Editing Ionia County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Ionia County
 | state                = Michigan
 | seal                 = Ionia County mi seal.png
 | founded date         = March 2
 | founded year         = 1831 (created)<br/>1837 (organized)<ref name="clarke">{{cite web |title=Ionia County |url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/ionia.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906024417/https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/ionia.aspx |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]}}</ref>
 | seat wl              = Ionia
 | largest city wl      = Ionia
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 580
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 571
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 8.7
 | area percentage      = 1.5%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 66,804
 | density_sq_mi        = 112
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Ionia]]
 | ex image             = IoniaCountyCouthouseIoniaMi.jpg
 | ex image size        = 200
 | ex image cap         = Ionia County Courthouse in Ionia
 | web                  = ioniacounty.org/
}}

'''Ionia County''' ({{IPAc-en|aɪ|ˈ|oʊ|n|j|ə}} {{respell|eye|OH|nyə}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 66,804.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Ionia County, Michigan |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ioniacountymichigan/POP010220 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230213020219/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ioniacountymichigan/POP010220 |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Ionia, Michigan|Ionia]].<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> The Ionia County Courthouse was designed by [[Claire Allen]], a prominent southern Michigan architect.

Ionia County is part of the [[Grand Rapids metropolitan area|Grand Rapids-Kentwood metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
The county is named for [[Ionia]], a historic area of Greece.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ| title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n154 165]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|580|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|571|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|8.7|sqmi}} (1.5%) 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 25, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Gratiot County, Michigan|Gratiot County]] – northeast
*[[Montcalm County, Michigan|Montcalm County]] – north
*[[Clinton County, Michigan|Clinton County]] – east
*[[Kent County, Michigan|Kent County]] – west
*[[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]] – southeast
*[[Barry County, Michigan|Barry County]] – southwest

===Major highways===
*{{jct|country=USA|I|96}} is an east–west freeway running through the heart of Ionia County. The freeway can be used to access [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]], to the west, and [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]] and [[Detroit]], to the east.
*{{jct|state=MI|M|21}} is an east–west highway that runs north of I-96. The highway runs through the city of [[Ionia, Michigan|Ionia]].
*{{jct|state=MI|M|44}} is an east–west highway that runs in the northwest of Ionia County, including access to [[Belding, Michigan|Belding]].
*{{jct|state=MI|M|50}} is a highway in the southwest of Ionia County, following a largely east–west route. The highway runs through [[Lake Odessa, Michigan|Lake Odessa]].
*{{jct|state=MI|M|66}} is the primary north–south thoroughfare in Ionia County. Running through the center of the county, the highway also passes through downtown Ionia. M-66 is one of Michigan's longest state trunkline highways, running from the [[Indiana]] border near [[Sturgis, Michigan|Sturgis]] to [[Charlevoix, Michigan|Charlevoix]], on [[Lake Michigan]].
*{{jct|state=MI|M|91}} is a highway in the northwest of Ionia County, beginning at M-44 near Belding and running north toward [[Greenville, Michigan|Greenville]].
*{{jct|US 1948|16|state=MI}} is a former [[United States Numbered Highway System|US Route]] that travelled east–west in Ionia County, along what is today known as Grand River Avenue. The highway was replaced by I-96 in 1962.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 1923
|1850= 7597
|1860= 16682
|1870= 27681
|1880= 33872
|1890= 32801
|1900= 34329
|1910= 33550
|1920= 33087
|1930= 35093
|1940= 35710
|1950= 38158
|1960= 43132
|1970= 45848
|1980= 51815
|1990= 57024
|2000= 61518
|2010= 63905
|2020= 66804
|estyear=2023
|estimate=66262
|estref=<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>
|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 25, 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 25, 2014}}</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 25, 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 25, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2018<ref name=QF/>
}}

As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|107|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of {{convert|38|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the county was 91.96% White, 4.56% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.0% were of [[germans|German]], 14.7% [[United States|American]], 11.6% [[English people|English]], 8.9% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 5.3% [[Dutch people|Dutch]] ancestry. 96.3% spoke [[English language|English]] and 2.6% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

There were 20,606 households, out of which 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.15.

The county's population spread included 26.90% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,074, and the median income for a family was $49,797. Males had a median income of $36,995 versus $25,443 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,451. About 6.80% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2023}}Ionia County has been reliably [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] from the beginning. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 82% of the elections (29 of 35 elections).
{{PresHead|place=Ionia County, Michigan|source1=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 2,579 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 170 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 165 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 12 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|22,179|11,338|504|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|20,657|10,901|651|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|16,635|8,352|2,052|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|14,315|11,018|523|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|14,156|12,565|638|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|16,621|10,647|350|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|13,915|9,481|574|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|9,574|9,261|2,617|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,135|8,370|6,317|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,028|8,160|181|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,162|5,735|138|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,040|7,039|1,903|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|11,737|6,820|234|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,898|6,240|278|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|8,625|6,055|1,288|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,698|10,362|53|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|10,405|6,377|52|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|11,001|4,952|46|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|10,970|4,722|127|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|7,970|4,450|311|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|9,331|4,437|146|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|9,439|5,399|78|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6,487|7,140|1,155|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|6,074|8,695|331|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|9,471|3,089|83|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|9,502|2,821|656|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|7,977|3,395|430|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,950|3,911|307|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,049|2,757|2,926|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,584|3,232|554|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|5,440|2,729|356|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|5,101|4,055|236|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|4,593|4,757|149|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|4,288|3,779|604|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|4,436|3,779|491|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Democratic|3,552|3,814|510|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}}
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting attorney]]: Kyle B. Butler<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prosecuting Attorney |url=https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/prosecuting-attorney/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025231146/https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/prosecuting-attorney/ |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Ionia County}}</ref>
* [[Sheriff]]: Charlie Noll<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff Charlie Noll |url=https://ioniacounty.org/public-safety/sheriff/sheriff-charles-noll/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213022837/https://ioniacounty.org/public-safety/sheriff/sheriff-charles-noll/ |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Ionia County}}</ref>
* [[County clerk]]: Greg Geiger<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Clerk |url=https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/county-clerk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213023310/https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/county-clerk/ |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Ionia County}}</ref>
* [[Treasurer|County treasurer]]: Judith Clark<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treasurer's Office |url=https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/treasurer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213023506/https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/treasurer/ |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Ionia County}}</ref>
* [[Register of deeds]]: Rhonda Lake<ref>{{Cite web |title=Register of Deeds |url=https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/register-of-deeds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213023920/https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/register-of-deeds/ |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Ionia County}}</ref>
* [[Drain commissioner]]: Robert Rose<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drain Commissioner |url=https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/drain-commissioner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025233642/https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/drain-commissioner/ |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Ionia County}}</ref>
* County Commissioner District 1: David Hodges<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Commissioners |url=https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/board-of-commissioners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213043551/https://ioniacounty.org/departments-officials/board-of-commissioners/ |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |website=Ionia County}}</ref>
* County Commissioner District 2: Larry Tiejema
* County Commissioner District 3: Karen Banks
* County Commissioner District 4: Ally Cook
* County Commissioner District 5: Scott Wirtz
* County Commissioner District 6: Jack Shattuck
* County Commissioner District 7: Georgia Sharp
{{div col end}}
<small>(information {{As of|2023|February|lc=y|df=US}})</small>

== Education ==
Public school districts serving Ionia County include:<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ionia County, MI |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26067_ionia/DC20SD_C26067.pdf |accessdate=February 25, 2023 |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} – [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26115_monroe/DC20SD_C26115_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

* [[Belding Area Schools]]
* [[Carson City-Crystal Area Schools]]
* [[Central Montcalm Public Schools]]
* [[Grand Ledge Public Schools]]
* [[Greenville Public Schools (Michigan)|Greenville Public Schools]]
* [[Ionia Public Schools]]
* [[Lakewood Public Schools]]
* [[Lowell Area Schools]]
* [[Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools]]
* [[Portland Public Schools (Michigan)|Portland Public Schools]]
* [[Saranac Community Schools]]
* [[Thornapple Kellogg Schools]]

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Belding, Michigan|Belding]]
*[[Ionia, Michigan|Ionia]] (county seat)
*[[Portland, Michigan|Portland]]

===Villages===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Clarksville, Michigan|Clarksville]]
*[[Hubbardston, Michigan|Hubbardston]] (part)
*[[Lake Odessa, Michigan|Lake Odessa]]
*[[Lyons, Michigan|Lyons]]
*[[Muir, Michigan|Muir]]
*[[Pewamo, Michigan|Pewamo]]
*[[Saranac, Michigan|Saranac]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Berlin Township, Ionia County, Michigan|Berlin Township]]
*[[Boston Township, Michigan|Boston Township]]
*[[Campbell Township, Michigan|Campbell Township]]
*[[Danby Township, Michigan|Danby Township]]
*[[Easton Township, Michigan|Easton Township]]
*[[Ionia Township, Michigan|Ionia Township]]
*[[Keene Township, Michigan|Keene Township]]
*[[Lyons Township, Michigan|Lyons Township]]
*[[North Plains Township, Michigan|North Plains Township]]
*[[Odessa Township, Michigan|Odessa Township]]
*[[Orange Township, Ionia County, Michigan|Orange Township]]
*[[Orleans Township, Michigan|Orleans Township]]
*[[Otisco Township, Michigan|Otisco Township]]
*[[Portland Township, Michigan|Portland Township]]
*[[Ronald Township, Michigan|Ronald Township]]
*[[Sebewa Township, Michigan|Sebewa Township]]
{{div col end}}

=== Unincorporated communities ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Berlin Center, Michigan|Berlin Center]]
* [[Collins, Michigan|Collins]]
* [[Cooks Corners, Michigan|Cooks Corners]]
* [[Dildine, Michigan|Dildine]]
* [[Elmdale, Michigan|Elmdale]]
* [[Matherton, Michigan|Matherton]]
* [[Orleans, Michigan|Orleans]]
* [[Palo, Michigan|Palo]]
* [[Sebewa, Michigan|Sebewa]]
* [[Shiloh, Michigan|Shiloh]]
* [[Smyrna, Michigan|Smyrna]]{{div col end}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ioniacounty.org/ Ionia County official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080311225538/http://www.ioniamontcalm.com/ Ionia Montcalm Magazine website]
*[http://www.ioniahistory.org/ Ionia County Historical Society website]
*{{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/ionia.html|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Ionia County}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Ionia County, Michigan
|North     = [[Montcalm County, Michigan|Montcalm County]]
|Northeast = [[Gratiot County, Michigan|Gratiot County]]
|East      = [[Clinton County, Michigan|Clinton County]]
|Southeast = [[Eaton County, Michigan|Eaton County]]
|Southwest = [[Barry County, Michigan|Barry County]]
|West      = [[Kent County, Michigan|Kent County]]
}}

{{Ionia County, Michigan}}
{{West Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|42.94|-85.07|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Ionia County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:Grand Rapids metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]