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Oscoda County, Michigan

Coordinates: 44°41′N 84°08′W / 44.68°N 84.13°W / 44.68; -84.13
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Not to be confused with Osceola County, Michigan.

Oscoda County
County
The rebuilt Oscoda County Courthouse in Mio
The rebuilt Oscoda County Courthouse in Mio
Map of Michigan highlighting Oscoda County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°41′N 84°08′W / 44.68°N 84.13°W / 44.68; -84.13
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedApril 1, 1840 (created)
1881 (organized)[1]
SeatMio
Largest communityMio
Area
 • Total572 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Land566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,219
 • Density15/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiteoscodacountymi.com

Oscoda County (/ɒˈskoʊdə/ ah-SKOH-də) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,219,[2] making it the least populous county in the Lower Peninsula, and the sixth-least populous county in the entire state. The county seat is Mio,[3] an unincorporated community near the center of the county.

History

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See also: History of Northern Michigan

The county was established on April 1, 1840, by act of the Michigan State legislature.[4] However, its governing structure was not completed until 1881.[1] The name is a Henry Rowe Schoolcraft neologism, thought to be a combination of two Ojibwa words, "ossin" (stone) and "muskoda" (prairie) – hence 'pebbly prairie.'[5] He served as the US Indian agent and was also a geographer, surveying and naming newly established counties and towns.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 572 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 566 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (1.0%) is water.[6] Oscoda County is part of Northern Michigan.

Geographic features

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Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. Much of the area is the Grayling outwash plain, a broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges, jack pine barrens, white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action.[7]

Major highways

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  • M-33 – runs north–south through the central part of the county. Passes Fairview and Mio.
  • M-72 – enters west end of county near its central part. Runs east to intersection with M-33 at Mio. Passes Luzerne. It is one of three true cross peninsular highways.[9]
  • F-32 – runs east from Mio into Alcona County. Passes McKinley.[10]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Communities

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U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Oscoda County

Oscoda County is the only county in Michigan with no incorporated communities.

Civil townships

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Census-designated place

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  • Mio (county seat)

Other unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187070—
1880467567.1%
18901,904307.7%
19001,468−22.9%
19102,02738.1%
19201,783−12.0%
19301,728−3.1%
19402,54347.2%
19503,13423.2%
19603,44710.0%
19704,72637.1%
19806,85845.1%
19907,84214.3%
20009,41820.1%
20108,640−8.3%
20208,219−4.9%
2023 (est.)8,545[11]4.0%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2018[2]

At the 2000 United States census, 9,418 people, 3,921 households, and 2,717 families resided in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 8,690 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). By 2020, the county had 8,219 residents.

In 2000, the county's racial makeup was 97.82% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30.2% were of German, 12.8% American, 9.6% English, 8.1% Polish, 6.8% French and 6.7% Irish ancestry. 94.1% spoke English, 2.8% German and 1.5% Pennsylvania Dutch as their first language.

In 2000, there were 3,921 households, out of which 25.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.85. The county population contained 23.30% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 28.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $28,228, and the median income for a family was $32,225. Males had a median income of $30,013 versus $20,202 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,697. About 10.30% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Oscoda County has been reliably Republican since its organization. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 85% (29 of 35) of the national elections through 2020.

United States presidential election results for Oscoda County, Michigan[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,466 71.02% 1,342 27.50% 72 1.48%
2016 2,843 69.48% 1,044 25.51% 205 5.01%
2012 2,308 56.95% 1,657 40.88% 88 2.17%
2008 2,320 53.38% 1,887 43.42% 139 3.20%
2004 2,570 58.29% 1,792 40.64% 47 1.07%
2000 2,207 55.29% 1,677 42.01% 108 2.71%
1996 1,545 41.48% 1,652 44.35% 528 14.17%
1992 1,583 41.32% 1,471 38.40% 777 20.28%
1988 1,972 62.27% 1,170 36.94% 25 0.79%
1984 2,239 69.77% 951 29.64% 19 0.59%
1980 1,915 55.25% 1,325 38.23% 226 6.52%
1976 1,541 57.56% 1,108 41.39% 28 1.05%
1972 1,561 67.61% 678 29.36% 70 3.03%
1968 1,124 60.95% 563 30.53% 157 8.51%
1964 784 45.55% 930 54.04% 7 0.41%
1960 1,174 71.85% 458 28.03% 2 0.12%
1956 1,044 78.03% 294 21.97% 0 0.00%
1952 1,047 80.72% 246 18.97% 4 0.31%
1948 785 72.08% 285 26.17% 19 1.74%
1944 615 64.74% 332 34.95% 3 0.32%
1940 661 61.60% 409 38.12% 3 0.28%
1936 456 47.70% 492 51.46% 8 0.84%
1932 410 52.90% 349 45.03% 16 2.06%
1928 476 86.39% 73 13.25% 2 0.36%
1924 389 82.24% 52 10.99% 32 6.77%
1920 439 83.78% 75 14.31% 10 1.91%
1916 245 56.98% 175 40.70% 10 2.33%
1912 110 32.45% 66 19.47% 163 48.08%
1908 331 72.75% 112 24.62% 12 2.64%
1904 323 86.13% 44 11.73% 8 2.13%
1900 245 79.80% 60 19.54% 2 0.65%
1896 308 80.84% 63 16.54% 10 2.62%
1892 273 59.09% 180 38.96% 9 1.95%
1888 277 47.19% 299 50.94% 11 1.87%
1884 199 68.62% 87 30.00% 4 1.38%

Oscoda County operates the county 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.

See also: Oscoda County Courthouse

Elected officials

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current as of January 2022

Recreation

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The AuSable River, near Mio, provides opportunity for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or tubing. The M-33 access north of Mio has a launch area and public facilities. A second launch area is at the Mio Dam Pond.

Oscoda County offers snowmobile trails, ATV trails, hiking trails, and cross country skiing trails. Snowmobile and ATV trails are located throughout Luzerne, McKinley, and Mio. There is a scramble area at Bull Gap in the Huron National Forest. The Loud Creek Trail offers 7 different routes with varying difficulty levels. The trail's total distance is 10 kilometers.

In Fairview, there is a horseback riding ranch and a golf course. Karefree Ranch Boarding Stables offers guided horseback rides in Huron National Forest. The Fairview Hills Golf Club is a 9-hole golf course on M-33.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Oscoda County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  5. ^ Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "NPWRC :: Regional Landscape". usgs.gov.
  8. ^ Oscoda County Park (accessed 17 October 2007)
  9. ^ History of Michigan highways.
  10. ^ Oscoda County MI Google Maps (accessed 17 September 2018)
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  16. ^ US Election Atlas
  17. ^ Eye on Michigan Mio
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