According to Countryaah, Arenac County is located in the Eastern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, bordered to the north by Bay County and to the south by Iosco County. With a total area of 590 square miles, Arenac County is home to a population of 17,000 people. The county seat is Standish and the largest city within its boundaries is Au Gres with a population of 1,400.
The county was first established in 1883 and was named for its two rivers, the Au Sable and Rifle River. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times with evidence of Native American settlements dating back thousands of years.
The economy of Arenac County is largely based on agriculture and tourism. There are several farms that produce corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and other crops. Additionally, there are several wineries in the area that produce wines from locally grown grapes. Tourists come to Arenac County to enjoy activities such as fishing on Lake Huron or boating on the nearby Rifle River. The county also has two state parks as well as numerous wildlife preserves which provide opportunities for camping, hiking and birdwatching.
In addition to agriculture and tourism there are also other industries in Arenac County including manufacturing and retail services. There are several factories that produce automotive parts as well as food processing plants that employ many local residents. Retail services are also important to the local economy with many small businesses throughout the county offering goods such as clothing, furniture, jewelry and more.
Arenac County is served by three public school districts: Standish-Sterling Community Schools; Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District; and Au Gres-Sims Community Schools. There are also several private schools located within its boundaries including Sacred Heart Academy in Pinconning which offers K-12 education; St Mary’s Catholic School which serves kindergarten through 8th grade students; and Calvary Baptist School which provides classes from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade students from all over Michigan’s Lower Peninsula region.
Arenac County offers an array of economic opportunities for its residents due to its location along Lake Huron’s shoreline coupled with its diverse agricultural landscape as well as it’s many cultural attractions which include museums such as the National Trout Center or historical sites like Fort Brady Trading Post & Museum among others.
History of Arenac County, Michigan
Arenac County, Michigan is located in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula on the shore of Lake Huron. The county was founded in 1883 and named after the Arenac River, which flows through it. The county covers an area of 572 square miles and has a population of approximately 17,000 people.
The earliest inhabitants of Arenac County were Native Americans who settled in the region thousands of years ago. The first Europeans to explore the area were French fur traders who arrived in the late 1600s. During this period, several trading posts were established along major waterways like Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron’s shoreline.
In 1819, Arenac County became part of Michigan Territory and was organized as an independent county in 1883 when it separated from Bay County. The first settlers were primarily farmers with many coming from Europe during this period. In addition to farming, industries such as logging and fishing also became important to the local economy during this time.
During World War II, Arenac County saw an influx of people as several military bases were established in the area including Camp Skeel (now known as Camp Grayling), Kawkawlin Airfield and Oscoda Airfield. After the war ended many servicemen stayed in the area which helped to further grow its population and economy.
Today, Arenac County is still a largely agricultural area with its main crops being corn, soybeans, hay, wheat and other grains. It is also home to several wineries that produce wines from locally grown grapes as well as two state parks for camping, hiking and birdwatching activities. Additionally, there are several factories that produce automotive parts as well as food processing plants that employ many local residents while retail services are provided by small businesses throughout the county offering goods such as clothing, furniture, jewelry and more. There are also numerous museums such as National Trout Center or historical sites like Fort Brady Trading Post & Museum which attract visitors from all over Michigan’s Lower Peninsula region.
Major cities and towns in Arenac County, Michigan
Arenac County is home to several cities and towns. The largest city in Arenac County is Standish, with a population of 2,227 as of the 2010 census. Standish was founded in 1871 and is the county seat of Arenac County. It is located on the banks of Lake Huron and is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities. The other major cities in Arenac County are Au Gres, with a population of 1,194; Omer with 887 residents; Sterling with 545 residents; and Twining with 205 residents. All of these cities are located along the shores of Lake Huron, making them popular vacation spots during summer months.
The remaining towns in Arenac County include Turner, Gilford, Whitney, Deep River Township, Lincoln Township, Sims Township, Masonville Township and Standish Township. Turner has a population of 327 people while Gilford has 247 people living there. Whitney has 203 people living there while Deep River Township has only 97 people living there according to the 2010 census data. Lincoln Township has 86 people living there while Sims Township only has 78 people living there as per the 2010 census data. Masonville Township also only has 78 residents according to the 2010 census data while Standish Township only has 45 people living there as per the same census data.
Population in Arenac County, Michigan
According to existingcountries.com, the population of Arenac County is 17,973. This is a decrease from the 2000 census population of 18,231. The largest city in Arenac County is Standish with a population of 2,227. Au Gres follows with 1,194 people living there. Omer has 887 residents while Sterling has 545 residents and Twining has 205 residents. Turner has 327 people living there while Gilford has 247 people living there and Whitney has 203 people living there. Deep River Township has 97 people living there while Lincoln Township only has 86 people living there as per the 2010 census data. Sims Township and Masonville Township have 78 residents each according to the same census data and Standish Township only had 45 residents as per the 2010 census data.
The largest age group in Arenac County is 45-54 years old, making up 17.3% of the total population according to the 2010 census data. This is followed by 35-44-year-olds who make up 16% of the total population and 25-34-year-olds who make up 14% of the total population according to the same data set. The median age for Arenac County is 44 years old with a 49% male population and 51% female population as per the same data set.
The median household income for Arenac County was $42,400 in 2019 which was an increase from $41,400 in 2018 according to US Census Bureau estimates. The average household size was 2.35 people with 27% of households having children under 18 years old as per US Census Bureau estimates from 2019 which was an increase from 24% in 2018 according to the same estimates from US Census Bureau data sets.
