Alger County, Michigan

Alger County, Michigan is a county located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, bordered by Lake Superior to the north, Schoolcraft County to the east, Delta County to the southeast, and Marquette County to the west. The county seat is Munising, which is also the largest city in the county, and is situated near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a popular destination for hiking, camping, and kayaking. The county is named after Russell Alexander Alger, a Governor of Michigan and United States Secretary of War. The county is also home to the Grand Island National Recreation Area, which is managed by the United States Forest Service.

Geography

Alger County is located in the central part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and is bordered by Lake Superior to the north, Schoolcraft County to the east, Delta County to the southeast, and Marquette County to the west. The county has a total area of 918 square miles, of which 499 square miles is land and 419 square miles is water, including Lake Superior and numerous inland lakes, such as Au Train Lake and Grand Marais Harbor. The county is also home to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which is a United States National Lakeshore located on the Lake Superior shoreline, and is known for its hiking and camping opportunities, as well as its scenic waterfalls, such as Miners Castle and Miners Falls. The county's terrain is also home to the Hurricane River and the Au Train River, which flow into Lake Superior.

History

Alger County was established on March 17, 1885, and was named after Russell Alexander Alger, a Governor of Michigan and United States Secretary of War. The county was formed from parts of Schoolcraft County and Marquette County, and the county seat was established in Munising. The county's early economy was based on logging and mining, with the Munising Woodenware Company and the Alger Iron Company being two of the largest employers in the county. The county was also home to the Grand Island Mining Company, which operated a copper mine on Grand Island. The county's history is also tied to the Soo Locks, which are located in Sault Ste. Marie, and the Lake Superior shipping industry, with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum located in Whitefish Bay.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Alger County was 9,108, with a population density of 18 people per square mile. The county has a total of 4,343 households, with an average household size of 2.09 people. The median age in the county is 48.4 years, and the median income for a household in the county is $43,419. The county is also home to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, which has a reservation in the county, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, which has a casino in the county. The county's demographics are also influenced by the presence of Northern Michigan University and the University of Michigan, which have campuses in the region.

Communities

Alger County has several communities, including the city of Munising, which is the county seat, and the townships of Au Train Township, Burt Township, and Grand Island Township. The county is also home to the Grand Marais community, which is located on the Lake Superior shoreline, and the Christmas community, which is located near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The county's communities are also influenced by the presence of the United States Forest Service, which manages the Hiawatha National Forest, and the National Park Service, which manages the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Government

The government of Alger County is led by a Board of Commissioners, which is composed of five members elected by the voters of the county. The county also has a Circuit Court, which is the highest court in the county, and a District Court, which has jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases and civil cases. The county is also part of the 11th Congressional District of Michigan, which is represented by Brenda Lawrence in the United States House of Representatives, and the 38th District of the Michigan Senate, which is represented by Ed McBroom in the Michigan Senate. The county's government is also influenced by the presence of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police. Category:Counties in Michigan