Cheboygan County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 26,152. The county seat is Cheboygan. The county boundaries were set off in 1840, with land partitioned from Mackinac County. The Cheboygan County government was organized in 1853.
Etymology of the name Cheboygan
The name of the county shares the same origin as that of the Cheboygan River, although the precise meaning is no longer known. It may have come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan, meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, the origin may have been Chabwegan, meaning "a place of ore". It has also been described as "a Native American word first applied to the river. SeeList of Michigan county name etymologies. "Cheboygan" is pronounced the same as "Sheboygan".
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 26,448 people, 10,835 households, and 7,573 families in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile. There were 16,583 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 2.55% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.4% were of German, 10.4% English, 10.0% French, 9.5% Polish, 9.2% American and 8.9% Irish ancestry. 97.7% spoke English as their first language. There were 10,835 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87. The county population contained 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $33,417, and the median income for a family was $38,390. Males had a median income of $30,054 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,088. About 8.70% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Cheyboygan County has tended to vote Republican through the years. Since 1884 its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 71% of the national elections. Cheyboygan County operates the County jail, 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.
