Sanilac County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Highways
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M-19M-19 (Michigan highway)M-19 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. It begins northeast of Detroit at a junction with I-94 and runs northward to a junction with M-142 just east of Bad Axe in the thumb.-Route description:... -
M-25M-25 (Michigan highway)M-25 is a state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan. The route follows an arc-like shape closely along the Lake Huron shore of the Thumb in the eastern Lower Peninsula between Port Huron and Bay City. It serves the lakeshore resorts along Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay and generally lies... -
M-46M-46 (Michigan highway)M-46 is an east–west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan between Muskegon and Port Sanilac, terminating near Lake Michigan and Lake Huron on each end. Except for the north–south segment that corresponds with the US Highway 131 freeway between Cedar Springs and Howard City, M-46 is... -
M-53M-53 (Michigan highway)M-53 is a gateway route to The Thumb region of the US state of Michigan, carrying vacationers to the many cottages and resorts located on Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron in the vicinity of Caseville and Port Austin. This highway is also used to transport agricultural and manufactured products from the... -
M-81M-81 (Michigan highway)M-81 is a state trunkline in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan that travels from the city of Saginaw at the junction with M-13 and ends at the junction with M-53 east of Cass City over the county line in Greenleaf Township in northwestern Sanilac County.-Route description:M-81 starts... -
M-90M-90 (Michigan highway)M-90 is a state trunkline highway in The Thumb region of the US state of Michigan. It runs from near North Branch eastward to Lexington situated on Lake Huron. The highway is a lightly traveled roadway that runs through rural farmlands. The trunkline runs mostly east–west with two short north–south...
History
Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot (Huron) chief named Sanilac. See List of Michigan county name etymologies.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 Algonquin word "zngwak" means pine. Sanilac County was named for Chief Sannilac, who was Wyandotte. The county seat of Sanilac is the city of Sandusky.
Demographics
Census
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 44,547 people, 16,871 households, and 12,163 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 46 people per square mile (18/km²). There were 21,314 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.90% 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...
, 0.28% 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...
, 0.36% 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...
, 0.26% 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...
, 0.01% 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...
, 1.09% 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 1.11% from two or more races. 2.78% 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. 28.9% 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....
, 11.7% 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...
, 10.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 10.2% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
and 9.0% 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. 95.7% spoke 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...
, 1.6% 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...
and 1.2% German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as their first language.
There were 16,871 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% 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, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,870, and the median income for a family was $42,306. Males had a median income of $32,101 versus $21,376 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 $17,089. About 7.60% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.
Media
Sanilac/GB BroadcastingSanilac/GB Broadcasting
Sanilac Broadcasting and GB Broadcasting own and operate three radio stations in Sanilac County, Michigan, and are local ABC affiliates. They are:*WMIC 660 AM, Sandusky, The Thumb's Information Station...
operates three radio stations in Sanilac County. The county is served weekly by the Sanilac County News of Sandusky and other small newspapers. Also daily deliveries of the Port Huron Times Herald are available in Sanilac County.
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.
Sanilac 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...
: James V. Young - 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....
: Garry Biniecki - County Clerk: Linda Kozfkay
- 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:...
: Kathy Dorman - Register of Deeds: Michele VanNorman
- 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...
: Gregory L Alexander - Circuit CourtCircuit courtCircuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
JudgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
: Hon. Donald A. Teeple - Probate Court JudgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
: Hon. R.T. "Terry" Maltby - District CourtCourts of MichiganCourts of Michigan include:State courts of Michigan*Michigan Supreme Court**Michigan Court of Appeals***Michigan District Courts***Michigan Circuit Courts ***Michigan Probate CourtsFederal courts located in Michigan...
JudgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
: Hon. Gregory S Ross
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities- Brown CityBrown City, MichiganBrown City is a city in Lapeer and Sanilac counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,334 at the 2000 census. The city is located almost exclusively in Sanilac County, with only a small portion of the city extending into Lapeer County....
- CroswellCroswell, MichiganCroswell is a city in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.-Geography:*According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- MarletteMarlette, MichiganMarlette is a city in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2006 US Census population estimate was 2,053. The city is located within Marlette Township, but is politically autonomous....
- Sandusky
Villages
- ApplegateApplegate, MichiganApplegate is a village in Sanilac County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 287. Applegate is in the southeast corner of Washington Township on the boundary with Sanilac Township.-History:...
- CarsonvilleCarsonville, MichiganCarsonville is a village in Sanilac County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 502. The village is situated at on the boundary between Bridgehampton Township and Washington Township, with about half the village in each.The village began with a store...
- DeckervilleDeckerville, MichiganDeckerville is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 944 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- ForestvilleForestville, MichiganForestville is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 127. It does not have a true harbor onto Lake Huron, but the village does have a boat launch site. Forestville receives city water from nearby Harbor Beach...
- LexingtonLexington, MichiganLexington is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Lexington Township.-Geography:...
- MelvinMelvin, MichiganMelvin is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 160. The village is within Speaker Township.-Geography:...
- Minden CityMinden City, MichiganMinden City is a village in Sanilac County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 242. The village is located within Minden Township...
- PeckPeck, MichiganPeck is a village in Sanilac County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 599. The village is in Elk Township.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land....
- Port SanilacPort Sanilac, MichiganPort Sanilac is a village in Sanilac Township, Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 658 at the 2000 census.-History:...
Townships
- Argyle TownshipArgyle Township, MichiganArgyle Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 770. Argyle Township was organized in 1872.- Communities :...
- Austin TownshipAustin Township, Sanilac County, MichiganAustin Township is a civil township of Sanilac County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population 673. The township was organized in 1851.-Communities:There are no incorporated municipalities in the township....
- Bridgehampton TownshipBridgehampton Township, MichiganBridgehampton Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 911.- Communities :...
- Buel TownshipBuel Township, MichiganBuel Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,237.- Communities :There are no incorporated municipalities in the township....
- Custer TownshipCuster Township, Sanilac County, MichiganCuster Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,036 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Delaware TownshipDelaware Township, MichiganDelaware Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 930 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Elk TownshipElk Township, Sanilac County, MichiganElk Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,584 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* Peck is a village in the southern part of the township at the junction of M-90 and M-19...
- Elmer TownshipElmer Township, Sanilac County, MichiganElmer Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 790 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Evergreen TownshipEvergreen Township, Sanilac County, MichiganEvergreen Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 995 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- Flynn TownshipFlynn Township, MichiganFlynn Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,040 at the 2000 census.- Communities :There are no incorporated municipalities in the township....
- Forester TownshipForester Township, MichiganForester Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,108 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Fremont TownshipFremont Township, Sanilac County, MichiganFremont Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 913.-Geography:...
- Greenleaf TownshipGreenleaf Township, MichiganGreenleaf Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 804.-Geography:...
- Lamotte TownshipLamotte Township, MichiganLamotte Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 981 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Lexington TownshipLexington Township, MichiganLexington Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,688 at the 2000 census. The village of Lexington is located within the township.-Geography:...
- Maple Valley TownshipMaple Valley Township, Sanilac County, MichiganMaple Valley Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,114 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Marion TownshipMarion Township, Sanilac County, MichiganMarion Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,803 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- Marlette TownshipMarlette Township, MichiganMarlette Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,051 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* The City of Marlette is located within the township, but is administratively autonomous...
- Minden TownshipMinden Township, MichiganMinden Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 633 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Moore TownshipMoore Township, MichiganMoore Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,262.The first permanent white settler was James Minard, who arrived in 1860...
- Sanilac TownshipSanilac Township, MichiganSanilac Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,609 at the 2000 census. The village of Port Sanilac is within the township.-Geography:...
- Speaker TownshipSpeaker Township, MichiganSpeaker Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,408 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- Washington TownshipWashington Township, Sanilac County, MichiganWashington Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,636 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-History:...
- Watertown TownshipWatertown Township, Sanilac County, MichiganWatertown Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,376 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
- Wheatland TownshipWheatland Township, Sanilac County, MichiganWheatland Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 530 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Worth TownshipWorth Township, MichiganWorth Township is a civil township of Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,021 at the 2000 census.- Communities :There are no incorporated municipalities in the township....