Delta County, Michigan

Delta County, Michigan
Delta County Courthouse in Escanaba
Location in the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	created March 9, 1843 organized 1861
Seat	Escanaba
Largest city	Escanaba
Area
• Total	1,991 sq mi (5,157 km2)
• Land	1,171 sq mi (3,033 km2)
• Water	820 sq mi (2,124 km2), 41%
Population
• (2010)	37,069
• Density	32/sq mi (12/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.deltacountymi.org

Delta County is a county in the Upper peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,069. The county seat is Escanaba. The county was surveyed in 1843 and organized in 1861. Its name originates from the Greek letter "delta", which refers to the triangular shape of the original county which included segments of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron, and Marquette counties.

Delta County comprises the Escanaba, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,991 square miles (5,160 km²), of which 1,171 square miles (3,030 km²) is land and 820 square miles (2,100 km²) (41%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in Michigan by land area.

Adjacent counties

• Alger County, Michigan (north)
• Schoolcraft County, Michigan (east)
• Leelanau County, Michigan (southeast)
• Door County, Wisconsin (south/CST Border)
• Menominee County, Michigan (west/CST Border)
• Marquette County, Michigan (northwest)

National protected area

• Hiawatha National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	1,172		—
1870	2,542		116.9%
1880	6,812		168.0%
1890	15,330		125.0%
1900	23,881		55.8%
1910	30,108		26.1%
1920	30,909		2.7%
1930	32,280		4.4%
1940	34,037		5.4%
1950	32,913		−3.3%
1960	34,298		4.2%
1970	35,924		4.7%
1980	38,947		8.4%
1990	37,780		−3.0%
2000	38,520		2.0%
2010	37,069		−3.8%
Est. 2014	36,559		−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

The 2010 United States Census indicates Delta County had population of 37,069. This is a decrease of 1,451 people from the 2000 United States Census. This is a -3.8% change in population. In 2010 there were 15,992 households and 10,381 families in the county. The population density was 31.7 per square mile (12.2 square kilometers). There were 20,214 housing units at an average density of 17.3 per square mile (6.7 square kilometers). 94.7% of the population were White, 2.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race and 2.1% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 20.8% were of French, French Canadian or Cajun, 15.5% German, 10.3% Swedish and 7.6% Irish ancestry.

There were 15,992 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were husband and wife families, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.1% were non-families, and 29.8% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.9% under age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. This makes 49.5% of the population male, and 50.5% of the population female.

The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $40,967 and the median income for a family was $49,557. Males had a median income of $28,702 versus $15,093 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,751. About 2.4% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under the age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

• US 2
• US 41
• M-35
• M-69
• M-183
• H-13 / FFH 13

Airport

The county is served by Delta County Airport, to the southwest of Escanaba.

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 — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Phillip Strom
• Sheriff: Edward Oswald
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Nancy J. Kolich
• County Treasurer: Tom Sabor
• Drain Commissioner: Don Shirley
• County Surveyor: Mel Davis
• Circuit Court Judge: Stephen Davis
• District Court Judge: Steve Parks
• Probate Court Judge: Robert E. Goebel Jr

(information as of January 2015)

Communities

Cities

• Escanaba (county seat)
• Gladstone

Villages

• Garden

Unincorporated communities

• Bark River
• Fayette
• Garden Corners
• Isabella
• Schaffer
• Rapid River

Townships

• Baldwin Township
• Bark River Township
• Bay de Noc Township
• Brampton Township
• Cornell Township
• Ensign Township
• Escanaba Township
• Fairbanks Township
• Ford River Township
• Garden Township
• Maple Ridge Township
• Masonville Township
• Nahma Township
• Wells Township

See also

• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Delta County, Michigan
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Delta County, Michigan

External links

• Delta County government
• Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist