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| Alcona County, Michigan | |
 Location in the state of Michigan |
|
 Michigan's location in the U.S. |
|
| Seat | Harrisville |
|---|---|
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,791 sq mi (4,639 km²) 1,116 sq mi (2,890 km²), 62.33% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
11,719 18/sq mi (7/km²) |
| Founded | April 1, 1840 Organized in 1869 |
| Website | www.alconacountymi.com |
Alcona County is a county of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population is 11,719. Its county seat is Harrisville.[1]
Contents |
The county was created by the state legislature on April 1, 1840.[2] It was at first named "Negwegon County", after the name of a well-known Chippewa chief, also known as "Little Wing", who was an American ally against the British in the War of 1812. It was renamed to Alcona County on March 8, 1843, after a neologism manufactured by Henry Schoolcraft from parts of words from Native American languages, plus Arabic, Greek and Latin[3], which were amalgamated to mean "fine or excellent plain".[4] See and compare, List of Michigan county name etymologies, List of Michigan counties, and List of abolished U.S. counties.
Initially, it was attached to Mackinac County for administrative purposes. The attachment shifted to Cheboygan County in 1853, to Alpena County in 1857, Iosco County in 1858, and Alpena County in 1859. Harrisville Township, then comprising the entire county, was organized in 1860. County government was organized in 1869.[5] 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.[6]
Alcona Lake, Badger Lake, Bear Lake, Brownlee Lake, Byron Lake, Cedar Lake, Clear Lake, Crooked Lake, Crystal Lake, Curtis Lake, Honawan Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Hunter Lake, Indian Lake, Jewell Lake, Lost Lake, North Hoist Lake, North Lake, O'Brien Lake, Poplar Lake, Reid Lake, South Hoist Lake, and Tompson Lake.[8]
US 23. North of Standish,
it has been designated the Sunrise Side Coastal
Highway, and runs along (or parallels) the Lake Huron
shore, and connects with M-72 in Harrisville. US 23 is the most
proximate connector to Alpena and Mackinaw City.
M-65 runs along the western
side of the county, continuing its journey from US 23 just north of
Standish to Rogers
City.
M-72 In 1936, downtown
Harrisville became the eastern terminus[9] of the
133 mile (214 kilometers) M-72, which runs across the lower peninsula from Empire,
Michigan. It is one of three true cross peninsular
highways.[10]
F-30
runs from US 23 at Greenbush
through Mikado to M-65 at Glennie.
F-32
F-41 runs north-south
from US 23 at
Oscoda to US 23
south of Ossineke.The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners 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.
Presently, the Alcona County Circuit Court is part of the 23rd Circuit of Michigan. This is a multicounty circuit, which also includes Arenac, Iosco and Oscoda Counties. Until relatively recently, this court was part of the 26th Circuit, which included Alpena and Montmorency Counties.
(information as of September 2005)
As of the census 2000,[11] there were 11,719 people, 5,132 households, and 3,566 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 10,584 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.04% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.0% were of German, 13.5% English, 9.9% American, 9.2% Irish, 7.7% Polish, 7.5% French and 5.0% French Canadian ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.2% spoke English as their first language.
There were 5,132 households out of which 20.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the county the population was spread out with 19.00% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 20.90% from 25 to 44, 31.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.
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.
The annual Alcona County Fair is located at the Alcona Recreation Area site in Lincoln. It occurs near the end of August.[12]
Alcona County has been forced to explore options to remedy a major budget shortfall resulting from an official's embezzlement. Former County Treasurer Thomas Katona pleaded guilty in June 2007 to charges that he embezzled over 1.2 million dollars from county funds to invest them into a Nigerian scam he fell for.[13][14]
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.[15]
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Unincorporated |
Townships
There are two recognized historical markers in the county:[17]
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Montmorency County | Alpena County | |
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| Oscoda County |  |
Lake Huron | ||
 Alcona County,
Michigan  |
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| Ogemaw County | Iosco County |
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Coordinates: 44°43′N 83°16′W / 44.71°N 83.27°W
| Alcona County, Michigan view Community messages | |
|---|---|
| Articles, images | Archeology • Farms • Landmarks • Migrations and settlements • Photo gallery • Prehistory • Timeline |
| People | Births • Deaths • Families • Marriages • Residents |
| Daily life | Before 1700 • 1700-1749 • 1750-1799 • 1800-1819 • 1820-1839 • 1840-1859 • 1860-1879 • 1880-1899 • 1900-1919 • 1920-1939 • 1940-1959 • 1960-1979 • 1980-1999 • 2000-present |
| Research, including queries |
Alcona County, Michigan links • Birth records • Businesses • Cemeteries • Census data • Church records • Court records • Death records • Directories • Landowner records • Marriage records • Maps • Military records • Obituaries • Probate records • Queries |
| Alcona County, Michigan | |
| Map | |
| File:Map of Michigan highlighting Alcona County.png Location in the state of Michigan |
|
 Michigan's location in the USA |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | April 1, 1840 Organized in 1869 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Harrisville |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
sq mi ( km²) sq mi ( km²) sq mi ( km²), 62.33% |
| wikipedia:Population - (2000) - Density |
11719 |
| Website: www.alconacountymi.com | |
Alcona County is a county of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population is 11,719. Its county seat is Harrisville6.
Contents |
The county was created by the state legislature on April 1, 1840.[1] It was at first named "Negwegon County", after the name of a well-known Chippewa chief, also known as "Little Wing", who was an American ally against the British in the War of 1812. It was renamed to Alcona County on March 8, 1843, after a neologism manufactured by Henry Schoolcraft from parts of words from various languages meaning "fine or excellent plain".[2]
Initially, it was attached to Mackinac County for administrative purposes. The attachment shifted to Cheboygan County in 1853, to Alpena County in 1857, Iosco County in 1858, and Alpena County in 1859. Harrisville Township, then comprising the entire county, was organized in 1860. County government was organized in 1869.[3]
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners 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.
(information as of September 2005)
Alcona County has been forced to explore options to remedy a major budget shortfall resulting from an official's embezzlement. Former County Treasurer Thomas Katona pleaded guilty in June 2007 to charges that he robbed taxpayers of over 1.2 million dollars.[4] Katona had been induced to send the money overseas as part of a Nigerian advance fee fraud scheme.[5]
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.[6]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,637 km² (1,791 sq mi). 1,747 km² (674 sq mi) of it is land and 2,891 km² (1,116 sq mi) of it (62.33%) is water.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 11,719 people, 5,132 households, and 3,566 families residing in the county. The population density was 7/km² (17/sq mi). There were 10,584 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (16/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 98.04% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 98.2% spoke English as their first language.
There were 5,132 households out of which 20.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the county the population was spread out with 19.00% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 20.90% from 25 to 44, 31.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.
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.
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| State of Michigan Lansing (capital) |
| Governors |
Lieutenant Governors | Legislature | Supreme Court | History | Michiganders |
| This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Alcona County, Michigan. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. |
| County of country | United States + |
| County of subdivision1 | Michigan + |
| Short name | Alcona County + |
   | Alcona County Government - Alcona County Michigan - Home |
| | p. 88 - Michigan County Histories and Atlases: A history of northern Michigan and its people / by Perry F. Powers ; assisted by H.G. Cutler. |
| | p. 87 - Michigan County Histories and Atlases: A history of northern Michigan and its people / by Perry F. Powers ; assisted by H.G. Cutler. |
| | History of the Lake Huron shore. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. - Michigan County Histories and Atlases: History of the Lake Huron shore. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. |
| | "Former Alcona treasurer sentenced to 9-14 years," - Story not found - MLive.com |
| | "Officials begin talks on how to make painful budget cuts," - Story not found - MLive.com |
| | Michigan Attorney General press release - AG - Former Alcona County Treasurer Sentenced to 9-14 Years in Nigerian Scam Case |
| | Alcona County Historical Society - Alcona Historical Society |
| | Sunrise side travel and information - US 23 Coastal Highway Website |
| | Alcona County Review Newspaper - Alcona County Review - The Weekly Newspaper of Record For Alcona County Michigan |
| | Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography for Alcona County - Clarke Historical Library - Alcona County |
| | Oscoda Press home page - Oscoda Press: Serving Oscoda, Michigan |
| | Names of Michigan Counties - MHAL - Michigan Counties |
| | Diocese of Gaylord. - The Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan : A Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church |
| | History of Michigan highways - Michigan Highways: Highways 70 through 79 |
| | Photos of ends of M-72. - Michigan Highway Ends | Michigan Route 72 |
| | Michigan Historic Markers - Michigan Historical Markers |
| | ''Enchanted forest'', Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc. - Enchanted Forest Guide to Northern Michigan - Northern Michigan's Premier Travel Guide |
| | Michigan Department of Natural Resources maps of lakes in Alcona County. - DNR - Alcona County |
| | Alcona County Webpage at InfoMi - Alcona County, Michigan - InfoMI.com |
| | Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Alcona County - Clarke Historical Library - Alcona County |
| | Springport Inn. - Welcome to springportinn.com |
| | Alcona Park - Alcona Park - 1100 Acres of Trophy Producing Fishing Waters |
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