Delta County, Michigan

Delta County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	created March 9, 1843 organized 1861
Seat	Escanaba
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,991.58 sq mi (5,158 km²) 1,170.03 sq mi (3,030 km²) 821.56 sq mi (2,128 km²), 41.25%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	38,520 34/sq mi (13/km²)
Website	www.deltacountymi.org

Delta County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,069.^[1] The county is served by Delta County Airport, to the southwest of Escanaba, the county seat. The County was set off in 1843, and organized in 1861. Its name originates from the Greek letter "Delta", which refers to the triangular shape of the original county^[2] which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron, and Marquette counties.^[3] See also List of Michigan county name etymologies, List of Michigan counties, and List of abolished U.S. counties.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,991.58 square miles (5,158.2 km²), of which 1,170.03 square miles (3,030.4 km²) (or 58.75%) is land and 821.56 square miles (2,127.8 km²) (or 41.25%) is water.^[4]

Highways

• US 2
• US 41
• M-35
• M-69
• M-183

County-Designated Highways

• H-13

Federal Forest Highways

• FFH 13

Adjacent counties

• Alger County, Michigan - (north)
• Schoolcraft County, Michigan - (east)
• Leelanau County, Michigan - (southeast)
• Door County, Wisconsin - (south)
• Menominee County, Michigan - (west)
• Marquette County, Michigan - (northwest)

National protected area

• Hiawatha National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census^[5] of 2000, there were 38,520 people, 15,836 households, and 10,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 19,223 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.83% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 2.21% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.7% were of French, 15.5% German, 10.9% Swedish, 10.6% French Canadian and 5.8% Irish ancestry. 98.0% spoke English as their first language.

There were 15,836 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,511, and the median income for a family was $45,079. Males had a median income of $37,057 versus $22,368 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,667. About 7.0% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Courthouse in Escanaba

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.

Delta County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Steven C. Parks
• Sheriff: Gary A. Ballweg
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Nancy J. Kolich
• County Treasurer: Sandra Buckland
• Drain Commissioner: Don Shirley
• County Surveyor: Mel Davis
• Circuit Court Judge: Stephen Davis
• District Court Judge: Glenn Pearson
• Probate Court Judge: Robert Goebel Jr.

(information as of May 2010)

Cities, village, and townships

Cities

• Escanaba
• Gladstone

Villages

• Garden

Unincorporated communities

Bark River Fayette

Garden Corners Isabella

Schaffer Rapid River

Townships

Baldwin Township Bark River Township Bay de Noc Township Brampton Township Cornell Township

Ensign Township Escanaba Township Fairbanks Township Ford River Township Garden Township

Maple Ridge Township Masonville Township Nahma Township Wells Township

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Delta County, Michigan

References

1. ^ "2010 US census",
2. ^ Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Delta County.
3. ^ Names of Michigan Counties
4. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
5. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Delta County government

Coordinates: 45°47′N 86°52′W / 45.78°N 86.87°W / 45.78; -86.87