Kalkaska County, Michigan

Kalkaska County, Michigan is a county located in the United States in the state of Michigan, bordering Grand Traverse County, Michigan to the west, Wexford County, Michigan to the northwest, Missaukee County, Michigan to the northeast, Roscommon County, Michigan to the east, and Crawford County, Michigan to the southeast. The county is part of the Traverse City, Michigan-Benzonia, Michigan Micropolitan Statistical Area and is home to the Kalkaska National Trout Festival, which attracts visitors from nearby Grayling, Michigan and Cadillac, Michigan. The county seat, Kalkaska, Michigan, is situated near the Boardman River, which flows into Grand Traverse Bay and is a popular destination for Michigan Technological University students and Northern Michigan University faculty.

Geography

Kalkaska County, Michigan is situated in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, with its geography characterized by numerous lakes, including Twin Lake (Michigan), Fife Lake (Michigan), and Manistee Lake (Michigan), which are popular spots for Michigan State University researchers and University of Michigan students. The county's terrain is also marked by the presence of the Pere Marquette State Forest and the Au Sable State Forest, which offer opportunities for hiking, camping, and hunting, attracting visitors from Detroit, Michigan and Lansing, Michigan. The Manistee River flows through the eastern part of the county, while the Boardman River flows through the western part, eventually emptying into Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse City, Michigan and Suttons Bay, Michigan. The county's landscape is also dotted with numerous wetlands, including the Kalkaska Wetlands, which are home to a variety of wildlife, including American black bear and white-tailed deer, and are studied by Michigan Department of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

History

The area that is now Kalkaska County, Michigan was originally inhabited by the Odawa people and the Ojibwe people, who were later joined by European-American settlers, including French Canadians and German Americans, who were attracted by the area's natural resources, including lumber and mining. The county was officially established in 1840 and was named after the Kalkaska River, which was in turn named after the Ojibwe language word for "flat" or "level", and is near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The county's early economy was driven by the lumber industry, with companies such as the Michigan Lumber Company and the Kalkaska Lumber Company operating in the area, and is now part of the Northern Michigan region, which includes Charlevoix, Michigan and Petoskey, Michigan. The county was also home to several mining operations, including the Kalkaska Mine, which produced copper and iron ore, and is near the Quincy Mine and the Delaware Mine.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population of Kalkaska County, Michigan was 17,922, with a population density of 32 people per square mile, and a median household income of $44,919, which is lower than the median household income of nearby Leelanau County, Michigan and Benzie County, Michigan. The county's population is predominantly White American, with smaller populations of Native American and African American residents, and is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. The county is also home to a number of Amish communities, including the Kalkaska Amish Settlement, which is one of the largest Amish settlements in the state of Michigan, and is near the Amish community in Centerville, Michigan.

Communities

Kalkaska County, Michigan is home to several communities, including the county seat, Kalkaska, Michigan, as well as the villages of Fife Lake, Michigan and South Boardman, Michigan, which are popular destinations for Michigan State University students and Western Michigan University faculty. The county is also home to several townships, including Kalkaska Township, Michigan, Coldwater Township, Michigan, and Rapid River Township, Michigan, which are part of the Northern Michigan region, including Emmet County, Michigan and Cheboygan County, Michigan. Other communities in the county include the Census-designated place of Rapid City, Michigan, which is located near the Torch Lake and the Skegemog Lake, and is a popular spot for University of Michigan researchers and Michigan Technological University students.

Government

The government of Kalkaska County, Michigan is headed by a Board of Commissioners, which is composed of seven members elected by the voters of the county, and is part of the Michigan Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties. The county is also home to several other government agencies, including the Kalkaska County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for law enforcement in the county, and the Kalkaska County Clerk's Office, which is responsible for maintaining public records, including birth certificates and death certificates, and is near the Michigan Secretary of State and the Michigan Department of State.

Economy

The economy of Kalkaska County, Michigan is driven by a variety of industries, including manufacturing, health care, and tourism, with major employers including the Kalkaska Public Schools and the Munson Healthcare system, which is part of the American Hospital Association and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. The county is also home to several major manufacturers, including the Kalkaska Tool and Die company and the Northern Michigan Agriculture industry, which produces cherries and apples, and is near the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. The county's natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities also make it a popular destination for tourists, with attractions including the Kalkaska National Trout Festival and the Twin Lakes State Park, which is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the United States Forest Service.