Kalkaska County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 16,571 people, 6,428 households, and 4,634 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 30 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 10,822 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.21% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.78% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.22% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.86% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 24.6% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 12.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 10.4% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 10.0% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 6.3% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
and 5.1% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.8% spoke English as their first language.
| Kalkaska County | ||
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 United States Census, 1940 The Sixteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7.3 percent over the 1930 population of 123,202,624 persons. The census date was April 1, 1940... |
5,159 | - |
| 1950 United States Census, 1950 The Seventeenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 150,697,361, an increase of 14.5 percent over the 131,669,275 persons enumerated during the 1940 Census.-Census questions:... |
4,597 | -10.9% |
| 1960 United States Census, 1960 The Eighteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 179,323,175, an increase of 18.5 percent over the 151,325,798 persons enumerated during the 1950 Census.-Census questions:... |
4,382 | -4.7% |
| 1970 United States Census, 1970 The Nineteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 203,392,031, an increase of 13.4 percent over the 179,323,175 persons enumerated during the 1960 Census.-Data availability:... |
5,372 | 22.6% |
| 1980 United States Census, 1980 The Twentieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11.4 percent over the 203,184,772 persons enumerated during the 1970 Census.-Census questions:... |
10,592 | 97.2% |
| 1990 United States Census, 1990 The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9.8 percent over the 226,545,805 persons enumerated during the 1980 Census.... |
13,497 | 27.4% |
| 2000 United States Census, 2000 The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census... |
16,571 | 22.8% |
| 2010 United States Census, 2010 The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals... |
17,153 | 3.5% |
There were 6,428 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,072, and the median income for a family was $39,932. Males had a median income of $31,860 versus $20,455 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $16,309. About 8.20% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
History
- The first settler in Kalkaska County was an Englishman named William Copeland, who purchased land in the northwest corner of the county in 1855. The county was set off in 1840 and originally called Wabasee until 1843. See, List of Michigan counties. The name Kalkaska is thought to be a Chippewa word meaning flat or burned-over country. An alternative theory is that this is a neologism or neonym created by Henry SchoolcraftHenry SchoolcraftHenry Rowe Schoolcraft was an American geographer, geologist, and ethnologist, noted for his early studies of Native American cultures, as well as for his 1832 discovery of the source of the Mississippi River. He married Jane Johnston, whose parents were Ojibwe and Scots-Irish...
, originally spelled Calcasca. Some theorists suggest this is word play. Schoolcraft's family name formerly was Calcraft, and the Ks may have been added to make the name appear more like a Native American word. See also, List of Michigan county name etymologies. - Logging was the first important industry.
- The discovery of substantial deposits of oil and natural gas resulted in the construction of a processing plant by Shell Oil CompanyShell Oil CompanyShell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
in 1973 and a major economic boom in the community.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and
other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
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.
Landmarks
- The National Trout FestivalNational Trout FestivalThe National Trout Festival is an annual festival held in Kalkaska, Michigan to celebrate the opening of trout season. The 75th National Trout Festival will occur from April 27 to May 1, 2011.-External links:*...
is a festival held every year at the end of April. First celebrated in 1936, festivities include a parade, carnival, kids trout fishing contest, demolition derby, rodeo and livestock fair, among other things. It is a time when the community members and businesses come together to celebrate the heritage and sportsmanship of Kalkaska.
Cities, villages, and townships
- Bear Lake TownshipBear Lake Township, Kalkaska County, MichiganBear Lake Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 746.-Geography:...
- Blue Lake TownshipBlue Lake Township, Kalkaska County, MichiganBlue Lake Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 428.-Geography:...
- Boardman TownshipBoardman Township, MichiganBoardman Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,373.- Communities :...
- Clearwater TownshipClearwater Township, MichiganClearwater Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,382...
- Coldsprings TownshipColdsprings Township, MichiganColdsprings Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,449 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Excelsior TownshipExcelsior Township, MichiganExcelsior Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 855 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Garfield TownshipGarfield Township, Kalkaska County, MichiganGarfield Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 794.-Geography:...
- Kalkaska TownshipKalkaska Township, MichiganKalkaska Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,830 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- KalkaskaKalkaska, MichiganKalkaska is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,226. It is the county seat of Kalkaska County.-Geography:...
, village
- Oliver TownshipOliver Township, Kalkaska County, MichiganOliver Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 263 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.1 square miles , of which, 36.0 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square...
- Orange TownshipOrange Township, Kalkaska County, MichiganOrange Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,176 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Rapid River TownshipRapid River Township, MichiganRapid River Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,005 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Springfield TownshipSpringfield Township, Kalkaska County, MichiganSpringfield Township is a civil township of Kalkaska County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,270 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
Further reading
- Kalkaska Genealogical Society: Big Trout, Black Gold: History of Kalkaska County, Michigan. nd.
External links
- Kalkaska County government
- Kalkaska County Sheriff's Office
- Village of Kalkaska
- Kalkaska Memorial Health Center
- Kalkaska Chamber of Commerce
- Kiwanis Club of Kalkaska
- Michigan Heritage & Research Foundation
- National Trout Festival
- Historical Society of Kalkaska
- Kalkaska Visitors Guide
- Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay