Oceana County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
US highways
US-31U.S. Route 31U.S. Route 31 is a long north–south highway connecting northern Michigan to southern Alabama, with its northern terminus at Interstate 75 near Mackinaw City, Michigan, and southern terminus at the combined U.S. Route 90 & U.S. Route 98 at Spanish Fort, Alabama...
US 31 Business Route is a spur serving downtown Hart.-
US 31 Business Route loops through downtown Pentwater, returning to mainline US-31 at both ends.
Michigan State Trunklines
M-20M-20 (Michigan highway)M-20 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from New Era to Midland. It crosses through rural Lower Peninsula forest land between the two ends. The highway serves the college towns of Big Rapids and Mt...
M-120M-120 (Michigan highway)M-120 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan in the southwest Lower Peninsula. The highway runs northeast from Muskegon to Hesperia. In between, the road passes through suburban Muskegon, forests and farmland...
Intercounty Highways
B-15
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 26,873 people, 9,778 households, and 7,265 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 50 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 15,009 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.37% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.32% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.04% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.89% from two or more races. 11.61% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 22.4% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 10.1% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 8.8% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 8.6% Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
and 8.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.1% spoke only English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, while 9.9% spoke Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
at home. In 2000 Oceana County had the highest percentage of Latinos of any county in Michigan.
By 2005 the percentage of non-Hispanic whites in Oceana county was down to 83.8. African Americans had nearly doubled to 0.6% of the population. Native Americans held steady at 1.0% of the population. Asians also were the same percentage of the population. Latinos continued to grow in numbers, now constituting 13.9% of the population.
In 2000 there were 9,778 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,307, and the median income for a family was $40,602. Males had a median income of $31,834 versus $22,236 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,878. About 11.00% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and
other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
controls the
budget but has only 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.
Oceana County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: Terry Shaw - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Kenneth Price - County Clerk: Rebecca J. Griffin
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Sheila M. Gowell - Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: Jesse Beckmen - Register of Deeds: Richard A. Hodges
(information as of July 2010)
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities- HartHart, MichiganHart is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,950. It is the county seat of Oceana County. The city is located within Hart Township, but is politically independent....
Villages
- HesperiaHesperia, MichiganHesperia is a village in Newaygo and Oceana counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. About half of the village lies in Newfield Township in Oceana County and half in Denver Township in Newaygo County...
(partially) - New EraNew Era, MichiganNew Era is a village in Shelby Township, Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 461 at the 2000 census.New Era is the birthplace of Caldecott Medal-winning children's author Verna Aardema...
- PentwaterPentwater, MichiganPentwater is a village in Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 958 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Pentwater Township. Pentwater is home to Mears State Park. The name Pentwater comes from Pent or Penned up waters...
- RothburyRothbury, MichiganRothbury is a village in Grant Township, Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- ShelbyShelby, Oceana County, MichiganShelby is a village in Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,914 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Shelby Township.-Schools: operate within the Village boundaries...
- WalkervilleWalkerville, MichiganWalkerville is a village in Oceana County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 254. The village is within Leavitt Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
Unincorporated
- Crystal Valley
- Mears
- Stony Lake
Townships
- Benona TownshipBenona Township, MichiganBenona Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,520.-Geography:...
- Claybanks TownshipClaybanks Township, MichiganClaybanks Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 831 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Colfax TownshipColfax Township, Oceana County, MichiganColfax Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 574 at the 2000 census.The township was organized in 1869.-Geography:...
- Crystal TownshipCrystal Township, Oceana County, MichiganCrystal Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 832.- Communities:* Crystal Valley is an unincorporated community on Crystal Creek at...
- Elbridge TownshipElbridge Township, MichiganElbridge Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,233 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Ferry TownshipFerry Township, MichiganFerry Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,296 at the 2000 census.-Schools:Ferry was home to Ferry Community Schools for many years. In 1995 the school system changed and all students were part of Shelby Public Schools. Ferry Elementary...
- Golden TownshipGolden Township, MichiganGolden Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,810 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Grant TownshipGrant Township, Oceana County, MichiganGrant Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,932.-Geography:...
- Greenwood TownshipGreenwood Township, Oceana County, MichiganGreenwood Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,154.-Geography:...
- Hart TownshipHart Township, MichiganHart Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,026 at the 2000 census. The City of Hart is located within the township but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
- Leavitt TownshipLeavitt Township, MichiganLeavitt Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 845 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
- Newfield TownshipNewfield Township, MichiganNewfield Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a population of 2,483.-Communities:...
- Otto TownshipOtto Township, MichiganOtto Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
- Pentwater TownshipPentwater Township, MichiganPentwater Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,513 at the 2000 census. The Village of Pentwater is located within the township.-Geography:...
- Shelby TownshipShelby Township, MichiganShelby Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,951 at the 2000 census. The village of Shelby is located within the township.-Geography:...
- Weare TownshipWeare Township, MichiganWeare Township is a civil township of Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,261 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Oceana County, Michigan