Sanilac County, Michigan

History

Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot (Huron) chief named Sanilac. (See List of Michigan county name etymologies). The county was formed on September 10, 1822, by the Michigan Territorial Legislature, partitioning parts of St. Clair County and unorganized territory administered by Oakland County. The original boundary of the county was reduced in 1840, when parts were partitioned off to create Huron and Tuscola counties. The county government was fully organized on December 31, 1849. In the middle of the 19th century, the area now called Port Sanilac was called Bark Shanty. It was named for a lone shanty made of bark, which was used to make shingles from pine. The county seat of Sanilac is the city of Sandusky.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1590 sqmi, of which 963 sqmi is land and 627 sqmi (39%) is water. Sanilac County is the largest county in Michigan's Lower Peninsula by land area.

Adjacent counties

• Huron County (north)
• Tuscola County (west)
• St. Clair County (south)
• Lapeer County (southwest)
• Huron County, Ontario, Canada (east)

Major highways

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2024

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 40,611. The median age was 45.3 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.3% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian,

6.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 93.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 16,781 households in the county, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 21,676 housing units, of which 22.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.4% were owner-occupied and 20.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census indicates Sanilac County had a 2010 population of 43,114. This decrease of -1,433 people from the 2000 United States census represents a 3.2% population loss in the decade. In 2010 there were 17,132 households and 11,885 families in the county. The population density was 44.8 /mi2. There were 22,725 housing units at an average density of 23.6 /mi2. 96.6% of the population were White, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 1.1% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 3.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 26.1% were of German, 11.0% Polish, 10.4% English, 8.3% Irish, 7.2% American and 5.1% French, French Canadian or Cajun ancestry.

There were 17,132 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were husband and wife families, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 26.4% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $39,138 and the median income for a family was $47,885. Males had a median income of $27,440 versus $16,509 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,671. About 1.5% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under the age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.

Government

Sanilac County has voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since the GOP's inaugural election in 1856 – except in 1912, when the county supported Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party campaign. However, they had voted for the Republican nominee in 1912, William Howard Taft in the previous election (1908). Hence, every person who has won the GOP's nomination has won Sanilac County, Michigan. Theodore Roosevelt had also been the Republican nominee in 1904.

The county government operates the 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 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

• Prosecuting Attorney: James V. Young
• Sheriff: Paul Rich
• County Clerk: Denise McGuire
• County Treasurer: Trudy M. Nicol
• Register of Deeds: Michele VanNorman
• Drain Commissioner: Gregory L Alexander
• Circuit Court Judge: Hon. Timothy C. Wrathell
• Probate Court Judge: Hon. Gregory S. Ross
• District Court Judge: Hon. Gregory S Ross
• Commissioner – Dist 1: Jon Block
• Commissioner – Dist 2: Gary Heberling
• Commissioner – Dist 3: William Sarkella
• Commissioner – Dist 4: Bob Colely
• Commissioner – Dist 5: Paul Muxlow

Media

• The county is served weekly by the Tribune-Recorder since 1893, the Sanilac County News of Sandusky and other small newspapers.
• Daily deliveries of the Port Huron Times Herald are available in Sanilac County.

Communities

Cities

• Brown City
• Croswell
• Marlette
• Sandusky (county seat)

Villages

• Applegate
• Carsonville
• Deckerville
• Forestville
• Lexington
• Melvin
• Minden City
• Peck
• Port Sanilac

Census-designated place

• Snover

Other unincorporated communities

• Amadore
• Argyle
• Austin Center
• Birch Beach
• Blue Water Beach
• Cash
• Charleston
• Cumber
• Decker
• Downington
• Elmer
• Freidberger
• Great Lakes Beach
• Hemans
• Huronia Heights
• Juhl
• Laing
• Lexington Heights
• McGregor
• Omard
• Palms
• Tyre
• Watertown

Townships

• Argyle Township
• Austin Township
• Bridgehampton Township
• Buel Township
• Custer Township
• Delaware Township
• Elk Township
• Elmer Township
• Evergreen Township
• Flynn Township
• Forester Township
• Fremont Township
• Greenleaf Township
• Lamotte Township
• Lexington Township
• Maple Valley Township
• Marion Township
• Marlette Township
• Minden Township
• Moore Township
• Sanilac Township
• Speaker Township
• Washington Township
• Watertown Township
• Wheatland Township
• Worth Township

References

References

1. Long ''Sanilac County''
2. "Sanilac County, Michigan".
3. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. [http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html Michigan government on origin of county names]
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau.
7. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau.
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
16. Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website".
17. "Diocese of Saginaw".
18. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]
19. [https://www.sanilaccounty.net/PublicPages/Entity.aspx?ID=217 SC Prosecuting Atty (accessed 10 September 2018)]
20. [https://www.sanilaccounty.net/PublicPages/Entity.aspx?ID=196 SC Clerk (accessed 10 September 2018)]
21. [https://www.sanilaccounty.net/PublicPages/Entity.aspx?ID=233 SC Treasurer Office (accessed 10 September 2018)]
22. [https://www.sanilaccounty.net/PublicPages/Entity.aspx?ID=220 SC Register of Deeds (accessed 10 September 2018)]
23. [https://www.sanilaccounty.net/PublicPages/Entity.aspx?ID=198 SC Drain Commissioner (accessed 10 September 2018)]
24. [https://www.sanilaccounty.net/PublicPages/EntityList.aspx?Type=2 SC Courts (accessed 10 September 2018)]
25. [https://www.sanilaccounty.net/PublicPages/EntityList.aspx?Type=1 SC Board of Commissioners (accessed 10 September 2018)]