Lenawee County, Michigan

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Lenawee County
U.S. county
Lenawee County Courthouse in Adrian
Lenawee County Courthouse in Adrian
Map of Michigan highlighting Lenawee County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°53′N 84°04′W / 41.89°N 84.07°W / 41.89; -84.07
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1822 (created)
September 10, 1826 (organized)[1]
SeatAdrian
Largest cityAdrian
Area
 • Total761 sq mi (1,970 km2)
 • Land750 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
98,266
 • Density130/sq mi (51/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.lenawee.mi.us

Lenawee County ("LENN-a-way") is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 99,892.[2] The county seat is Adrian.[3] The county was created in 1822, from territory partitioned out of Monroe County. Its governing structure was organized in 1826.[1]

Lenawee County comprises the Adrian, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI Combined Statistical Area. It is served by the Toledo Media market.

History[]

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Lenawee County, Michigan
Towers of the Irish Hills near Hayes State Park

The county organization was created in 1826, after being authorized and described by the Michigan legislature in 1822. It was taken from Monroe County, Michigan.[1] The county's name is a Henry Schoolcraft neologism, thought to be derived from a Native American word meaning "male"—from the Delaware "leno or lenno" or the Shawnee "lenawai."[1][4]

Geography[]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 761 square miles (1,970 km2), of which 750 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.6%) is water.[5] Lenawee County is considered to be part of Southeastern Michigan.

Adjacent counties[]

  • Jackson County, northwest
  • Washtenaw County, northeast
  • Monroe County, east
  • Lucas County, Ohio, southeast
  • Fulton County, Ohio, southwest
  • Hillsdale County, west

Major highways[]

  • I-73 (future)
  • US 12
  • US 127
  • US 223
  • M-34
  • M-50
  • M-52
  • M-124
  • M-156

Within Lenawee County's townships, north–south roads are referred to as "highways", while east–west roads are referred to as "roads".

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18301,491—
184017,8891,099.8%
185026,37247.4%
186038,11244.5%
187045,59519.6%
188048,3436.0%
189048,4480.2%
190048,406−0.1%
191047,907−1.0%
192047,767−0.3%
193049,8494.4%
194053,1106.5%
195064,62921.7%
196077,78920.4%
197081,6094.9%
198089,94810.2%
199091,4761.7%
200098,8908.1%
201099,8921.0%
202099,423−0.5%
US Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile (51/km2). There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.51% White, 2.12% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.01% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. 6.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30.4% were of German, 11.6% English, 10.2% American and 9.9% Irish ancestry, 94.7% spoke English and 4.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 35,930 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,739, and the median income for a family was $53,661. Males had a median income of $38,458 versus $25,510 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,186. About 4.40% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics[]

Lenawee County has been reliably Republican in national elections. Since 1884, its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 85% (29 of 34) of the national elections through 2016.

Presidential election results

The county government operates the 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.

Adrian College and Siena Heights University are located within the county.

Lenawee County has supported candidates from both political parties in statewide elections making it a swing county. Tecumseh and Adrian have tended to lean Democrat, while Dover, Madison, and Riga Townships have tended to lean Republican. The rural areas of the county are bastions of populism and libertarianism which helped the Tea Party Movement gain considerable support. During the 2010 midterm elections, the county favored Republican Gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder, Congressional candidate Tim Walberg, State Senate candidate Bruce Caswell, and State Representative candidates Nancy Jenkins and Mike Shirkey.

Lenawee County is located in Michigan's 7th congressional district, which is represented by Tea-Party backed Tim Walberg, who is a resident of the county. Walberg previously served as Lenawee's state representative. Walberg won the district, which includes all of Lenawee County, Jackson County, Hillsdale County, Branch County, and Eaton County, as well as parts of Calhoun County and Washtenaw County, after defeating then-incumbent Democrat Mark Schauer. Schauer had defeated Walberg in the 2008 congressional election, after Walberg's first stint in Congress. Walberg defeated incumbent Republican Joe Schwarz, a former State Representative and gubernatorial candidate, during the 2006 primary election. Also during the 2006 midterm elections, Lenawee County voted for businessman Dick DeVos, the Republican nominee.

Most of Lenawee County is represented by Republican Bronna Kahle in the Michigan House of Representatives. Kahle represents the 57th District, previously held by brothers Doug and Dudley Spade, both Democrats. Each of the Spade brothers served for the maximum three terms. In 2008, Dudley Spade defeated Nancy Jenkin's mother, Republican Emma Jenkins. Cambridge Township, which includes Onsted, is part of the 65th District, which covers much of the Irish Hills and is represented by Republican Mike Shirkey. Adrian is part of the 17th Senate District, represented by Dale Zorn of Ida, Michigan. Until the 2014 state senate election, Lenawee County was part of the 16th State Senate District, represented by Republican Bruce Caswell of Hillsdale. Caswell was preceded by Republican Cameron Brown. The district contained all of Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Branch Counties.

Lenawee County Courthouse, Adrian

Elected officials[]

  • Prosecuting Attorney: R. Burke Castleberry Jr. (R)
  • Sheriff: Troy Bevier (R)
  • County Clerk: Roxann Holloway (R)
  • County Treasurer: Erin Van Dyke (R)
  • Register of Deeds: Carolyn S. Bater (R)
  • Drain Commissioner: Jennifer Escott (R)
  • County Surveyor: Kevin Pickford (R)

Current as of June 6th 2021[11]

County Commission[]

  • District 1: David Stimpson (R)
  • District 2: John Lapham (R)
  • District 3: Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R)
  • District 4: Dawn Bales (R)
  • District 5: Karol "Kz" Bolton (D)
  • District 6: Terry Collins (R)
  • District 7: James Goetz (R)
  • District 8: Ralph Tillotson (R)
  • District 9: Chris Wittenbach (R)

Current as of June 6th 2021[11]

Law Enforcement Agencies[]

County[]

  • Lenawee County Sheriff's Office

City/Village[]

  • Adrian City Police
  • Blissfield Police
  • Clinton Police
  • Hudson Police
  • Morenci Police
  • Tecumseh Police

Township[]

  • Adrian Township Police
  • Cambridge Township Police
  • Columbia Township Police
  • Madison Township Police
  • Raisin Township Police

Special[]

  • Adrian & Blissfield Railroad Police

Communities[]

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Lenawee County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities[]

Villages[]

Charter townships[]

Civil townships[]

Census-designated places[]

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Birdsall
  • Cadmus
  • Canandaigua
  • Dover
  • East Ogden
  • East Raisin
  • Evans Lake
  • Fairfield
  • Geneva
  • Gorman
  • Ridgeville
  • Ridgeway
  • Riga
  • Springville
  • Tipton
  • Weston
  • Sand Creek


See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Bibliography on Lenawee County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names. Archived July 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  6. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  10. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "2021 government directory". www.lenawee.mi.us. April 2021.

Further reading[]

External links[]

Coordinates: 41°53′N 84°04′W / 41.89°N 84.07°W / 41.89; -84.07

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