Schoolcraft County, Michigan
Schoolcraft County (/ˈskuːlkræft/ SKOOL-kraft) is a county located in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,047, making it Michigan's fourth-least populous county.[1] The county seat is Manistique,[2] which lies along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. The county is named in honor of Henry Schoolcraft, who explored the area with the expedition of Lewis Cass.[3] The county was founded in 1843 and organized in 1876.[4] The county is largely rural and forested, with much of its western portion within Hiawatha National Forest.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,884 square miles (4,880 km2), of which 1,171 square miles (3,030 km2) is land and 713 square miles (1,850 km2) (38%) is water.[5]
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found – runs east and NE across south edge of county. Passes Cooks, Manistique, Gulliver, Parkington, Blaney Park.
- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found – runs east–west across upper middle part of county. Passes Seney.
- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found – enters county near NE corner. Runs south past Seney to intersection with US2 near Blaney Park.
- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found – enters county near NW corner. Runs south and SE to intersection with US2 near Manistique.
- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found – enters near SW corner of county. Runs east to intersection with US2 at Manistique.
- Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found / Error: package.lua:80: module 'Module:Road data/strings/USA/MI' not found – runs north from Cooks through Hiawatha National Forest.
Airport
[edit | edit source]- Schoolcraft County Airport Template:Airport codes - 3 miles NE of Manistique. County-owned public-use (general aviation). Two paved runways.
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]By land
- Delta County (west)
- Alger County (northwest)
- Luce County (northeast)
- Mackinac County (southeast)
By water
- Charlevoix County (southeast)
- Leelanau County (south)
National protected areas
[edit | edit source]Communities
[edit | edit source]
City
[edit | edit source]- Manistique (county seat)
Civil townships
[edit | edit source]- Doyle Township
- Germfask Township
- Hiawatha Township
- Inwood Township
- Manistique Township
- Mueller Township
- Seney Township
- Thompson Township
Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Indian reservation
[edit | edit source]- The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians occupies a very small plot of land in southern Manistique Township.
Former settlements
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[7] | Pop 1990[8] | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,184 | 7,732 | 7,846 | 7,394 | 6,727 | 95.44% | 93.13% | 88.13% | 87.14% | 83.60% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3 | 7 | 140 | 11 | 10 | 0.03% | 0.08% | 1.57% | 0.13% | 0.12% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 351 | 518 | 533 | 735 | 699 | 4.09% | 6.24% | 5.99% | 8.66% | 8.69% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 13 | 13 | 37 | 13 | 15 | 0.15% | 0.16% | 0.42% | 0.15% | 0.19% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [12] | x [13] | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 4 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.22% | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [14] | x [15] | 244 | 264 | 494 | x | x | 2.74% | 3.11% | 6.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20 | 32 | 83 | 64 | 96 | 0.23% | 0.39% | 0.93% | 0.75% | 1.19% |
| Total | 8,575 | 8,302 | 8,903 | 8,485 | 8,047 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,047. The median age was 52.6 years; 17.3% of residents were under the age of 18, and 28.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.4 males age 18 and over.[16]
The racial makeup of the county was 84.0% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 8.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race, and 6.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population.[17]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 3,657 households in the county, of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.0% were married-couple households, 20.1% 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 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 5,955 housing units, of which 38.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.4% were owner-occupied and 17.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%.[16]
2010 census
[edit | edit source]The 2010 United States census indicated Schoolcraft County had a population of 8,485.[19]
In 2010, there were 3,759 households, out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.72.
The county population contained 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.3 years. The population was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $38,367, and the median income for a family was $49,561. The per capita income for the county was $21,134. About 11.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over. The 2021 estimates determined the median household income was approximately $54,163.[1]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]Of its population in 2001, 87.6% of the population were White, 8.8% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% of some other race and 3.3% of two or more races. Among them, 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race); 16.2% were of German, 13.2% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 7.8% Swedish, 6.7% Irish, 5.3% Polish, 5.2% English and 5.1% American ancestry.[20]
Government
[edit | edit source]Schoolcraft County has been Republican-leaning from its start. Since 1876, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 71% of the elections (27 of 38 elections).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1876 | 121 | 52.84% | 103 | 44.98% | 5 | 2.18% |
| 1880 | 157 | 79.29% | 41 | 20.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 518 | 62.48% | 289 | 34.86% | 22 | 2.65% |
| 1888 | 590 | 47.81% | 589 | 47.73% | 55 | 4.46% |
| 1892 | 570 | 41.79% | 650 | 47.65% | 144 | 10.56% |
| 1896 | 973 | 62.86% | 548 | 35.40% | 27 | 1.74% |
| 1900 | 1,141 | 69.91% | 460 | 28.19% | 31 | 1.90% |
| 1904 | 1,472 | 83.49% | 225 | 12.76% | 66 | 3.74% |
| 1908 | 1,360 | 79.44% | 289 | 16.88% | 63 | 3.68% |
| 1912 | 595 | 37.95% | 337 | 21.49% | 636 | 40.56% |
| 1916 | 994 | 58.96% | 623 | 36.95% | 69 | 4.09% |
| 1920 | 1,776 | 71.33% | 428 | 17.19% | 286 | 11.49% |
| 1924 | 1,515 | 61.34% | 190 | 7.69% | 765 | 30.97% |
| 1928 | 1,826 | 66.81% | 877 | 32.09% | 30 | 1.10% |
| 1932 | 1,722 | 49.05% | 1,660 | 47.28% | 129 | 3.67% |
| 1936 | 1,430 | 36.81% | 2,333 | 60.05% | 122 | 3.14% |
| 1940 | 2,003 | 46.22% | 2,320 | 53.53% | 11 | 0.25% |
| 1944 | 1,704 | 49.43% | 1,724 | 50.01% | 19 | 0.55% |
| 1948 | 1,713 | 49.70% | 1,651 | 47.90% | 83 | 2.41% |
| 1952 | 2,352 | 58.05% | 1,692 | 41.76% | 8 | 0.20% |
| 1956 | 2,453 | 58.73% | 1,723 | 41.25% | 1 | 0.02% |
| 1960 | 2,183 | 50.79% | 2,107 | 49.02% | 8 | 0.19% |
| 1964 | 1,397 | 34.27% | 2,675 | 65.63% | 4 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 1,745 | 45.40% | 1,869 | 48.62% | 230 | 5.98% |
| 1972 | 2,310 | 56.01% | 1,759 | 42.65% | 55 | 1.33% |
| 1976 | 1,933 | 46.53% | 2,158 | 51.95% | 63 | 1.52% |
| 1980 | 2,097 | 47.94% | 1,964 | 44.90% | 313 | 7.16% |
| 1984 | 2,139 | 52.47% | 1,920 | 47.09% | 18 | 0.44% |
| 1988 | 1,802 | 46.37% | 2,071 | 53.29% | 13 | 0.33% |
| 1992 | 1,253 | 30.35% | 2,139 | 51.80% | 737 | 17.85% |
| 1996 | 1,200 | 31.00% | 2,187 | 56.50% | 484 | 12.50% |
| 2000 | 2,088 | 49.74% | 2,036 | 48.50% | 74 | 1.76% |
| 2004 | 2,267 | 51.05% | 2,137 | 48.12% | 37 | 0.83% |
| 2008 | 2,058 | 47.47% | 2,184 | 50.38% | 93 | 2.15% |
| 2012 | 2,142 | 52.75% | 1,865 | 45.92% | 54 | 1.33% |
| 2016 | 2,556 | 61.19% | 1,369 | 32.77% | 252 | 6.03% |
| 2020 | 3,090 | 65.12% | 1,589 | 33.49% | 66 | 1.39% |
| 2024 | 3,196 | 65.25% | 1,631 | 33.30% | 71 | 1.45% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:M.I. GovHead Template:M.I. GovRow Template:M.I. GovFoot Schoolcraft County operates the County jail, Schoolcraft County Public Transit, 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.
Historic places
[edit | edit source]The National Register of Historic Places listings in Schoolcraft County, Michigan are:
- Ten Curves Road – Manistique River Bridge – Ten Curves Rd. over Manistique River in Gemfask Township (added December 17, 1999)
- Manistique East Breakwater Light – at offshore end of east breakwater, approx. 1,800 ft. from shore (added September 6, 2005)
- Manistique Pumping Station – on Deer St. (added October 26, 1981)
- Seul Choix Pointe Light Station – County Rd. 431 in Gulliver (added July 17, 1984)
- Ekdahl-Goudreau Site – west of Seul Choix Point (added November 16, 1978).
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedClarke - ↑ "Schoolcraft County – Early 1880s". cityofmanistique.org. Schoolcraft County Historical Society. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ↑ "2025 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ↑ "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" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 24-59. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Michigan: Table 3-5 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 37-179. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Schoolcraft County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Schoolcraft County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Schoolcraft County, Michigan". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ↑ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
- ↑ US Election Atlas
- ↑ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 570 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 49 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 14 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 3 votes.
External links
[edit | edit source] |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schoolcraft County, Michigan. |
- Schoolcraft County website
- Schoolcraft County Profile, Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D.
- "Bibliography on Schoolcraft County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
Template:Schoolcraft County, Michigan Template:Upper Peninsula of Michigan Template:Michigan Coordinates: 46°01′N 86°11′W / 46.02°N 86.19°W