Editing Isabella County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Isabella County
 | state                = Michigan 
 | ex image             = St. John's Episcopal Church - Mt. Pleasant.jpg
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = [[St. John's Episcopal Church (Mount Pleasant, Michigan)|St. John's Episcopal Church]] in [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan|Mount Pleasant]]
 | flag                 = Flag of Isabella County, Michigan.svg
 | seal                 = Isabella_seal.PNG
 | founded year         = 1831 (created)<br/>1859 (organized)<ref name="clarke"/>
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Mount Pleasant
 | largest city wl      = Mount Pleasant
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 578
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 573
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.0
 | area percentage      = 0.9%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 64,394
 | density_sq_mi        = 124
 | web                  = www.isabellacounty.org
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Isabella I of Castile|Queen Isabella I of Castile]]
}}

'''Isabella County''' 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 64,394.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/isabellacountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan|Mount Pleasant]].<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 area was known as ''Ojibiway Besse'', meaning "the place of the [[Ojibwa]]".<ref>[http://www.isabellacounty.org/history.html History of Isabella County] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525230031/http://www.isabellacounty.org/history.html|date=May 25, 2007}} Isabella County, Michigan website (accessed April 21, 2007)</ref> Isabella County contains the [[Isabella Indian Reservation]], on which members of the [[Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation]] live. The county is home to [[Central Michigan University]].

==History==
Isabella County was described by action of the [[Michigan Territory]] legislature in 1831, but for purposes of population, revenue, and judicial matters, it was assigned to nearby counties. Its area was partitioned from unorganized territory plus a portion of [[Mackinac County, Michigan|Mackinac]], which had existed as a Territorial County since 1818.

The Michigan Territory was [[admitted to the Union]] as Michigan state in early 1837. By 1859, Isabella had sufficient settlement and interest in self-government that the state legislature authorized its organization.<ref name=clarke/> Based on a suggestion by [[Henry Rowe Schoolcraft]], the U.S. [[Indian agent]] in this area, the county was named after [[Isabella I of Castile|Queen Isabella I of Castile]], who with her husband Ferdinand commissioned [[Voyages of Christopher Columbus|Columbus's expedition]] to the New World.<ref name=clarke>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/isabella.aspx|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Isabella County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mymichigangenealogy.com/mi_county/is.htm Isabella County History and Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218094507/http://www.mymichigangenealogy.com/mi_county/is.htm |date=December 18, 2006}}, Genealogy Inc. (accessed April 21, 2007)</ref>

Isabella County comprises the [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan]] [[micropolitan statistical area]] in [[Central Michigan|Mid-Michigan]]. The county contains the [[Isabella Indian Reservation]], which has a total area of {{convert|217.67|sqmi}}. It is the major land base of the federally recognized [[Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation]]. Part of the county seat of [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan|Mount Pleasant]] is located within the reservation.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|578|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|573|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|5.0|sqmi}} (0.9%) are 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>

===Highways===
*{{jct|state=MI|US|10}} – cuts across NE corner of county. Enters at Clare; runs ESE to east county line. Exits to [[Coleman, Michigan|Coleman]].
*{{jct|state=MI|US|127}} – runs north–south through the eastern central part of county. Passes Rosebush and Mt. Pleasant, runs SE to Shepherd, then runs south into Gratiot County.
*{{jct|state=MI|M|20}} – runs east–west across lower central part of county. Enters from [[Remus, Michigan|Remus]]. Ends at Mt. Pleasant.<ref>{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Isabella+County,+MI/@43.6405264,-84.9874956,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x882203cc35235c89:0x2a2fa31cc6e7a7d7!8m2!3d43.598799!4d-84.8567932 |title=Isabella County MI |access-date=September 6, 2018}}</ref>
*(proposed) – {{jct|state=MI|I|73}} - project in Michigan is inactive

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=18}}
* [[Clare County, Michigan|Clare County]] – north
* [[Gladwin County, Michigan|Gladwin County]] – northeast
* [[Midland County, Michigan|Midland County]] – east
* [[Gratiot County, Michigan|Gratiot County]] – southeast
* [[Montcalm County, Michigan|Montcalm County]] – southwest
* [[Mecosta County, Michigan|Mecosta County]] – west
* [[Osceola County, Michigan|Osceola County]] – northwest
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 1443
|1870= 4113
|1880= 12159
|1890= 18784
|1900= 22784
|1910= 23029
|1920= 22610
|1930= 21126
|1940= 25982
|1950= 28964
|1960= 35348
|1970= 44594
|1980= 54110
|1990= 54624
|2000= 63351
|2010= 70311
|2020= 64394
|estyear=2023
|estimate=64118
|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]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=August 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 63,351 people, 22,425 households, and 13,006 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|110|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of {{convert|43|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 91.51% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.75% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.93% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.40% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.68% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.68% from two or more races. 2.24% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 28.0% were of [[germans|German]], 10.1% [[English people|English]], 10.0% [[Irish people|Irish]], 7.5% [[United States|American]] and 6.0% [[Polish people|Polish]] ancestry, 95.9% spoke [[English language|English]] and 1.6% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

There were 22,425 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.40% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.

The county population contained 20.30% under the age of 18, 29.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,262, and the median income for a family was $45,953. Males had a median income of $32,270 versus $24,180 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,242. 7.40% of families and 20.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
{{PresHead|place=Isabella 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|16,320|14,011|569|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,815|14,072|589|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|12,338|11,404|1,798|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|10,800|13,038|422|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|11,220|16,679|511|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|11,754|12,334|302|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|10,053|10,228|788|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|7,460|9,635|2,247|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|7,706|8,784|5,547|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,362|7,960|160|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,215|6,435|143|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|10,407|7,293|3,015|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|10,577|7,281|487|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,682|7,446|326|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|7,111|4,450|835|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,672|7,040|15|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,880|4,431|24|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|8,415|3,183|23|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,222|2,881|77|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|5,485|2,487|186|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|6,356|2,522|71|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|7,019|2,828|44|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,051|3,871|736|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,211|4,272|162|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,926|1,762|48|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,245|1,208|352|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,089|1,627|178|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,700|2,143|165|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|1,417|1,389|1,963|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,171|1,658|190|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,547|1,321|130|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,969|1,996|98|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,424|2,679|86|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,859|1,762|472|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,154|1,841|191|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|1,617|1,610|88|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 &mdash; police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. &mdash; are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

===Elected officials===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: David Barberi
* [[Sheriff]]: Michael Main
* [[County Clerk]]: Minde B. Lux
* [[Register of Deeds]]: Karen Jackson
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Steven W. Pickens
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Robert “Buford” Willoughby
{{div col end}}

==Communities==
[[File:Isabella County, MI census map.png|thumb|right|400px|[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] data map showing local municipal boundaries within Isabella County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]
[[File:Isabella Indian Reservation (Isabella County, MI) location.png|thumb|right|400px|[[Isabella Indian Reservation]] with underlying local boundaries]]

===Cities===
*[[Clare, Michigan|Clare]] (part)
*[[Mount Pleasant, Michigan|Mount Pleasant]] (county seat)

===Villages===
*[[Lake Isabella, Michigan|Lake Isabella]]
*[[Rosebush, Michigan|Rosebush]]
*[[Shepherd, Michigan|Shepherd]]

===Charter township===
*[[Union Charter Township, Michigan|Union Charter Township]]

===Civil townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Broomfield Township, Michigan|Broomfield Township]]
*[[Chippewa Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Chippewa Township]]
*[[Coe Township, Michigan|Coe Township]]
*[[Coldwater Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Coldwater Township]]
*[[Deerfield Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Deerfield Township]]
*[[Denver Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Denver Township]]
*[[Fremont Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Fremont Township]]
*[[Gilmore Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Gilmore Township]]
*[[Isabella Township, Michigan|Isabella Township]]
*[[Lincoln Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Lincoln Township]]
*[[Nottawa Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Nottawa Township]]
*[[Rolland Township, Michigan|Rolland Township]]
*[[Sherman Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Sherman Township]]
*[[Vernon Township, Isabella County, Michigan|Vernon Township]]
*[[Wise Township, Michigan|Wise Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
*[[Beal City, Michigan|Beal City]]
*[[Loomis, Michigan|Loomis]]
*[[Weidman, Michigan|Weidman]]
*[[Winn, Michigan|Winn]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Alembic, Michigan|Alembic]]
*[[Blanchard, Michigan|Blanchard]]
*[[Brinton, Michigan|Brinton]]
*[[Coe, Michigan|Coe]]
*[[Delwin, Michigan|Delwin]]
*[[Leaton, Michigan|Leaton]]
*[[Sherman City, Michigan|Sherman City]]
*[[Two Rivers, Michigan|Two Rivers]]
*[[Vernon Center, Michigan|Vernon Center]]
*[[Vernon City, Michigan|Vernon City]]
{{div col end}}

===Indian reservation===
*[[Isabella Indian Reservation]]

== Education ==

The [[Gratiot–Isabella Regional Education Service District]], based in [[Ithaca, Michigan|Ithaca]], services the students in the county. The [[intermediate school district]] offers regional [[special education]] services, [[Early childhood education|early education]] programs, and [[Vocational school|technical career]] pathways for students of its districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GIRESD Local School Districts |url=https://www.giresd.net/page/giresd-schools |access-date=July 14, 2023 |publisher=[[Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District]]}}</ref>

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

* [[Beal City Public Schools]]
* [[Mt. Pleasant City School District]]
* [[Shepherd Public School District|Shepherd Public Schools]]

The county also has the following [[Charter school|independent charter]] districts:

* [[Flextech High School - Shepherd]]
* [[Renaissance Public School Academy]]

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

* Sacred Heart Academy ([[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]])
* Saginaw Chippewa Academy ([[Nonsectarian]])
* St. Joseph the Worker School ([[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]])
* White Pine Montessori Children's Center ([[Montessori education|Montessori]] method)

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

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

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/isabella.html|publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Isabella County}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.isabellacounty.org/|publisher=Isabella County, Michigan |title=Isabella County official website}}

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

{{Isabella County, Michigan}}
{{Central Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|43.65|-84.84|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Isabella County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]