Newaygo County, Michigan

Newaygo County (/nəweɪɡoʊ/ nə-WAY-goh) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 49,978.[2] The county seat is White Cloud.[3] The county was created in 1840,[4] and was organized in 1851. It was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Treaty of Saginaw in 1819[1] or for an Algonquian word meaning "much water".[5]

Newaygo County
County
Newaygo County Courthouse
Newaygo County Courthouse
Official seal of Newaygo County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Newaygo 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°33′N 85°48′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1840 (established)
1851 (organized)[1]
SeatWhite Cloud
Largest cityFremont
Area
 • Total862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
 • Land813 sq mi (2,110 km2)
 • Water48 sq mi (120 km2)  5.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total49,978
 • Density60/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitenewaygocountymi.gov

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 862 square miles (2,230 km2), of which 813 square miles (2,110 km2) is land and 48 square miles (120 km2) (5.6%) is covered by water.[6] The county is considered to be part of West Michigan.

The county has more than 230 natural lakes. The combined total length of all the county's rivers and streams exceeds 350 miles (560 km). Three large dams—Croton, Hardy, and Newaygo—were built at the beginning of the 20th century. The Hardy Dam is the largest earthen dam east of the Mississippi River.[7] Over half of the county is in the Manistee National Forest.

Rivers

Major highways
  • M-20 runs east–west through center of county. Passes Hesperia, Aetna, and White Cloud.
  • M-37 runs north–south through center of county. Passes Bitely, Brohman, White Cloud, Newaygo, Grant, and Ashland.
  • M-82 runs east–west through southern part of county. Goes through Newaygo. Ends at county line tri-point of Muskegon, Oceana, and Newaygo Counties.
  • M-120 runs the length of county's west line. Terminates in Hesperia.[8]

County designated highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850510—
18602,760441.2%
18707,294164.3%
188014,688101.4%
189020,47639.4%
190017,673−13.7%
191019,2208.8%
192017,378−9.6%
193017,029−2.0%
194019,28613.3%
195021,56711.8%
196024,16012.0%
197027,99215.9%
198034,91724.7%
199038,2029.4%
200047,87425.3%
201048,4601.2%
202049,9783.1%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[13] there were 47,874 people, 17,599 households, and 12,935 families in the county. The population density was 57 inhabitants per square mile (22/km2). There were 23,202 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 3.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.5% were of English ancestry, 20.5% were of German ancestry, 14.4% were of Dutch ancestry, 8.1% were of Irish ancestry and 5.0% were of Polish ancestry according to the 2010 American Community Survey.[14] 95.7% spoke English and 3.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 17,599 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.

The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,130, and the median income for a family was $42,498. Males had a median income of $35,549 versus $22,738 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,976. About 9.00% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Newaygo County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.[18]

Economy

Tourism is the most important economic activity in Newaygo County.[19] Secondly is a blend of agricultural and small manufacturing. International baby food manufacturer Gerber Products Company is currently the county's largest employer with approximately 1,300 employees.[20]

Newaygo County also has a large number of summer cottage residents. Fishermen can find many steelhead in the spring and salmon in the fall within the county's rivers and streams. Camping, hunting, cross country skiing, bicycling, birding and ORVing is common in the Manistee National Forest.[7]

Notable companies

Government

Newaygo County has been strongly Republican since the Civil War era. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 91% of the national presidential elections (31 of 34). It has only supported a Democrat for president once in that time, in 1964. The Democrats have managed even 40 percent of the county's vote only four other times.

United States presidential election results for Newaygo County, Michigan[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 18,857 69.33% 7,873 28.95% 467 1.72%
2016 15,173 66.60% 6,212 27.27% 1,397 6.13%
2012 12,457 58.00% 8,728 40.64% 293 1.36%
2008 11,862 51.14% 10,790 46.52% 544 2.35%
2004 13,608 59.49% 9,057 39.60% 208 0.91%
2000 11,399 58.29% 7,677 39.25% 481 2.46%
1996 7,868 44.58% 7,614 43.14% 2,169 12.29%
1992 7,333 40.93% 6,455 36.03% 4,128 23.04%
1988 9,896 64.32% 5,389 35.03% 100 0.65%
1984 10,636 69.95% 4,496 29.57% 73 0.48%
1980 8,918 58.58% 5,236 34.40% 1,069 7.02%
1976 8,258 58.78% 5,622 40.01% 170 1.21%
1972 8,245 65.62% 3,978 31.66% 342 2.72%
1968 6,626 59.97% 3,369 30.49% 1,053 9.53%
1964 4,931 47.42% 5,457 52.48% 11 0.11%
1960 7,453 68.55% 3,404 31.31% 15 0.14%
1956 7,088 71.48% 2,808 28.32% 20 0.20%
1952 6,715 71.81% 2,541 27.17% 95 1.02%
1948 4,394 66.92% 2,027 30.87% 145 2.21%
1944 5,250 70.62% 2,156 29.00% 28 0.38%
1940 5,418 66.52% 2,693 33.06% 34 0.42%
1936 3,930 51.41% 3,288 43.01% 426 5.57%
1932 3,458 49.73% 3,275 47.10% 220 3.16%
1928 4,552 83.29% 888 16.25% 25 0.46%
1924 4,243 79.22% 720 13.44% 393 7.34%
1920 4,188 78.91% 929 17.51% 190 3.58%
1916 2,417 58.27% 1,625 39.18% 106 2.56%
1912 964 24.59% 776 19.80% 2,180 55.61%
1908 2,677 69.37% 956 24.77% 226 5.86%
1904 2,966 75.86% 790 20.20% 154 3.94%
1900 2,607 62.68% 1,424 34.24% 128 3.08%
1896 2,650 56.53% 1,943 41.45% 95 2.03%
1892 2,106 51.02% 1,531 37.09% 491 11.89%
1888 2,448 51.85% 1,932 40.92% 341 7.22%
1884 1,971 46.65% 2,051 48.54% 203 4.80%

Newaygo 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.

Elected officials

(information as of May 2023)

Festivals and events
  • Memorial Weekend Arts & Crafts Festival - Newaygo
  • River Country Home & Garden Show - Newaygo Middle School
  • Newaygo County Kids' Day - Downtown Newaygo
  • Trail Town Celebration - Celebrating White Clouds Trails & Waterways
  • City-Wide Yard Sales - Grant
  • Harvest Celebration - Grant
  • Harvest Festival - Fremont
  • Logging Festival - Mid-Michigan Lumberjack Competition in Newaygo
  • Bitely Homecoming - Bitely
  • National Baby Food Festival - Fremont
  • Pow Wow - White Cloud
  • Santa Parade - Fremont
  • West Michigan's Longest Yard Sale - Grant, Newaygo, White Cloud, Bitely
  • Winterfest - Newaygo
  • Christmas in Newaygo
  • Christmas in Grant
  • Christmas in White Cloud

Historic sites

In Newaygo County there are 16 locations that the State Historic Preservation Office has designated as historical. Two of the sixteen have been listed with the National Register of Historic Places:[23]

  • Big Prairie Grange Hall No. 935 - Goodwell Twp
  • Birch Grove School - Lincoln Twp
  • Croton Congregational Church - Croton Twp
  • Croton Hydroelectric Plant - Croton Twp
  • Ensley Windmill Tower
  • First Christian Reformed Church (Demolished) - Fremont
  • Gerber, Cornelius, Cottage - Sheridan Charter Twp
  • Grant Depot and Water Tower - Grant
  • Hardy Hydroelectric Plant - Big Prairie - Twp
  • Lilley District No. 5 School - Lilley Twp
  • Oak Grove District No. 3 Schoolhouse - Croton Twp
  • Penoyer's Sawmill - Newaygo
  • Saint Mark's Episcopal Church - Newaygo
  • Weaver, Daniel, House - Denver Twp
  • White Cloud Village Hall (Demolished) - White Cloud
  • Woods, John F., Residence - Newaygo

Communities
Croton Hydroelectric Plant

Cities

Village

Unincorporated communities

Charter township

Civil townships

Education

The Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency, based in Fremont, services the districts in the county. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services and technical career programs for its students.[24]

Newaygo County is served by the following regular public school districts:[25]

  • Big Jackson School District
  • Fremont Public School District
  • Grant Public School District
  • Hesperia Community Schools
  • Newaygo Public School District
  • White Cloud Public Schools

Newaygo County has the following private schools:[26]

  • Cornerstone Christian Academy
  • Fremont Christian School
  • Grant Christian School

See also

References
  1. "Bibliography on Newaygo County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  2. "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 government on county names". Archived from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  7. "Newaygo County government". Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2005.
  8. Google (September 15, 2018). "Newaygo County MI" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 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 27, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. "2010 Data Release – Data & Documentation – American Community Survey – US Census Bureau". Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  15. "The Association of Religion Data Archives - Maps & Reports". thearda.com.
  16. LDS.org Find a Meetinghouse (accessed 15 September 2018)
  17. "Fremont SDA Church". fremontmi.adventistchurch.org. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  18. "Diocese of Grand Rapids MI". Archived from the original on March 3, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  19. Peavey, Sandra Vincent; Center, Terry Wantz Historical Research (June 2, 2014). Newaygo County: 1920-2000. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439645505.
  20. Michigan Works! West Central
  21. US Election Atlas
  22. "Newaygo County website". Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2005.
  23. "State Historical Site Listings". Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  24. "What is a Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA)?". Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  25. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Newaygo County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  26. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Private Schools - Newaygo County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Newaygo County, Michigan.
Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Newaygo.

"Bibliography on Newaygo County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.

43.55°N 85.80°W / 43.55; -85.80

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