View source for Alcona County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = Alcona County
 | state              = Michigan
 | ex image             = Alcona County Building (Michigan).jpg
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = Alcona County Building in [[Harrisville, Michigan|Harrisville]]
 | flag                 = Flag of Alcona County, Michigan.svg
 | seal                 = 
 | logo                 = Alcona_logo.PNG
 | logo size            = 130px
 | founded year         = established 1840<br/>organized 1869<ref name=Clarke/>
 | seat wl         = Harrisville
 | largest city wl = Harrisville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1791
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 675
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1116
 | area percentage      = 62.%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 10167
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2025
 | population_est       = 10556 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | website              = https://alconacountymi.com/
|motto="First of [[List of counties in Michigan|83]]" }}

'''Alcona County''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|l|ˈ|k|oʊ|n|ə}} {{respell|al|KOH|nə}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 10,167.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/alconacountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Harrisville, Michigan|Harrisville]].<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> Alphabetically it is the first county in Michigan; as its flag states, it is the "First of 83".

==History==
[[Image:1842 Okkuddo Cheonoquet Anamickee Shawwano Oscoda Negwegon counties Michigan.jpg|thumb|A detail from ''[[:File:1842 A new map of Michigan with its canals roads distances by H.S. Tanner.jpg|A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances]]'' (1842) by [[Henry Schenck Tanner]], showing Alcona County as Negwegon, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.<ref name=Newberry/> Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.]]
{{See also|History of Northern Michigan}}
The county was created by the state legislature on April 1, 1840.<ref>Powers, [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bac9250.0001.001;frm=frameset;seq=125 p. 87]</ref><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> It was at first named '''Negwegon County''',<ref name=Newberry>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Michigan: Individual County Chronologies|author=Newberry Library|website=Atlas of County Historical Boundaries|access-date=November 4, 2016|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106151503/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> after the name of a well-known [[Ojibwe|Chippewa]] chief, also known as "Little Wing". He was honored as having been an American ally against the British in the [[War of 1812]].

It was renamed to Alcona County on March 8, 1843, after a [[neologism]] created by [[Henry Rowe Schoolcraft]] from parts of words from [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] languages, plus [[Arabic]], [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Latin]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Walter|last1=Romig|title=Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities|series=Great Lakes Books Series|type=Paperback|orig-year=1973|date=October 1, 1986|publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]]|isbn=0-8143-1838-X|location=Detroit, Michigan}}</ref><ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--,00.html Names of Michigan Counties] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313052757/https://www.michigan.gov/hal/0%2C1607%2C7-160-15481_20826_20829-54126--%2C00.html|date=March 13, 2009}}</ref> These were amalgamated to mean "fine or excellent plain".<ref name=Clarke>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/alcona.aspx|publisher=[[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Alcona County|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>Powers, [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bac9250.0001.001;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=132 p. 94]</ref> He was an influential US Indian agent and geographer.

Alcona County was initially attached to [[Mackinac County, Michigan|Mackinac County]] for purposes of revenue, taxation, and judicial matters. The attachment shifted to [[Cheboygan County, Michigan|Cheboygan County]] in 1853, to [[Alpena County, Michigan|Alpena County]] in 1857, to [[Iosco County, Michigan|Iosco County]] in 1858, and to [[Alpena County, Michigan|Alpena County]] in 1859.

[[Harrisville Township, Michigan|Harrisville Township]], then comprising the entire county, was organized in 1860. County government was organized in 1869, becoming effective on May 8, 1869.<ref>Powers, [http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bac9250.0001.001;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=126;view=image;page=root p. 88]</ref><ref>[http://www.alconareview.com/home Alcona Review]{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The county's slogan on its seal (a single gold star on a green field in the shape of Alcona County) is "First of 83," which refers to its place alphabetically among Michigan counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alconacountymi.com/|title=Alcona County website|author=Neighbor Hub}}</ref>

In 2007, Alcona County discovered that $1.2 million was missing and was forced to alter its $4 million budget. An investigation revealed that Thomas Katona, who had been the county treasurer for thirteen years, had wired $186,500 of county funds to accounts associated with a well-known [[Advance fee fraud|Nigerian scam]].<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1180624666258190.xml&coll=4 "Officials begin talks on how to make painful budget cuts,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170150/http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-9%2F1180624666258190.xml&coll=4|date=March 3, 2016}} ''[[The Bay City Times]]'', May 31, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164--170122--,00.html "Michigan Attorney General press release"], June 12, 2007</ref> Katona, who had already lost more than $70,000 of his savings on the scam, ignored repeated warnings from friends and his bank that his so-called investments seemed suspicious.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-02-06 |title=Money is gone and town's trust nearly spent |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/money-is-gone-and-towns-trust-nearly-spent/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Katona was sentenced to 9–14 years imprisonment on June 12, 2007, by the 23rd Circuit Court. Judge William Myles said Katona's crimes warranted more severe punishment than called for in state sentencing guidelines, due to the amount of money involved and the number of victims in the case.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1181747738262290.xml&coll=4 "Former Alcona treasurer sentenced to 9-14 years,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222514/http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-9%2F1181747738262290.xml&coll=4 |date=March 3, 2016 }} ''[[The Bay City Times]]'', June 13, 2007. Accessed June 24, 2007.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1791|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|675|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1116|sqmi}} (62%) 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 18, 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>

The area is part of the [[Au Sable State Forest]], specifically the Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties). The county is considered to be part of [[Northern Michigan]].

Alcona County has a shoreline on [[Lake Huron]]. Through Lake Huron, Alcona County has a [[water boundary]] with the [[Canadian province]] of [[Ontario]]. The [[Au Sable River (Michigan)|Au Sable River]] flows through the southwest of the county.

===Lakes===
Lakes in the county include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31431_31560-67533--,00.html|title=DNR - DNR|website=www.michigan.gov}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Lake Huron]]
* [[Alcona Lake]]
* Badger Lake
* [[Bear Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Bear Lake]]
* Brownlee Lake
* Byron Lake
* [[Cedar Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Cedar Lake]]
* [[Clear Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Clear Lake]]
* [[Crooked Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Crooked Lake]]
* [[Crystal Lake (Michigan)|Crystal Lake]]
* [[Curtis Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Curtis Lake]]
* Honawan Lake
* [[Horseshoe Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Horseshoe Lake]]
* [[Hubbard Lake (Michigan)|Hubbard Lake]], one of the state's twenty largest inland lakes.<ref>[http://www.watershedcouncil.org/Michigan_InlandLakes_Top20.pdf Top 20 Michigan inland lakes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410053552/http://www.watershedcouncil.org/Michigan_InlandLakes_Top20.pdf|date=April 10, 2008}}</ref>
* Hunter Lake
* [[Indian Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Indian Lake]]
* Jenkins lake
* Jewell Lake
* [[Lost Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|Lost Lake]]
* North Hoist Lake
* [[North Lake (Alcona County, Michigan)|North Lake]]
* O'Brien Lake
* Poplar Lake
* Reid Lake
* South Hoist Lake
* Tompson Lake
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[File:AlconaDam.JPG|thumb|[[Alcona Dam]] on the [[Au Sable River (Michigan)|Au Sable River]] in [[Curtis Township, Michigan|Curtis Township]].]] [[Alpena County, Michigan|Alpena County]] - north
* [[Iosco County, Michigan|Iosco County]] - south
* [[Ogemaw County, Michigan|Ogemaw County]] - southwest
* [[Oscoda County, Michigan|Oscoda County]] - west
* [[Montmorency County, Michigan|Montmorency County]] - northwest

===National protected area===
* [[Huron National Forest]] (part)

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

===City===
* [[Harrisville, Michigan|Harrisville]] (county seat)

===Village===
* [[Lincoln, Michigan|Lincoln]]

===Civil townships===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Alcona Township, Michigan|Alcona Township]]
* [[Caledonia Township, Alcona County, Michigan|Caledonia Township]]
* [[Curtis Township, Michigan|Curtis Township]]
* [[Greenbush Township, Alcona County, Michigan|Greenbush Township]]
* [[Gustin Township, Michigan|Gustin Township]]
* [[Harrisville Township, Michigan|Harrisville Township]]
* [[Hawes Township, Michigan|Hawes Township]]
* [[Haynes Township, Michigan|Haynes Township]]
* [[Mikado Township, Michigan|Mikado Township]]
* [[Millen Township, Michigan|Millen Township]]
* [[Mitchell Township, Michigan|Mitchell Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Hubbard Lake, Alcona County, Michigan|Hubbard Lake]]
* [[Lost Lake Woods, Michigan|Lost Lake Woods]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Alcona, Michigan|Alcona]]
* [[Alvin, Michigan|Alvin]]
* [[Backus Beach, Michigan|Backus Beach]]
* [[Barton City, Michigan|Barton City]]
* [[Black River, Michigan|Black River]]
* [[Bryant, Michigan|Bryant]]
* [[Cheviers, Michigan|Cheviers]]
* [[Curran, Michigan|Curran]]
* [[Curtisville, Michigan|Curtisville]]
* [[Glennie, Michigan|Glennie]]
* [[Greenbush, Michigan|Greenbush]]
* [[Gustin, Michigan|Gustin]]
* [[Killmaster, Michigan|Killmaster]]
* [[Kurtz, Michigan|Kurtz]] 
* [[Larson Beach, Michigan|Larson Beach]]
* [[Mikado, Michigan|Mikado]]
* [[Springport, Alcona County, Michigan|Springport]]
* [[Spruce, Michigan|Spruce]]
* [[Wallace, Alcona County, Michigan|Wallace]] 
{{div col end}}

===Ghost town===
* [[Bamfield, Michigan|Bamfield]]

==Government==
[[File:Mountain ash summer lake.jpg|thumb|[[Hubbard Lake]]]]
The county government maintains rural roads, operates the local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and [[vital records]], administers [[public health]] regulations, and works with state agencies to provide 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.

The Alcona County [[Circuit Court]] is part of the 23rd Circuit of Michigan. This multicounty circuit also includes [[Arenac County, Michigan|Arenac]], [[Iosco County, Michigan|Iosco]] and [[Oscoda County, Michigan|Oscoda]] Counties. This court was previously part of the 26th Circuit, which included [[Alpena County, Michigan|Alpena]] and [[Montmorency County, Michigan|Montmorency]] Counties.

===Elected officials===
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: Thomas Jay Weichel
* [[Sheriff]]: Scott A. Stephenson
* [[County Clerk]]/Circuit Court Clerk: Stephany Eller
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Cheryl L. Franks
* [[Register of Deeds]]: Melissa A. Cordes
* Road Commissioners: Alfred J. Scully, Harry L. Harvey, Theodore R. Somers<ref>[http://www.alconacountymi.com/ Alcona County Government]</ref>
(as of May 2018)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 185
| 1870 = 696
| 1880 = 3107
| 1890 = 5409
| 1900 = 5691
| 1910 = 5703
| 1920 = 5912
| 1930 = 4989
| 1940 = 5463
| 1950 = 5856
| 1960 = 6352
| 1970 = 7113
| 1980 = 9740
| 1990 = 10145
| 2000 = 11719
| 2010 = 10942
| 2020 = 10167
| estyear = 2025
| estimate = 10556
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 6, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}}
| align-fn = center
| footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 18, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</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 18, 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 18, 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 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name=QF/>
| align = right
}}

===Racial and ethnic composition===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Alcona County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Michigan - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80124uns_bw.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|page=24-59|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111013246/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80124uns_bw.pdf| archive-date=January 11, 2025|via= [[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref>
!Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Michigan: Table 3-5 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-24.pdf|access-date=|page=37-179|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260304021445/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-24.pdf|via= [[Wayback Machine]]| archive-date=March 4, 2026}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Alcona County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US26001&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Alcona County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US26001&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Alcona County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US26001&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|9,621
|9,987
|11,419
|10,621
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,593
|98.78%
|98.44%
|97.44%
|97.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |94.35%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|6
|23
|19
|13
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23
|0.06%
|0.23%
|0.16%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|44
|56
|71
|62
|style='background: #ffffe6; |57
|0.45%
|0.55%
|0.61%
|0.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.56%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|16
|23
|19
|25
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14
|0.16%
|0.23%
|0.16%
|0.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref>
|1
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|x
|x
|0.01%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|4
|1
|4
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |27
|0.04%
|0.01%
|0.03%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref>
|105
|91
|style='background: #ffffe6; |330
|x
|x
|0.90%
|0.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.25%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|49
|55
|81
|124
|style='background: #ffffe6; |122
|0.50%
|0.54%
|0.69%
|1.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.20%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''9,740'''
|'''10,145'''
|'''11,719'''
|'''10,942'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''10,167 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020 census===

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county had a population of 10,167. The median age was 58.2 years. 13.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 35.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.5 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A001&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A001&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% [[White Americans|White]], 0.2% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]], 0.1% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], &lt;0.1% [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Pacific Islander]], 0.4% from some other race, and 3.8% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

7.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 92.9% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A001&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 3, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 4,907 households in the county, of which 16.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.7% were married-couple households, 22.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 10,263 housing units, of which 52.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 88.9% were owner-occupied and 11.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.7%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census===

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 10,942 people living in the county. 97.9% were [[White American|White]], 0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.1% [[African American|Black or African American]], 0.2% of some other race and 0.9% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 1.1% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race).

===2000 census===

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $31,362, and the median income for a family was $35,669. Males had a median income of $29,712 versus $20,566 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,653. About 9.10% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Alcona County is served by three [[Public School District|public school districts]]. Public school district boundaries are not [[Coterminous municipality|coterminous]] with the county boundary or any municipality boundaries within the county. Only one district, [[Alcona Community Schools]], is entirely contained within the county, enrolling 690 students for the 2021–2022 school year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Search for Public School Districts: Alcona County, MI |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&details=1&State=26&County=Alcona+County |access-date=July 19, 2023 |website=[[Institute of Education Sciences]] |publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]]}}</ref>

Students on the southern side of the county are assigned to [[Oscoda Area Schools]] in the neighboring county of [[Iosco County, Michigan|Iosco]], while students on the western side of the county in [[Mitchell Township, Michigan|Mitchell Township]] are assigned to [[Fairview Area School District]], based in [[Oscoda County, Michigan|Oscoda County]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Alcona County, MI |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26001_alcona/DC20SD_C26001.pdf |accessdate=July 19, 2023 |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st26_mi/schooldistrict_maps/c26001_alcona/DC20SD_C26001_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Each school district is supported by a different [[intermediate school district]], with the majority of students enrolled in the county being covered by the [[Alpena–Montmorency–Alcona Education Service District]], based in [[Alpena, Michigan|Alpena]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District |url=https://amaesd2021.foxbrightcms.com/ |access-date=July 19, 2023 |website=[[Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District|AMA Educational Service District]]}}</ref>

===Districts===
School districts include:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

* [[Alcona Community Schools]]
* [[Fairview Area School District]]
* [[Oscoda Area Schools]]

==Politics==
Alcona County has been reliably Republican since the beginning. Since 1884, the county has voted against the Republican nominee for president only five times.
{{PresHead|place=Alcona County, Michigan|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|545|339|2|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|645|502|13|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|556|380|34|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|743|275|30|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|849|145|16|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|901|92|39|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|824|175|80|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|291|145|552|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|573|453|51|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,043|264|68|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,027|184|209|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,149|302|7|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|881|884|77|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,276|919|215|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,648|847|6|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,503|716|11|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,425|708|35|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,441|766|8|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,991|788|5|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,053|1,038|8|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,199|1,611|5|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,852|958|342|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,434|1,195|64|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,328|2,038|37|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,905|1,857|300|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,223|1,616|14|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,966|1,918|21|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,247|2,383|1,149|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,227|2,619|709|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,152|2,696|149|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,592|2,871|68|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,404|2,896|120|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,571|2,472|61|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,201|1,732|265|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,848|2,142|74|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,257|2,140|90|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Alcona County, Michigan|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)|website=Commonwealth of Michigan by county|date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|5,048|2,133|186|Michigan}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}
{{M.I. GovHead|place=Alcona County|Seat=|source=}}
<!-- M.I. GovRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{M.I. GovRow|2022|Republican|3,802|2,076|103}}
{{M.I GovFoot}}

==Media==

===Newspapers===
* The ''Alcona County Review'' located in Harrisville is the county's [[newspaper of record]], and has served the community since 1877.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alconareview.com/|title=''Alcona County Review''}}</ref>
* The ''[[Alpena News]]'' serves the northeastern [[lower peninsula]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thealpenanews.com/|title=News, Sports, Jobs - The Alpena News}}</ref>
* The ''Oscoda Press'' is a weekly newspaper serving southern [[Alcona County]] and northern [[Iosco County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscodapress.com/about_us/|title=Oscoda Press home page|work=Iosco County News Herald|location=East Tawas MI|access-date=October 23, 2014}}</ref>
* Daily editions of the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' and ''[[The Detroit News]]'' are available throughout the area.

==Radio==
* [[WXTF-LP]]

==Historical markers==
* [[Greenbush, Michigan|Greenbush]] School
* [[Lincoln, Michigan|West Harrisville]] Depot in Lincoln<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|title=Michigan Historical Markers|work=michmarkers.com|access-date=January 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315141338/http://www.michmarkers.com/Frameset.htm|archive-date=March 15, 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
* Springport Inn,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springportinn.com/|title=Springport Inn|access-date=May 29, 2008|archive-date=July 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709043249/http://www.springportinn.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Springport, Alcona County, Michigan|Springport]] home of Civil War Captain Joseph VanBuskirk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mieastsidepubs.com/NJ_sample.pdf|title=Platt, Connie Faussett, Northern Journal (November-December, 2004), ''Captain Joseph VanBuskirk of Springport (Harrisville, Michigan)''|work=mieastsidepubs.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625055956/http://www.mieastsidepubs.com/NJ_sample.pdf|archive-date=June 25, 2008}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
There is a senior citizens center building that opened in the 1940s. In 2023 there was a controversy over how to use a $12,500,000 grant that was to be used to build a replacement building.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Lindsay|url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2023/02/conservative-politics-alleged-racism-and-125m-divide-northern-michigan-county.html|title=Conservative politics, alleged racism and $12.5M divide Northern Michigan county|publisher=[[MLive]]|date=February 2, 2023|accessdate=February 4, 2023}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Highways===
* {{jct|state=MI|US|23}} — north of [[Standish, Michigan|Standish]], it has been designated the '''Sunrise Side Coastal Highway'''. Parallels the Lake Huron shore, connects with [[M-72 (Michigan highway)|M-72]] in [[Harrisville, Michigan|Harrisville]]. US 23 is the most proximate connector to [[Alpena, Michigan|Alpena]] and [[Mackinaw City, Michigan|Mackinaw City]].
* {{jct|state=MI|M|65}} — runs along the western side of the county, from US 23 north of [[Standish, Michigan|Standish]] to [[Rogers City, Michigan|Rogers City]].
* {{jct|state=MI|M|72}} — In 1936, downtown Harrisville became the eastern terminus<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m/72/|title=Photos of ends of M-72|work=state-ends.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209105746/http://www.state-ends.com/michigan/m/72/|archive-date=December 9, 2007}}</ref> of the {{convert|133|mi|km|abbr=off|sp=us}} [[M-72 (Michigan highway)|M-72]], which runs across the [[lower peninsula]] from [[Empire, Michigan]]. It is one of three true cross peninsular highways.<ref>[http://www.michiganhighways.org/listings/MichHwys70-79.html History of Michigan highways]</ref>
* {{jct|state=MI|CDH|F-30}} — runs from US 23 at [[Greenbush, Michigan|Greenbush]] through [[Mikado, Michigan|Mikado]] to M-65 at [[Glennie, Michigan|Glennie]].
* {{jct|state=MI|CDH|F-32}} —
* {{jct|state=MI|CDH|F-41}} — runs north–south from US 23 at Oscoda to US 23 south of [[Ossineke, Michigan|Ossineke]].

===Airport===
Alcona County has been a part of developing the [[Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport]], which became a public airport in 1993. It now occupies a portion of the former [[Wurtsmith Air Force Base]], which is in [[Oscoda Township, Michigan]] in neighboring [[Iosco County, Michigan]]. It is primarily used for cargo and light general aviation activities. The Airport offers 24-hour near all weather daily access.

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

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

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=History of the Lake Huron shore. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.|orig-year=1883|url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bad0770.0001.001|access-date=April 11, 2007|year=2005|publisher=University of Michigan Library|location=Ann Arbor MI|pages=255–274|chapter=History of Alcona County|chapter-url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;idno=bad0770.0001.001;size=l;frm=frameset;seq=315 }}
* {{cite book|last=Powers|first=Perry Francis|title=A history of northern Michigan and its people|orig-year=1912|access-date=April 11, 2007|year=2005|publisher=University of Michigan Library|location=Ann Arbor MI|pages=498–505|chapter=Alcona County|chapter-url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty&cc=micounty&idno=bac9250.0001.001;frm=frameset&view=image&seq=536|url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/bac9250.0001.001}}

==External links==
* [http://www.alconacountymi.com/ Alcona County Government]
* [http://www.alconareview.com/ Alcona County Review Newspaper]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213719/http://www.theenchantedforest.com/AlconaHistoricalSociety/ Alcona County Historical Society]
* [http://www.thealpenanews.com/ Alpena News (serving N.E. Michigan)]
* [http://www.alconapark.com Alcona Park]
* {{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/alcona.html|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Alcona County|access-date=January 17, 2013}}
* [http://www.theenchantedforest.com/ ''Enchanted forest'', Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/5Y0_18431_7.pdf Harrisville City Airport information and map]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050403131911/http://harrisvilleharbor.com/index.html Harrisville Harbor, information, webcam, etc.]
* [http://www.infomi.com/city/harrisville/ Information and links about Harrisville]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31431_31560-67533--,00.html Michigan Department of Natural Resources maps of lakes in Alcona County.]
* [http://www.us23coastalhighway.com/ Sunrise side travel and information]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Alcona County, Michigan
|North     = [[Alpena County, Michigan|Alpena County]]
|East      = ''[[Lake Huron]]''<br/>[[Bruce County]], [[Ontario]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|South     = [[Iosco County, Michigan|Iosco County]]
|Southwest = [[Ogemaw County, Michigan|Ogemaw County]]
|West      = [[Oscoda County, Michigan|Oscoda County]]
|Northwest = [[Montmorency County, Michigan|Montmorency County]]
}}
{{Alcona County, Michigan}}
{{Northern Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|44.71|-83.27|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Alcona County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Michigan]]