Editing Presque Isle County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{About|the Michigan county|other areas|Presque Isle (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county  = Presque Isle County
 | state              = Michigan
 | ex image             = Onaway Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = Presque Isle County Courthouse in [[Onaway, Michigan|Onaway]]
 | seal                 = Presque_isle_seal.PNG
 | founded year         = 1840 (created)<br/>1871 (organized)<br/>1875 (reorganized)<ref name=Clarke>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/presqueisle.aspx|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Presque Isle County|access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref>
 | seat wl         = Rogers City
 | largest city wl = Rogers City
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 2573
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 659
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1914
 | area percentage      = 74
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 12982
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 13285 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | web = presqueislecounty.org 
}}

'''Presque Isle County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɹ|ɛ|s|k|i:|l}} {{respell|PRESK|eel}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 12,982.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/presqueislecountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Rogers City, Michigan|Rogers City]].<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}}</ref> The county was authorized by state legislative action on April 1, 1840,<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> but the county government was not established until 1871. The government was reorganized in 1875.<ref name=Clarke/> The name is an [[anglicisation]] of the [[French language|French]] word ''presqu'île'' or ''presque-isle'', which means a [[peninsula]], or literally, "almost an island".<ref name=Clarke/> A large part of [[Presque Isle Township]] consists of that peninsula, with [[Lake Huron]] on the east, [[Grand Lake (Michigan)|Grand Lake]] on the west, and narrow strips of land connecting it to the mainland at the north and south ends. The community of Presque Isle is near the center of this peninsula.

==History==
{{See also|History of Northern Michigan}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2009}}
Early [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] living in the area were [[nomadic]], using the land as hunting grounds. To them the land between the [[Ocqueoc River|Ocqueoc]] and [[Swan River (Michigan)|Swan Rivers]] was [[sacred]] ground. The name "Presque Isle" was given to the area by French [[fur traders]] who portaged over the strip of land that attaches Presque Isle to the mainland.

Early [[land development|development]] of the area was delayed because it had no navigable river. The Ocqueoc River was Presque Isle's largest river but it was shallow and crooked, with many [[rapids]]. In the spring of 1839 a [[surveying]] party, contracted by the state of Michigan, reported that the land of this area was worthless. This further discouraged development until the 1860s when the Crawford family settled into a quiet [[cove]] of Lake Huron, south of present-day Rogers City. They intended to develop a stone [[quarry]], but found the stone too flaky to be used as building material. Turning to [[lumbering]], they sold the wood to [[steamboat|steamers]] traveling the [[Great Lakes]].

In 1868 W.E. Rogers, an [[United States Army|Army]] officer, organized a surveying party to Presque Isle, with Albert Molitor as [[supervisor]]. Seeing the huge [[forests]], they attempted to purchase Crawford's Quarry but were refused. They formed the Molitor-Rogers Company purchasing the land at the site of Rogers City. The following year a large party of [[Germans|German]] and [[Polish people|Polish]] immigrants arrived and settled in the area. The Molitor-Rogers Company built a [[sawmill]], store, boarding house, and [[blacksmith]] shop. The small city was solely supplied by the company. After a difficult winter in 1870–71, the community began to thrive.

The county's original [[settler]]s were lumbermen, fishermen and farmers. In 1907 a [[mining engineer]]/[[geologist]] from New York, H.H. Hindshaw, visited Crawford's Quarry and found it to be rich in [[limestone]]. Following this discovery, the [[Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company]] of Calcite, Michigan, was founded. The company purchased {{convert|8000|acre|km2}} at Calcite, the new name for Crawford's Quarry. Needing a means of shipping their product, the Bradley Transportation Company was formed. The company is known in the area for being the chief business, employing a significant portion of the area's residents. One of the darker aspects of the county's history involved the Bradley Transportation Company when one of their cargo ships, the [[SS Carl D. Bradley|''Carl D. Bradley'']] sank on Lake Michigan during a windstorm in November 1958 with the loss of 33 lives, 28 of whom resided in Presque Isle County (23 were from Rogers City, three were from Onaway and two were from Posen or Metz Township).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kerrins |first1=Joseph |last2=Change |first2=Joseph |last3=Leising |first3=Charles |last4=Read |first4=Garth |title=Marine Board of Investigation; foundering of the Carl D. Bradley, Lake Michigan, 18 November 1958 with loss of life |url=https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/boards/carlbradley.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513191703/https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/boards/carlbradley.pdf |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |url-status=live |publisher=United States Coast Guard |access-date=November 1, 2022}}</ref>{{NoteTag|The uncensored Coast Guard report was found in the appendix of the book Mayday! by James Hopp}}

Today the world's largest limestone processing plant is in Rogers City, which is also a major Great Lakes Port. This is the best [[natural harbor]] on Lake Huron between [[Port Huron, Michigan|Port Huron]] and [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|2573|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|659|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1914|sqmi}} (74%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|archive-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref> Although Presque Isle County is on Michigan's Lower Peninsula, it is considered to be part of [[Northern Michigan]].

===Geographic features===
* [[Ocqueoc Falls]]
* [[Sacred Rock (Presque Isle County)|Sacred Rock]]

===Lakes===
{{div col}}
* [[Grand Lake (Presque Isle, Michigan)]]       
* [[Long Lake (Preque Isle, Michigan)]]    
* [[Black Lake (Michigan)|Black Lake]]
* [[Sunken Lake]]
* [[Tomahawk Creek Flood]]
* [[Rainy Lake]]
* [[Ocqueoc Lake]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
'''By land'''

* [[Alpena County, Michigan|Alpena County]] (southeast)
* [[Montmorency County, Michigan|Montmorency County]] (southwest)
* [[Cheboygan County, Michigan|Cheboygan County]] (west)

'''By water'''

* [[Mackinac County, Michigan|Mackinac County]] (northwest)
* [[Chippewa County, Michigan|Chippewa County]] (north)
* [[Manitoulin District]], [[Ontario]], Canada (east)

==Communities==
[[File:Presque Isle County, MI census map.png|thumb|right|500px|[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] data map showing local municipal boundaries within Presque Isle County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]

===Cities===
* [[Onaway, Michigan|Onaway]]
* [[Rogers City, Michigan|Rogers City]] (county seat)

===Villages===
* [[Millersburg, Michigan|Millersburg]]
* [[Posen, Michigan|Posen]]

===Civil townships===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Allis Township, Michigan|Allis Township]]
* [[Bearinger Township, Michigan|Bearinger Township]]
* [[Belknap Township, Michigan|Belknap Township]]
* [[Bismarck Township, Michigan|Bismarck Township]]
* [[Case Township, Michigan|Case Township]]
* [[Krakow Township, Michigan|Krakow Township]]
* [[Metz Township, Michigan|Metz Township]]
* [[Moltke Township, Michigan|Moltke Township]]
* [[North Allis Township, Michigan|North Allis Township]]
* [[Ocqueoc Township, Michigan|Ocqueoc Township]]
* [[Posen Township, Michigan|Posen Township]]
* [[Presque Isle Township, Michigan|Presque Isle Township]]
* [[Pulawski Township, Michigan|Pulawski Township]]
* [[Rogers Township, Michigan|Rogers Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Presque Isle Harbor, Michigan|Presque Isle Harbor]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Hawks, Michigan|Hawks]]
* [[Leroy, Presque Isle County, Michigan|Leroy]]
* [[Liske, Michigan|Liske]]
* [[Manitou Beach, Presque Isle County, Michigan|Manitou Beach]]
* [[Metz, Michigan|Metz]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 26
| 1870 = 355
| 1880 = 3113
| 1890 = 4687
| 1900 = 8821
| 1910 = 11249
| 1920 = 12131
| 1930 = 11330
| 1940 = 12250
| 1950 = 11996
| 1960 = 13117
| 1970 = 12836
| 1980 = 14267
| 1990 = 13743
| 2000 = 14411
| 2010 = 13376
| 2020 = 12982
|estyear=2023
|estimate=13285
|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 27, 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 27, 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 27, 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 27, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name=QF/>
}}

At the [[2000 United States census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 14,411 people, 6,155 households, and 4,203 families residing in the county. In 2020, there were 12,982 people in the county.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $31,656, and the median income for a family was $37,426. Males had a median income of $31,275 versus $20,625 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,363. About 6.80% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those over age 64.

==Government==
Voters in Presque Isle County have generally favored Republican Party nominees. Since 1884, the Republican nominee has garnered the county's vote 72% of the time (26 of 36 elections).
{{PresHead|place=Presque Isle 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|5,568|3,036|158|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,342|2,911|102|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,488|2,400|369|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,794|3,192|112|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|3,606|3,722|183|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,982|3,432|102|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,660|3,242|178|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,463|3,449|980|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,398|3,308|1,639|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,614|3,025|40|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,207|2,481|36|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,486|2,952|474|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,545|3,334|69|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,372|2,440|185|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,565|2,300|386|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,770|3,565|2|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,950|2,649|3|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,058|1,917|3|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,982|1,825|15|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,271|1,872|22|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,209|2,092|13|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,552|2,595|13|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,621|2,905|79|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,560|2,217|88|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,992|1,029|20|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,315|431|686|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,522|525|76|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,407|806|74|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|729|259|960|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,706|301|89|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,861|363|20|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,328|496|29|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|763|371|21|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|290|471|73|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|408|484|11|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|394|225|0|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]]: Kenneth A. Radzibon
* [[Sheriff]]: Joseph Brewbaker
* [[County Clerk]]: Ann Marie Main
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Bridget LaLonde
* [[Register of Deeds]]: Vicky Kowalewsky
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Robert G. Macomber
* [[County Surveyor]]: Norman J. Quaine Jr.
{{div col end}}
<small>as of June 2021</small>

==Historical markers==
There are ten recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|title=Michigan Historical Markers|access-date=January 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717055930/http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|archive-date=July 17, 2014|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
{{div col}}
* Bearinger Union School
* Burnham's Landing
* Elowsky Mill
* [[Forty Mile Point Lighthouse]] / Graveyard of Ships
* Lake Huron
* The Metz Fire
* [[Old Presque Isle Lighthouse]]
* Presque Isle Electric Cooperative Monument
* Presque Isle Light Station
* World's Largest Limestone Quarry
{{div col end}}

==Media==
===Newspapers===
* The ''[[Alpena News]]''<ref>[http://www.thealpenanews.com ''The Alpena News'']</ref> is the daily newspaper of record for much of the northeastern [[Lower Peninsula]].
* The ''[[Presque Isle County Advance]]'' is the weekly newspaper of Presque Isle County.

===Television===
The following television stations broadcast in Presque Isle County:
* Channel 4: [[WPBN-TV|WTOM-TV]] "TV 7&4" ([[NBC]]) ([[Cheboygan, Michigan|Cheboygan]]; satellite of [[WPBN-TV]], [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]])
* Channel 6: [[WCMU-TV|WCML]] "CMU Public Television" ([[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]) ([[Alpena, Michigan|Alpena]]; satellite of [[WCMU-TV]], [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan|Mount Pleasant]])
* Channel 8: [[WGTU|WGTQ]] "ABC 29&8" ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]) ([[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan|Sault Ste. Marie]]; satellite of [[WGTU]], Traverse City)
* Channel 10: [[WWTV|WWUP-TV]] "9&10 News" ([[CBS]]) (Sault Ste. Marie; satellite of [[WWTV]], [[Cadillac, Michigan|Cadillac]])
* Channel 11: [[WBKB-TV]] "Channel 11 News" (CBS) (Alpena)
* Channel 45: [[WFQX-TV|WFUP]] "Fox 32" ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]) ([[Vanderbilt, Michigan|Vanderbilt]]; satellite of [[WFQX-TV]] Cadillac).

===Radio===
The following radio stations can be heard in Rogers City
;FM
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Call Sign
! Frequency
! City Broadcast From
|-
| [[WPHN]]
| 90.5
| [[Gaylord, Michigan|Gaylord]]
|-
|[[WCMU-FM|WCML]]
| 91.7
| [[Alpena, Michigan|Alpena]]
|-
| [[WFDX]]
| 92.5
|[[Atlanta, Michigan|Atlanta]]
|-
| [[WQLB|WKJZ]]
| 94.9
| [[Hillman, Michigan|Hillman]]
|-
| WRZG
| 96.7
| Rogers City
|-
| [[WHAK-FM]]
| 99.9
| Rogers City
|-
| [[WWMK]]
| 106.3
| Onaway
|-
| [[WHSB]]
| 107.7
| Alpena
|}

;AM
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Call Sign
! Frequency
! City Broadcast From
|-
| [[WTCM (AM)|WTCM]]
| 580
| [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]]
|-
| [[WHAK (AM)|WHAK]]
| 960
| Rogers City
|}

;NOAA Weather Radio
[[NOAA Weather Radio]] can be heard on 162.550&nbsp;MHz (Call Sign KIG83, Alpena)

==Transportation==
[[File:Steamer "Pastime" enroute to Presque Isle - DPLA - aa37baf46658b770ed3e85697a2dee2f.jpg|thumb|right|Steamer "Pastime" en route to Presque Isle]]

===Air===
There is one county-owned airport in Presque Isle County, providing access to [[general aviation]]:
* Presque Isle County Airport – located SW of Rogers City<ref>[http://www.airnav.com/airport/KPZQ ''Presque Isle County Airport'' airnav.com]</ref>

The nearest commercial airline airports are [[Alpena County Regional Airport]] near Alpena,<ref>[https://www.airnav.com/airport/KAPN ''Alpena County Regional Airport'' airnav.com]</ref> and [[Cherry Capital Airport]]<ref>[https://www.airnav.com/airport/KTVC ''Cherry Capital Airport'' airnav.com]</ref> near ([[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]]).

===Major highways===
* {{jct|state=MI|US|23}}
* {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|23|dab1=Rogers City}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|33}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|65}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|68}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|211}}
* {{jct|state=MI|CDH|F-21}}

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

==Footnotes==
{{NoteFoot}}

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

==External links==
* [http://www.presqueislecounty.org/ Presque Isle County website] Presque Isle County website
* [http://www.theenchantedforest.com/ Enchanted forest] ''Enchanted forest'', Northern Michigan source for information, calendars etc.
* {{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/presque_isle.html|publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Presque Isle County}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Presque Isle County
|North     = ''[[Lake Huron]]''<br/>[[Chippewa County, Michigan|Chippewa County]]
|Northeast = [[Manitoulin District]], [[Ontario]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|East      = ''[[Lake Huron]]''<br/>[[Manitoulin District]], [[Ontario]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|Southeast = [[Alpena County, Michigan|Alpena County]]
|Southwest = [[Montmorency County, Michigan|Montmorency County]]
|West      = [[Cheboygan County, Michigan|Cheboygan County]]
|Northwest = [[Mackinac County, Michigan|Mackinac County]]
}}

{{Presque Isle County, Michigan}}
{{Northern Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45.32|-83.46|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Presque Isle County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]