Clare County, Michigan

Clare County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 30,856.[2] The county seat is Harrison.[3]

"Clare County" redirects here. For the county in Ireland, see County Clare.

Clare County
County
Clare County District Court in Harrison
Clare County District Court in Harrison
Official seal of Clare County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Clare County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N 84°50′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1840 (established)
1871 (organized)[1]
Named forCounty Clare, Ireland
SeatHarrison
Largest cityClare
Area
 • Total575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total30,856
 • Density55/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteclareco.net

History
A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Clare County as Kaykakee, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[4] Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.
See also: History of Northern Michigan

The county was created by the Michigan Legislature from part of Michilimackinac County in 1840, named Kaykakee County[5] after a Sauk Indian Chief. It was renamed Clare County in 1843 after County Clare in Ireland. The county was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties prior to the organization of county government in 1871.[4][1][6][lower-alpha 1] Farwell was the first county seat; in 1877 the county seat was moved to Harrison.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.9%) is water.[7] It is considered to be part of both Northern Michigan and Central Michigan.

Features

Major highways
  • US 10 runs east–west through bottom of county. Enters west county line at 3.7 miles (6.0 km) north of SW corner of county. Runs easterly to intersection with US127 at 2.8 miles (4.5 km) north of Clare.

  •  Bus. US 10 runs through Clare with Bus. US 127 until they meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 runs eastward to US 10.
  • US 127 runs north–south through eastern middle of county, Passing Harrison and Clare.

  •  Bus. US 127 runs through Clare with Bus. US 10 until the two meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 turns eastward while Bus. US 127 continues southward to US 127.

  •  Bus. US 127 runs from US 127 to go through Harrison. Bus. US 127 intersects M-61, and the two have a concurrency with each other until they both intersect US 127, where Bus. US 127 ends with M-61 continues eastward to Gladwin.
  • M-18 runs along east line of county, from the northeast corner for 3.5 miles (5.6 km), then turns east into Gladwin County.
  • M-61 runs east–west through middle of county, entering the west line from Osceola County and running east to intersection with US 127 at Harrison.
  • M-115 runs southeast and east across bottom of county. It enters the west line from Osceola County at nine miles (14 km) above the southwest corner of county and runs to an intersection with Bus. US 127/Bus. US 10 at Clare.[8]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870366—
18804,1871,044.0%
18907,55880.5%
19008,36010.6%
19109,24010.5%
19208,250−10.7%
19307,032−14.8%
19409,16330.3%
195010,25311.9%
196011,64713.6%
197016,69543.3%
198023,82242.7%
199024,9524.7%
200031,25225.2%
201030,926−1.0%
202030,856−0.2%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census[13] indicates Clare County had a 2010 population of 30,926. This decrease of 326 people from the 2000 United States Census represents a loss of 1.0% population. In 2010 there were 12,966 households and 8,584 families in the county. The population density was 54.8 per square mile (21.2/km2). There were 23,233 housing units at an average density of 41.2 per square mile (15.9/km2). The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 95.8% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races.

There were 12,966 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were husband and wife families, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 28.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.83.

The county population contained 20.9% under age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate[13] indicates the median income for a household in the county was $33,338 and the median income for a family was $40,983. Males had a median income of $24,220 versus $13,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,516. About 2.3% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.8% of those under the age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Government

Clare County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 71% of national elections (24 of 34).

United States presidential election results for Clare County, Michigan[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,861 66.65% 5,199 31.91% 235 1.44%
2016 8,505 63.24% 4,249 31.59% 695 5.17%
2012 6,988 51.63% 6,338 46.83% 209 1.54%
2008 6,793 46.51% 7,496 51.32% 316 2.16%
2004 7,088 49.82% 6,984 49.09% 154 1.08%
2000 5,937 47.09% 6,287 49.87% 383 3.04%
1996 3,742 32.03% 6,311 54.02% 1,630 13.95%
1992 3,916 32.20% 5,346 43.95% 2,901 23.85%
1988 5,661 54.18% 4,710 45.08% 77 0.74%
1984 6,587 63.26% 3,764 36.15% 61 0.59%
1980 5,719 53.36% 4,164 38.85% 835 7.79%
1976 4,879 53.46% 4,153 45.51% 94 1.03%
1972 4,402 62.99% 2,434 34.83% 152 2.18%
1968 3,315 56.85% 1,909 32.74% 607 10.41%
1964 2,258 43.45% 2,927 56.32% 12 0.23%
1960 3,616 70.49% 1,507 29.38% 7 0.14%
1956 3,721 75.51% 1,194 24.23% 13 0.26%
1952 3,529 76.22% 1,059 22.87% 42 0.91%
1948 2,512 66.02% 1,197 31.46% 96 2.52%
1944 2,636 70.58% 1,078 28.86% 21 0.56%
1940 3,004 69.86% 1,277 29.70% 19 0.44%
1936 1,979 53.37% 1,494 40.29% 235 6.34%
1932 1,474 44.34% 1,741 52.38% 109 3.28%
1928 1,920 82.62% 381 16.39% 23 0.99%
1924 1,920 77.67% 358 14.48% 194 7.85%
1920 1,762 73.48% 511 21.31% 125 5.21%
1916 1,049 54.38% 769 39.87% 111 5.75%
1912 563 30.99% 435 23.94% 819 45.07%
1908 1,345 68.14% 567 28.72% 62 3.14%
1904 1,453 70.91% 519 25.33% 77 3.76%
1900 1,182 63.62% 640 34.45% 36 1.94%
1896 886 53.09% 723 43.32% 60 3.59%
1892 719 41.90% 811 47.26% 186 10.84%
1888 905 47.99% 912 48.36% 69 3.66%
1884 622 46.21% 685 50.89% 39 2.90%

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

(information as of January 2019)

Attractions

Clare County is in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's warblers, and turkeys, are located nearby. Local attractions include:

Activities include:

  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Nordic skiing
  • ORV and groomed snowmobile trails.
  • Paddling (canoe and kayak)

Communities
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Clare County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities

Village

Civil townships

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Education

The Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District, based in Clare, services the students in the county along with those of Gladwin County. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services, early education and after-school programs, and technical career pathways for students of its districts.[19]

Clare County is served by the following regular public school districts:[20]

Clare County has the following private schools:[21]

  • East Dover School (Amish)
  • Great Lakes Mennonite School (Mennonite)
  • Shady Lawn Amish Parochial School (Amish)

See also

Notes
  1. For more details on Michigan county names and etymologies, see List of counties in Michigan.

References
  1. "Bibliography on Clare County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US 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. Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  5. George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  6. Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names. Archived July 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  8. Google (September 6, 2018). "Clare County MI" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  12. "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 19, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  14. "Diocese of Saginaw".
  15. Meetinghouse Locator LDS.org (accessed 6 September 2018)
  16. US Election Atlas
  17. "Kirtland". kirtland.edu. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008.
  18. Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail
  19. "CGRESD: What do we do?". Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  20. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Clare County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  21. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Private Schools - Clare County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 14, 2023.

Official Visitor Information Site

News from Clare County

43.99°N 84.84°W / 43.99; -84.84

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