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Alger County, Michigan

Coordinates: 47°10′N 86°29′W / 47.16°N 86.48°W / 47.16; -86.48
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For the community in Arenac County, see Alger, Michigan.

Alger County
County
Lake Superior from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Lake Superior from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Flag of Alger County
Flag
Official seal of Alger County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Alger County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°10′N 86°29′W / 47.16°N 86.48°W / 47.16; -86.48
Country United States
State Michigan
FoundedMarch 17, 1885[1]
Named forRussell A. Alger
SeatMunising
Largest cityMunising
Area
 • Total5,048 sq mi (13,070 km2)
 • Land915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Water4,133 sq mi (10,700 km2)  82%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,842
 • Density10/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitehttps://www.algercounty.gov/

Alger County (/ˌældʒər/ AL-jər) is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 8,842.[2] It is the state's second-largest county by area, including the waters of Lake Superior. The county seat is Munising.[3]

Alger County is home to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which features rock formations, waterfalls, and sand dunes along the shore of Lake Superior. Much of the county is also part of the Hiawatha National Forest.

Alger County Courthouse Complex in Munising

History

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Alger County was detached from Schoolcraft County, set off and organized in 1885. The county was named for lumber baron Russell Alexander Alger, who was elected as a Michigan Governor, and US Senator, and appointed as US Secretary of War during the William McKinley Presidential administration.[1] See also, List of Michigan county name etymologies, List of Michigan counties, and List of abolished U.S. counties.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,048 square miles (13,070 km2), of which 915 square miles (2,370 km2) is land and 4,133 square miles (10,700 km2) (82%) is water.[4] It is the second-largest county in Michigan by total area, mainly because of Lake Superior on the north side of the county.

Highways

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Adjacent counties

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By land

By water

National protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18901,238—
19005,868374.0%
19107,67530.8%
19209,98330.1%
19309,327−6.6%
194010,1679.0%
195010,007−1.6%
19609,250−7.6%
19708,568−7.4%
19809,2257.7%
19908,972−2.7%
20009,8629.9%
20109,601−2.6%
20208,842−7.9%
2023 (est.)8,757[5]−1.0%
US Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States census indicates Alger County had a population of 9,601.[10] The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% White, 6.4% Black or African American, 4.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% of some other race and 2.7% of two or more races; of them 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Regarding specific ethnicities, 15.7% of the population was of German heritage, 13.5% Finnish, 12.6% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 9.3% English, 7.3% Polish, 6.9% Irish and 5.3% American ancestry.[11] In 2020, the county had a population of 8,842.[2]

In 2010, there were 3,898 households, out of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.2 and the average family size was 2.74. In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.3 years. The population was 54.4% male and 45.6% female.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $38,231, and the median income for a family was $46,154. The per capita income for the county was $19,858. About 9.3% of people in families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over. The 2021 census estimates showed the county had a median household income of $48,822.[2]

Government

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The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and 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 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.

Politics

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Alger County was reliably Republican from the beginning through 1928. Since then it has voted for the Democratic nominee 65% (15 of 23) of the time.

United States presidential election results for Alger County, Michigan[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,116 59.17% 2,075 39.40% 75 1.42%
2020 3,014 58.70% 2,053 39.98% 68 1.32%
2016 2,585 57.22% 1,663 36.81% 270 5.98%
2012 2,330 50.45% 2,212 47.90% 76 1.65%
2008 2,188 46.06% 2,472 52.04% 90 1.89%
2004 2,318 48.65% 2,395 50.26% 52 1.09%
2000 2,142 49.06% 2,071 47.43% 153 3.50%
1996 1,429 33.77% 2,229 52.68% 573 13.54%
1992 1,471 32.19% 2,144 46.91% 955 20.90%
1988 1,830 45.08% 2,210 54.45% 19 0.47%
1984 2,175 51.69% 2,018 47.96% 15 0.36%
1980 2,059 44.31% 2,242 48.25% 346 7.45%
1976 1,722 41.38% 2,379 57.17% 60 1.44%
1972 2,035 52.48% 1,803 46.49% 40 1.03%
1968 1,406 40.03% 1,927 54.87% 179 5.10%
1964 1,010 26.90% 2,743 73.05% 2 0.05%
1960 1,663 41.68% 2,321 58.17% 6 0.15%
1956 2,070 49.37% 2,105 50.20% 18 0.43%
1952 2,066 49.68% 2,058 49.48% 35 0.84%
1948 1,702 42.73% 2,009 50.44% 272 6.83%
1944 1,504 37.26% 2,519 62.41% 13 0.32%
1940 1,629 34.84% 2,984 63.83% 62 1.33%
1936 1,291 30.67% 2,824 67.09% 94 2.23%
1932 1,354 36.69% 2,111 57.21% 225 6.10%
1928 1,716 59.05% 1,053 36.24% 137 4.71%
1924 1,623 66.52% 228 9.34% 589 24.14%
1920 1,263 66.09% 468 24.49% 180 9.42%
1916 687 48.31% 650 45.71% 85 5.98%
1912 290 26.56% 263 24.08% 539 49.36%
1908 997 75.59% 231 17.51% 91 6.90%
1904 1,081 81.40% 204 15.36% 43 3.24%
1900 1,017 69.90% 415 28.52% 23 1.58%
1896 801 58.42% 539 39.31% 31 2.26%
1892 160 50.31% 156 49.06% 2 0.63%
1888 284 62.28% 162 35.53% 10 2.19%

Communities

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

City

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Village

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Civil townships

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Other locations

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Indian reservations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Alger County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website".
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  13. ^ United States Census Bureau (2000). "Michigan County Subdivision Outline Map" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
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47°10′N 86°29′W / 47.16°N 86.48°W / 47.16; -86.48

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