ALPENA COUNTY, MICHIGAN

'Alpena County' is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 31,314. The county seat is Alpena⁶.

Contents

Geography

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Government

Alpena County elected officials

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

Villages

Townships

Unincorporated communities

External links

Geography

Alpena County is in the northeast of the mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Lake Huron and Thunder Bay are to the east, Alcona County to the south, Oscoda County to the southwest, Montmorency County to the west, and Presque Isle County to the north. Most of the county is drained by the Thunder Bay River and its tributaries. The Mackinaw State Forest occupies large tracts of land in the county. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located offshore adjacent to the county.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of . of it is land and of it (66.13%) is water.

Major highways

★ US 23

★ M-32

★ M-65

Adjacent counties

★ Presque Isle County (north)

★ Alcona County (south)

★ Montmorency County (west)
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Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 31,314 people, 12,818 households, and 8,690 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 15,289 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.21% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 96.7% spoke English and 1.1% German as their first language.
There were 12,818 households out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,177, and the median income for a family was $42,366. Males had a median income of $34,571 versus $21,962 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,566. About 7.70% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts,
keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains 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 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.

Alpena County elected officials

★ Prosecuting Attorney: Dennis P. Grenkowicz

★ Sheriff: Steven Kieliszewski

★ County Clerk: Bonnie Friedrichs

★ County Treasurer: Joelyn McCallum

★ Register of Deeds: Kathy J. Matash

★ Drain Commissioner: Donald Bartosh
(information as of September 2005)

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

★ Alpena

Villages

''none''

Townships

★ Alpena Township

★ Green Township

★ Long Rapids Township

★ Maple Ridge Township

★ Ossineke Township

★ Sanborn Township

★ Wellington Township

★ Wilson Township

Unincorporated communities

★ Bolton

★ Cathro

★ Herron

★ Hubbard Lake

★ Lachine

★ Leer

★ Ossineke

★ Spratt

External links

★ Alpena County Government