Editing Clare County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Redirect|Clare County|the county in Ireland|County Clare}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Clare County
 | state                = Michigan
 | ex image             = Clare County District Court 2022.jpg
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = Clare County District Court in [[Harrison, Michigan|Harrison]]
 | seal                 = Clare County mi seal.png
 | founded year         = 1840 (established)<br/>1871 (organized)<ref name=clarke>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/clare.aspx|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Clare County|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref>
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Harrison
 | largest city wl      = Clare
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 575
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 564
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 11
 | area percentage      = 1.9%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 30856
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | pop_est_footnotes    = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/clarecountymichigan/PST045224|title=Clare County, Michigan|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref>
 | population_est       = 31405 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 55.7
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[County Clare]], Ireland
 | web                  = clareco.net/ 
}}

'''Clare County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]], the population was 30,856.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/clarecountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Harrison, Michigan|Harrison]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:1842 Manistee Kawtawwabet Missaukee Mickenauk Ogemaw Kanotin Notipeskago Aishcum Unwattin Kaykakee Gladwin Arenac counties Michigan.jpg|thumb|A detail from ''[[:File:1842 A new map of Michigan with its canals roads distances by H.S. Tanner.jpg|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.<ref name=Newberry/> 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 [[Mackinac County, Michigan|Michilimackinac County]] in 1840, named '''Kaykakee County'''<ref>{{cite book |author=George Dawson |date=1840 |title=Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDg4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA196 |location=Detroit |pages=196–200}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Newberry>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Michigan: Individual County Chronologies|author=Newberry Library|website=Atlas of County Historical Boundaries|access-date=November 4, 2016|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106151503/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=clarke/><ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names.]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728130613/http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0%2C1607%2C7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--%2C00.html|date=July 28, 2009}}</ref>{{efn|1=For more details on Michigan county names and etymologies, see [[List of counties in Michigan]].}} Farwell was the first county seat; in 1877 the county seat was moved to Harrison.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|575|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|564|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (1.9%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2013|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref> It is considered to be part of both [[Northern Michigan]] and [[Central Michigan]].

===Features===
* [[Au Sable State Forest]]

===Major highways===
* {{jct|state=MI|US|10}} runs east–west through bottom of county. Enters west county line at {{convert|3.7|mi|km}} north of SW corner of county. Runs easterly to intersection with US127 at {{convert|2.8|mi|km}} north of Clare.
* {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|10|dab1=Clare}} runs through Clare with Bus. US 127 until they meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 runs eastward to US 10.
* {{jct|state=MI|US|127}} runs north–south through eastern middle of county, Passing Harrison and Clare.
* {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|127|dab1=Clare}} 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.
* {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|127|dab1=Harrison}} 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.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|18}} runs along east line of county, from the northeast corner for {{convert|3.5|mi|km}}, then turns east into Gladwin County.
* {{jct|state=MI|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.
* {{jct|state=MI|M|115}} runs southeast and east across bottom of county. It enters the west line from Osceola County at {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} above the southwest corner of county and runs to an intersection with Bus. US 127/Bus. US 10 at Clare.<ref>{{google maps  |url = https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clare+County,+MI/@43.8888696,-84.9348609,10.75z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x881f5bd866d8a429:0x139f86db84f32f1a!8m2!3d44.0565054!4d-84.8567932 |title = Clare County MI |access-date = September 6, 2018 }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Missaukee County, Michigan|Missaukee County]] – northwest
* [[Roscommon County, Michigan|Roscommon County]] – northeast
* [[Gladwin County, Michigan|Gladwin County]] – east
* [[Midland County, Michigan|Midland County]] – southeast
* [[Isabella County, Michigan|Isabella County]] – south
* [[Mecosta County, Michigan|Mecosta County]] – southwest
* [[Osceola County, Michigan|Osceola County]] – west
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 366
|1880= 4187
|1890= 7558
|1900= 8360
|1910= 9240
|1920= 8250
|1930= 7032
|1940= 9163
|1950= 10253
|1960= 11647
|1970= 16695
|1980= 23822
|1990= 24952
|2000= 31252
|2010= 30926
|2020= 30856
|estyear=2024
|estimate=31405
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 19, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name=QF/><ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref> 2024<ref name=qf/>
}}

The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref name=AFF>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=March 11, 2012}}</ref> 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 {{convert|54.8|/mi2|/km2|}}. There were 23,233 housing units at an average density of {{convert|41.2|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|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 [[Family|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 [[American Community Survey|2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate]]<ref name=AFF/> 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===
* The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw]] is the controlling regional body for the [[Catholic Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saginaw.org/|title=Diocese of Saginaw}}</ref>
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] has one meetinghouse in the county, in Harrison.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/maps/meetinghouses/@43.991477,-84.564447,9&cid=HP16FDM&lang=eng&id=:Clare+County:Michigan::United+States:43.813676,-85.088811,44.164239,-84.606012 ''Meetinghouse Locator'' LDS.org (accessed 6 September 2018)]</ref>

==Government==
Clare County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 72% of national elections (26 of 36).
{{PresHead|place=Clare County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|11,772|5,273|265|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|10,861|5,199|235|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,505|4,249|695|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,988|6,338|209|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|6,793|7,496|316|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,088|6,984|154|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|5,937|6,287|383|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,742|6,311|1,630|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,916|5,346|2,901|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,661|4,710|77|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,587|3,764|61|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,719|4,164|835|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,879|4,153|94|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,402|2,434|152|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,315|1,909|607|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,258|2,927|12|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,616|1,507|7|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,721|1,194|13|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,529|1,059|42|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,512|1,197|96|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,636|1,078|21|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,004|1,277|19|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,979|1,494|235|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,474|1,741|109|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,920|381|23|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,920|358|194|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,762|511|125|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,049|769|111|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|563|435|819|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,345|567|62|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,453|519|77|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,182|640|36|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|886|723|60|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|719|811|186|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|905|912|69|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Democratic|622|685|39|Michigan}}
The county government operates the [[County jail|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 commission|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===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[County Commission]]: Dale Majewski; Samantha Pitchford; Leonard Strouse; Jack Kleinhardt; Mark Fitzpatrick; David Hoefling; Jeff Haskell
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: Michelle Ambrozaitis
* [[Sheriff]]: John Wilson
* [[County Clerk]]/[[Register of Deeds]]: Lori Martin
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Jenny Beemer-Fritzinger
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Bill Faber
* [[County Surveyor]]: Paul A. Lapham
* [[Road Commission]]: Dave Coker; Tim Haskin; Karen Hulliberger; Bill Simpson; Max Schunk
* [[State Representative]]: Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth
{{div col end}}
<small>(information as of January 2019)</small>

==Attractions==
Clare County is in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife, including bear, deer, eagles, [[Kirtland's warbler]]s, and turkeys, are located nearby. Local attractions include:
* Kirtland's Warbler Habitat and Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://warbler.kirtland.edu/|title=Kirtland|date=May 13, 2014|work=kirtland.edu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102164632/http://warbler.kirtland.edu/|archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref>
* [[Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail]] passes through the area, running from [[Empire, Michigan|Empire]] to [[Oscoda, Michigan|Oscoda]] and points beyond. It is a 500-mile interconnected system of trails.<ref>[http://www.kerchevalave.com/mtra/sh2sh.html Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail]</ref>

Activities include:
* Birding
* Boating
* Fishing
* Hiking
* Hunting
* Nordic skiing
* ORV and groomed snowmobile trails.
* Paddling (canoe and kayak)

==Communities==
[[File:Clare County, MI census map.png|thumb|right|400px|[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] data map showing local municipal boundaries within Clare County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]

=== Cities ===
* [[Clare, Michigan|Clare]] (partial)
* [[Harrison, Clare County, Michigan|Harrison]] (county seat)

===Village===
* [[Farwell, Michigan|Farwell]]

===Civil townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Arthur Township, Michigan|Arthur Township]]
* [[Franklin Township, Clare County, Michigan|Franklin Township]]
* [[Freeman Township, Michigan|Freeman Township]]
* [[Frost Township, Michigan|Frost Township]]
* [[Garfield Township, Clare County, Michigan|Garfield Township]]
* [[Grant Township, Clare County, Michigan|Grant Township]]
* [[Greenwood Township, Clare County, Michigan|Greenwood Township]]
* [[Hamilton Township, Clare County, Michigan|Hamilton Township]]
* [[Hatton Township, Michigan|Hatton Township]]
* [[Hayes Township, Clare County, Michigan|Hayes Township]]
* [[Lincoln Township, Clare County, Michigan|Lincoln Township]]
* [[Redding Township, Michigan|Redding Township]]
* [[Sheridan Township, Clare County, Michigan|Sheridan Township]]
* [[Summerfield Township, Clare County, Michigan|Summerfield Township]]
* [[Surrey Township, Michigan|Surrey Township]]
* [[Winterfield Township, Michigan|Winterfield Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Airport Forest, Michigan|Airport Forest]]
* [[Allendale, Clare County, Michigan|Allendale]]
* [[Ash Acres, Michigan|Ash Acres]]
* [[Buck Trails, Michigan|Buck Trails]]
* [[Colonville, Michigan|Colonville]]
* [[Cooperton, Michigan|Cooperton]]
* [[Dover, Clare County, Michigan|Dover]]
* [[Hatton, Michigan|Hatton]]
* [[Lake, Clare County, Michigan|Lake]]
* [[Lake George, Michigan|Lake George]]
* [[Leota, Michigan|Leota]]
* [[Long Lake Heights]]
* [[Meredith, Michigan|Meredith]] (partial)
* [[Phelps, Clare County, Michigan|Phelps]]
* [[Piney Woods, Michigan|Piney Woods]]
* [[Rainbow Bend, Michigan|Rainbow Bend]]
* [[Temple, Michigan|Temple]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost town===
* [[Clarence, Michigan|Clarence]]

== Education ==

The [[Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District]], based in [[Clare, Michigan|Clare]], services the students in the county along with those of [[Gladwin County, Michigan|Gladwin County]]. The [[intermediate school district]] offers regional [[special education]] services, [[Early childhood education|early education]] and [[After-school activity|after-school]] programs, and [[Vocational school|technical career]] pathways for students of its districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CGRESD: What do we do? |url=https://www.cgresd.net/page/what-we-do |access-date=July 14, 2023 |publisher=[[Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District]]}}</ref>

Clare County is served by the following regular [[Public Education|public]] [[school district]]s:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for Public School Data - Clare County, MI |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&details=1&State=26&County=Clare+County |archive-date= |access-date=July 14, 2023 |author=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |publisher=[[Institute of Education Sciences]] }}</ref>

* [[Clare Public Schools]]
* [[Farwell Area Schools]]
* [[Harrison Community Schools]]

Clare County has the following [[private school]]s:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for Private Schools - Clare County, MI |url=https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&State=26&County=Clare |access-date=July 14, 2023 |author=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |publisher=[[Institute of Education Sciences]] }}</ref>

* East Dover School ([[Amish]])
* Great Lakes Mennonite School ([[Mennonites|Mennonite]])
* Shady Lawn Amish Parochial School ([[Amish]])

==See also==
* [[List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Clare County, Michigan]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Michigan#Clare County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Clare County, Michigan]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
'''Official Visitor Information Site'''
* [http://www.clarecounty.com/ Clare County Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://clarecountychamber.com The Clare County Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130531142053/http://clarecountymi.com/ The Clare County Business Association Website]
'''News from Clare County'''

* [https://www.clarecountycleaver.net/ The Clare County Cleaver-Local newspaper]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231333/http://www.smalltownpapers.com/listCCR.htm The Clare County Review - Local newspaper]
* [http://www.clareco.net Clare County government]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724091446/http://library.cmich.edu/condor/newspaper_collection.php?CISOROOT=%2Fp15076coll5%2F Clare Sentinel Newspaper Online via Clarke Historical Library and Central Michigan University]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Clare County, Michigan
|Northeast = [[Roscommon County, Michigan|Roscommon County]]
|East      = [[Gladwin County, Michigan|Gladwin County]]
|Southeast = [[Midland County, Michigan|Midland County]]
|South     = [[Isabella County, Michigan|Isabella County]]
|Southwest = [[Mecosta County, Michigan|Mecosta County]]
|West      = [[Osceola County, Michigan|Osceola County]]
|Northwest = [[Missaukee County, Michigan|Missaukee County]]
}}

{{Clare County, Michigan}}
{{Northern Michigan}}
{{Central Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|43.99|-84.84|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Clare County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in Michigan]]