Shiawassee /ˌʃaɪ.əˈwÉ'siË/ is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 70,648. The county seat is Corunna. The county was founded in 1822 and organized in 1837. Shiawassee County is named for the Shiawassee River, and means 'river that twists about'.
In 2010, the center of population of Michigan was located in Shiawassee County, in the township of Bennington.
Shiawassee County comprises the Owosso, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Lansing-East Lansing-Owosso, MI Combined Statistical Area.
The Shiawassee County Courthouse was designed by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 541 square miles (1,400Â km2), of which 531 square miles (1,380Â km2) is land and 10 square miles (26Â km2) (1.9%) is water. The Shiawassee River enters it from Genesee County in the southeast and flows through Corunna and Owosso in the center of the county, exiting to Saginaw County in the north. Shiawassee County is considered to be a part of Central Michigan.
Adjacent counties
- Saginaw County (north)
- Genesee County (east)
- Clinton County (west)
- Livingston County (southeast)
- Ingham County (southwest)
- Gratiot County (northwest)
Transportation
Highways
- I-69 - runs east and west through the middle of the county
- M-13 - runs north and south along the border with Genesee County, starting north of I-69 near Lennon
- M-21 - runs east and west through the middle of the county, including Corunna and Owosso
- M-52 - runs north and south through the middle of the county, including Owosso
- M-71 - connects I-69 to Corunna and Owosso, starting at I-69 near Durand
Rail
- Durand Union Station in Durand offers access to Amtrak's Blue Water route. The train runs from Port Huron to Chicago.
Airport
Owosso Community Airport near Owosso is a general use public airport, used by small private planes.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census indicates Shiawassee County had a 2010 population of 70,648. This is a decrease of -1,039 people from the 2000 United States Census. Overall, the county had a -1.4% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010 there were 27,481 households and 19,397 families in the county. The population density was 133.1 per square mile (51.4 square kilometers). There were 30,319 housing units at an average density of 57.1 per square mile (22.0 square kilometers). 96.7% of the population were White, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.5% of some other race and 1.5% of two or more races. 2.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 22.2% were of German, 21.8% English, 9.5% Irish, 5.2% French, French Canadian or Cajun and 5.1% Polish ancestry according to 2010 American Community Survey.
There were 27,481 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were husband and wife families, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.2% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.1% under age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.
The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $46,528 and the median income for a family was $52,614. Males had a median income of $32,155 versus $19,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,103. About 10.6% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under the age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
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 â€" police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. â€" are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.
Elected officials
- Governor: Rick Snyder (R)
- Lt. Governor: Brian Calley (R)
- Attorney General: Bill Schuette (R)
- Secretary of State: Ruth Johnson (R)
- State Senator 24th District: Rick Jones (R)
- State Rep. 85th District: Ben Frederick (R)
- U.S.Rep 4th District: John Moolenaar (R)
- Prosecutor: Deana M. Finnegan (R)
- Sheriff: Brian BeGole (R)
- County Clerk: Caroline Wilson (R)
- County Treasurer: Thomas W. Dwyer (R)
- Register of Deeds: Lori Kimble (R)
- Drain Commissioner: Tony Newman(D)
- County Surveyor: William Wascher (R)
- Road Commissioners: Mike Constine; Stephen A. Zemcik; John Michalec
- County Commissioners
- District 1: Mike Bruff (R)
- District 2: Dan McMaster (R)
- District 3: Gary Holzhausen (R)
- District 4: Brandon Marks (R)
- District 5: Jeremy R. Root (R)
- District 6: Jeff Bartz (D)
- District 7: Mark Coscarelli (R)
(information as of January 2017)
Communities
Cities
- Corunna (county seat)
- Durand
- Laingsburg
- Owosso
- Perry
Villages
- Bancroft
- Byron
- Lennon (partially)
- Morrice
- New Lothrop
- Vernon
Census-designated places
- Henderson
- Middletown
Other unincorporated communities
Townships
See also
- List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Shiawassee County, Michigan
- McArthur Mining Company â€" Michigan's first coal mine.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Shiawassee County, Michigan
References
External links
- Shiawassee County History
- Shiawassee County
- Uplift Shiawassee
- City of Corunna, Michigan U.S.
- Corunna Now - A News + Entertainment Site for Corunna, Michigan
- Durand Now - A News + Entertainment Site for Durand, Michigan
- Shiawassee County Democratic Party
- "Bibliography on Shiawassee County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 29, 2013.Â
- Owosso Independent
