Cheboygan County, Michigan
Poe Reef Light
Seal
Location in the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1840 (authorized) 1855 (organized)[1]
Seat	Cheboygan
Largest city	Cheboygan
Area
• Total	885 sq mi (2,292 km2)
• Land	715 sq mi (1,852 km2)
• Water	170 sq mi (440 km2), 19%
Population
• (2010)	26,512
• Density	37/sq mi (14/km2)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern

Cheboygan County (/ʃɛˈbɔɪɡən/ shi-BOY-gən)^[2] is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 26,152.^[3] The county seat is Cheboygan.^[4] The county boundaries were set off in 1840, with land partitioned from Mackinac County. The Cheboygan County government was organized in 1853.^[1]

Etymology of the name Cheboygan[edit]

The name of the county shares the same origin as that of the Cheboygan River, although the precise meaning is no longer known. It may have come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan, meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, the origin may have been Chabwegan, meaning "a place of ore".^[5] It has also been described as "a Native American word first applied to the river.^[1]See List of Michigan county name etymologies. "Cheboygan" is pronounced the same as "Sheboygan" (a city in Wisconsin).^[2]

Geography[edit]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 885 square miles (2,290 km²), of which 715 square miles (1,850 km²) is land and 170 square miles (440 km²) (19%) is water.^[6] The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

This 1876 map shows Cheboygan County between Emmet County and Presque Isle County.

Adjacent counties[edit]

• 
  Mackinac County - north


• 
  Presque Isle County - east


• 
  Montmorency County - southeast


• 
  Otsego County - south


• 
  Charlevoix County - southwest


• 
  Emmet County - west

Transportation[edit]

Highways[edit]

• 
  I-73 (future)


• 
  I-75
  


• 
  US 23
  


• 
  US 31
  


• 
  M-27
  


• 
  M-33
  


• 
  M-68
  


• 
  M-212
  

Cheboygan County-designated highways[edit]

• 
  C-58
  


• 
  C-64
  


• 
  C-66
  


• 
  F-05
  

Airports[edit]

• 
  Cheboygan County Airport, located in Cheboygan, is a private airport. There are no commercial airline airports in Cheboygan County but the nearest ones are Alpena County Regional Airport, Chippewa County International Airport (Sault Ste. Marie, MI), and Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City). Delta Air Lines schedules flights daily out of the Pellston Regional Airport.

Demographics[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[12] there were 26,448 people, 10,835 households, and 7,573 families in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 16,583 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 2.55% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 10.4% English, 10.0% French, 9.5% Polish, 9.2% American and 8.9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.7% spoke English as their first language.

There were 10,835 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.

The county population contained 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,417, and the median income for a family was $38,390. Males had a median income of $30,054 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,088. About 8.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government[edit]

Cheyboygan County has tended to vote Republican through the years. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 71% (24 of 34) of the national elections.

Cheyboygan County operates the County 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[edit]

(information as of September 2018)

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

• 
  Cheboygan (county seat)

Villages[edit]

• 
  Mackinaw City (part)


• Wolverine

Census-designated place[edit]

• Indian River

Other unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Cheboygan County had another township called Maple Grove Township which became part of Forest Township in 1942.

Historical markers[edit]

Jail and Sheriff's Residence, now the Cheboygan County Historical Museum Complex

There are eight recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:^[14]

See also[edit]

• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Cheboygan County, Michigan


• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cheboygan County, Michigan


• USS Cheboygan County (LST-533)


• History of Northern Michigan

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Cheboygan County official site


• 
  "Bibliography on Cheboygan County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013. 
  


• Cheboygan County's Historic Bridges


• 
  Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.


• YourCheboygan.org, Open forum for community feedback

Coordinates: 45°29′N 84°30′W / 45.48°N 84.50°W / 45.48; -84.50