Newaygo County, Michigan

Newaygo County
U.S. county
Newaygo County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°33′N 85°48′W / 43.55°N 85.8°W / 43.55; -85.8
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	1840 (established) 1851 (organized)[1]
Seat	White Cloud
Largest city	Fremont
Area
• Total	862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
• Land	813 sq mi (2,110 km2)
• Water	48 sq mi (120 km2)  5.6%%
Population
• Estimate  (2018)	48,892
• Density	60/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd

Newaygo County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 48,460.^[2] The county seat is White Cloud.^[3] The county was created in 1840, and was organized in 1851. It was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Treaty of Saginaw in 1819^[1] or for an Algonquian word meaning "much water".^[4]

Geography[]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of 862 square miles (2,230 km²), of which 813 square miles (2,110 km²) is land and 48 square miles (120 km²) (5.6%) is covered by water.^[5] The county is considered to be part of West Michigan.

The county has more than 230 natural lakes. The combined total length of all the county's rivers and streams exceeds 350 miles (560 km). Three huge dams, Croton, Hardy, and Newaygo, were built at the beginning of the 20th century. The Hardy Dam is the largest earthen dam east of the Mississippi.^[6] Over half of the county is in the Manistee National Forest.

Rivers[]

• Muskegon River
• Pere Marquette River
• Rogue River
• White River

Major highways[]

• M-20 – runs east–west through center of county. Passes Hesperia, Aetna, and White Cloud.
• M-37 – runs north–south through center of county. Passes Bitely, Branman, White Cloud, Newaygo, Grant, and Ashland.
• M-82 – runs east–west through southern part of county. Passes Newaygo.
• M-120 – runs the length of county's west line. Passes Hesperia.^[7]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

• Manistee National Forest (part)

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	510		—
1860	2,760		441.2%
1870	7,294		164.3%
1880	14,688		101.4%
1890	20,476		39.4%
1900	17,673		−13.7%
1910	19,220		8.8%
1920	17,378		−9.6%
1930	17,029		−2.0%
1940	19,286		13.3%
1950	21,567		11.8%
1960	24,160		12.0%
1970	27,992		15.9%
1980	34,917		24.7%
1990	38,202		9.4%
2000	47,874		25.3%
2010	48,460		1.2%
2018 (est.)	48,892	[8]	0.9%
US Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[13] there were 47,874 people, 17,599 households, and 12,935 families in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 23,202 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 3.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.5% were of English ancestry, 20.5% were of German ancestry, 14.4% were of Dutch ancestry, 8.1% were of Irish ancestry and 5.0% were of Polish ancestry according to the 2010 American Community Survey.^[14] 95.7% spoke English and 3.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 17,599 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.

The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,130, and the median income for a family was $42,498. Males had a median income of $35,549 versus $22,738 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,976. About 9.00% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Religion[]

• The Catholic church – 3,242 members
• The Christian Reformed Church in North America – 7 congregations and 2,056 members
• The United Methodist Church – 7 congregations and 1,600 members
• The Reformed Church in America – 3 congregations and 1,000 members^[15]
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 1 meetinghouse in the county.^[16]

Newaygo County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.^[17]

Economy[]

Tourism is the most important economic activity in Newaygo County.^[18] Secondly is a blend of agricultural and small manufacturing. International baby food manufacturer Gerber Products Company is currently the county's largest employer with approximately 1,300 employees.^[19]

Newaygo County also has a large number of summer cottage residents. Fishermen can find many steelhead in the spring and salmon in the fall within the county's rivers and streams. Camping, hunting, cross country skiing, bicycling, birding and ORVing is common in the Manistee National Forest.^[6]

Notable companies[]

Government[]

Newaygo County has been strongly Republican since the Civil War era. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 91% of the national presidential elections (31 of 34).

Newaygo 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.

Elected officials[]

(information as of September 2018)

Festivals and events[]

Historic sites[]

In Newaygo County there are 16 locations that the State Historic Preservation Office has designated as historical. Two of the sixteen have been listed with the National Register of Historic Places:^[22]

Communities[]

Cities[]

• Fremont
• Grant
• Newaygo
• White Cloud (county seat)

Villages[]

• Hesperia (partially)

Unincorporated communities[]

• Bitely
• Brunswick
• Riverview
• Woodland Park

Townships[]

See also[]

• Michigan State Historic Sites in Newaygo County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Newaygo County

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Newaygo County, Michigan.

Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Newaygo.

"Bibliography on Newaygo County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.

• County of Newaygo
• Newaygo County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Newaygo County Road Commission
• Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency
• Recycling for Newaygo County

Coordinates: 43°33′N 85°48′W / 43.55°N 85.80°W / 43.55; -85.80