  • Elba Township
  • Emerson Township
  • Fulton Township
  • Hamilton Township
  • Lafayette Township
  • New Haven Township
  • Newark Township
  • North Shade Township
  • North Star Township
  • Pine River Township
  • Seville Township
  • Sumner Township
  • Washington Township
  • Wheeler Township

See also[]

  • List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Gratiot County, Michigan
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Gratiot County, Michigan

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Gratiot County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/gratiot.html. 
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/gratiotcountymichigan/POP010220. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ "National Register of Historical Places - Gratiot County MI". http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/MI/gratiot/state.html. 
  5. ^ Michigan's Largest Wind Farm Enters Commercial Operation, North American Winpower, June 6, 2012
  6. ^ Portrait and Biographical Album - Gratiot County MI (1884)
  7. ^ Tucker, Willard Davis (1913). Gratiot County MI. https://books.google.com/books?id=UzREAQAAMAAJ&q=%22New+England%22&pg=PA269. 
  8. ^ An Index of Pioneers from Massachusetts to the West Especially the State of .... 1975. ISBN 9780806306605. https://books.google.com/books?id=G9wnYRvMkp8C&q=%22gratiot+county%2C+michigan%22&pg=PA85. 
  9. ^ Netherlanders in America: a study of emigration and settlement in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the United States of America, Volumes 1-2
  10. ^ "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com. http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm. 
  11. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt. 
  12. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt. 
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  17. ^ "Diocese of Saginaw". http://www.saginaw.org/. 
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Template:Central Michigan

Coordinates: 43°17′N 84°36′W / 43.29, -84.60


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Gratiot County, Michigan. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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