Michigan County Histories
The origin of some Michigan county names is unclear and credible scholarly sources disagree on the meaning (or intended meaning). The wholesale renaming of counties in the early 19th century made several cultural and political points.
Nine have names invented by the ethnologist Henry Schoolcraft, usually adapted from parts of Native American words, but sometimes having parts from Greek, Arabic and Latin roots. A second group of four counties were renamed for Irish locales (Antrim, Clare, Roscommon and Wexford), apparently because it was close to the heart for certain Michigan legislators or their constituents. Ten counties, the so-called “cabinet counties”, were named for persons who served in Andrew Jackson’s presidential administration, which was tied to Michigan’s anticipated ascendancy to statehood.
Collection Details
- PERRY F. POWERS, A HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND ITS PEOPLE ( 3 VOLS.), LEWIS PUB. CO., 1912
- ALVAH L. SAWYER, A HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN AND ITS PEOPLE (3 VOLS.), LEWIS PUB. CO., 1911
- O.W. ROWLAND, A HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN A NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF ITS HISTORICAL PROGRESS, ITS PEOPLE, AND ITS PRINCIPAL INTERESTS, LEWIS PUB. CO., 1912
- HENRY P. COLLIN, A TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN, LEWIS PUB. CO., 1906
- WILLIAM V. SMITH, AN ACCOUNT OF FLINT AND GENESEE COUNTY FROM THEIR ORGANIZATION, 1924
- FRANK N. TURNER, AN ACCOUNT OF INGHAM COUNTY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION, 1924
- CHARLES A. WEISSERT, AN ACCOUNT OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, 1900
- BAY COUNTY, PAST AND PRESENT, 1918
- EDWARD B. COWLES, BERRIEN COUNTY DIRECTORY AND HISTORY: CONTAINING HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES OF THE VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS WITHIN THE COUNTY, AND THE NAMES AND OCCUPATIONS OF PERSONS RESIDING THEREIN, 1871
- B.F. BOWEN, BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, 1908
- BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN, CONTAINING BIOGRAPHIES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS, 1905
- BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN : COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY OF CELEBRATED AMERICANS., J.H. BEERS, 1906
- B.F. BOWEN, BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, MICHIGAN TO WHICH IS APPENDED A COMPREHENSIVE COMPENDIUM OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY; MEMOIRS OF EMINENT MEN AND WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES., 1903
- BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD; THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LEADING CITIZENS OF HOUGHTON, BARAGA AND MARQUETTE COUNTIES, MICHIGAN, BIOGR. PUB. CO., 1903
- BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD; THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LEADING CITIZENS OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN, BIOGR. PUB. CO., 1903
- BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN: CONTAINING HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THE PROMINENT CITIZENS OF TO-DAY AND ALSO OF THE PAST., HOBART & MATHER, 1904
- STEVENS & CONOVER, BRANCH COUNTY DIRECTORY AND HISTORICAL RECORD: CONTAINING A COMPLETE LIST OF RESIDENTS … BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF COLDWATER, QUINCY, UNION CITY AND BRONSON; ALSO A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, 1871
- DAVID D. OLIVER, CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ALPENA COUNTY, MICHIGAN., ARGUS PRINTING HOUSE, 1903
- E.S. INGALLS, CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF MENOMINEE COUNTY, HERALD POWER PRESSES, 1876
- ELON G. REYNOLDS, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, A.W. BOWEN CO., 1903
- DAVID FISHER & FRANK LITTLE, COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICH., A.W. BOWEN CO., 1906
- WILLARD D. TUCKER, GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN, SEEMANN & PETERS, 1913
- HISTORY OF ALLEGAN AND BARRY COUNTIES, MICHIGAN, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THEIR PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., D.W. ENSIGN & CO., 1880
- H.R. PAGE, HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY, MICHIGAN WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., 1883
- HISTORY OF BERRIEN AND VAN BUREN COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. WITH … BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., D.W. ENSIGN & CO., 1880
- CRISFIELD JOHNSON, HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., EVERTS & ABBOTT, 1879
- WASHINGTON GARDNER, HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN; A NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF ITS HISTORICAL PROGRESS, ITS PEOPLE, AND ITS PRINCIPAL INTERESTS, LEWIS PUB. CO., 1913
- ALFRED MATHEWS, HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. (2 VOLS.), WATKINS & CO., 1882
- SILAS FARMER, HISTORY OF DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY AND EARLY MICHIGAN (2 VOLS.), MUNSELL & CO., 1890
- EDWIN O. WOOD, HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, HER PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS, BY EDWIN O. WOOD … WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND GENEALOGICAL RECORDS OF MANY OF THE OLD FAMILIES, FEDERAL PUB. CO., 1916
- HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY. MICHIGAN, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., EVERTS & ABBOTT, 1879
- SAMUEL W. DURANT, HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THEIR PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., D.W. ENSIGN & CO., 1880
- JOHN S. SCHENCK, HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN., D.W. ENSIGN & CO., 1881
- HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, INTER-STATE PUB. CO., 1881
- HISTORY OF LAPEER COUNTY, MICHIGAN : WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., H.R. PAGE, 1884
- FRANKLIN ELLIS, HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., EVERTS & ABBOTT, 1880
- HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY, MICHIGAN: CONTAINING … BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT MEN AND EARLY SETTLERS : THE WHOLE PRECEDED BY A HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, LEESON, 1882
- JOHN M. BULKLEY, HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, MICHIGAN: A NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF ITS HISTORICAL PROGRESS, ITS PEOPLE, AND ITS PRINCIPAL INTERESTS. (2 VOLS.), LEWIS PUB. CO., 1913
- JOHN W. DASEF, HISTORY OF MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS…WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND GENEALOGICAL RECORDS OF MANY OF THE OLD FAMILIES (2 VOLS.), B.F. BOWEN, 1916
- HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY, MICHIGAN: WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., H.R. PAGE, 1882
- D. SEELEY, HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN A NARRATIVE ACCOUNT OF ITS HISTORIC PROGRESS, ITS PEOPLE, ITS PRINCIPAL INTERESTS / COMPILED FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE COUNTY, THE NEWSPAPERS AND DATA OF PERSONAL INTERVIEWS (2 VOLS.), LEWIS PUB. CO., 1912
- TRUMAN B. FOX, HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY FROM THE YEAR 1819 DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME. COMP. FROM AUTHENTIC RECORDS AND OTHER SOURCES: TRADITIONARY ACCOUNTS, LEGENDS, ANECDOTES, &C., WITH VALUABLE STATISTICS, AND NOTES OF ITS RESOURCES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION CONCERNING ITS ADVANTAGES: ALSO A BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF EACH OF THE THREE PRINCIPAL TOWNS IN THE COUNTY, ENT. PRINT, 1858
- HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THEIR PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., D.W. ENSIGN & CO., 1880
- HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, MICHIGAN, CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SETTLEMENT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES, ITS WAR RECORD, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, THE WHOLE PRECEDED BY A HISTORY OF MICHIGAN., A.T. ANDREAS & CO., 1883
- H.G. CUTLER, HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN (2 VOLS.), LEWIS PUB. CO., 1912
- HISTORY OF TUSCOLA AND BAY COUNTIES, MICHIGAN : WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF THEIR PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., H.R. PAGE, 1883
- HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN : TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS…AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS, CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO., 1881
- JOHN H. WHEELER, HISTORY OF WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN, EMBRACING A CONCISE REVIEW OF ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENT CONDITIONS, COMP. BY JOHN H. WHEELER, TO WHICH IS APPENDED A COMPREHENSIVE COMPENDIUM OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY AND LIFE SKETCHES OF WELL-KNOWN CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, B.F. BOWEN, 1903
- INDIAN AND PIONEER HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY : WITH HISTORIES OF EAST SAGINAW, SAGINAW CITY, AND BAY CITY, FROM THEIR EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS, ALSO PIONEER DIRECTORY AND BUSINESS ADVERTISER FOR 1866 AND 1867, THOMAS & GALATIAN, 1866
- KALAMAZOO COUNTY DIRECTORY, WITH A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT, J.M. THOMAS, 1869
- RICHARD I. BONNER, MEMOIRS OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN: FROM THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL TIMES DOWN TO THE PRESENT, INCLUDING A GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF REPRESENTATIVE FAMILIES IN LENAWEE COUNTY, WESTERN HIST. ASSOC., 1909
- FRANKLIN EVERETT, MEMORIALS OF THE GRAND RIVER VALLEY, CHICAGO LEGAL NEWS CO., 1878
- A.H. JOHNSON, MICHIGAN. LEELANAU COUNTY: HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE, 1880
- MUSKEGON AND ITS RESOURCES. SKETCHES OF MUSKEGON COUNTY; ITS SOIL, CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCATIONS–CITY OF MUSKEGON; ITS MATERIAL GROWTH AND RESOURCES, MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS, ITS SCENERY, AND ADVANTAGES AS A PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND BUSINESS, SUPPLEMENTED WITH SHORT SKETCHES OF LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES AND FIRMS. ISSUED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MUSKEGON BOARD OF TRADE, HARFORD & LATIMER, 1884
- LOUIS M. HARTWICK, OCEANA COUNTY PIONEERS AND BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY, HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, STATISTICS AND HUMOROUS INCIDENTS., PENTWATER NEWS STEAM PRINT, 1890
- SHERMAN B. DABOLL, PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, BY JUDGE S. B. DABOLL, ASSISTED BY D. W. KELLEY, TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF ITS PROMINENT AND LEADING CITIZENS AND ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD. ILLUSTRATED., S.J. CLARKE PUB. CO., 1906
- ISAAC A. FANCHER, PAST AND PRESENT OF ISABELLA COUNTY, MICHIGAN, B.F. BOWEN, 1911
- ROBT. F. ELDREDGE, PAST AND PRESENT OF MACOMB COUNTY, MICHIGAN: TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF ITS LEADING AND PROMINENT CITIZENS AND ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD, S.J. CLARKE PUB. CO., 1905
- ALBERT E. COWLES, PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF LANSING AND INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, BY ALBERT E. COWLES, HISTORICALLY. TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF ITS LEADING AND PROMINENT CITIZENS AND ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD, MICH. HIST. PUB. ASSOC., 1905
- DANIEL STRANGE, PIONEER HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, 1833-1866, CHARLOTTE REPUBLICAN PRINT, 1923
- FLORENCE M. GWINN, PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, HURON COUNTY PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1922
- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICH., CONTAINING FULL PAGE PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATE, AND OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES., CHAPMAN BROS., 1888
- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICH., CONTAINING FULL PAGE PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATE, AND OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES., CHAPMAN BROS., 1888
- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF NEWAYGO COUNTY, MICH., CONTAINING PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY … ALSO CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME., CHAPMAN BROS., 1884
- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF SANILAC COUNTY, CONTAINING … BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF … CITIZENS … ALSO … A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME., CHAPMAN BROS., 1884
- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM, MECOSTA COUNTY, MICH., CONTAINING PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF … CITIZENS … [AND] A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME., CHAPMAN BROS., 1883
- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF GENESEE, LAPEER AND TUSCOLA COUNTIES, MICHIGAN, CHAPMAN BROS., 1892
- PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN, CONTAINING PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS, TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHIES AND PORTRAITS OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES., RECORD PUB. CO., 1895
- THE BOOK OF DETROITERS, A.N. MARQUIS & COMPANY, 1914
- W.H. WARE, THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CHEBOYGAN COUNTY AND VILLAGE: ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGE, EARLY HISTORY, SETTLEMENTS, IMPROVEMENTS, PRESENT BUSINESS, VALUABLE STATISTICAL TABLES, ADVERTISEMENTS. SUPPLEMENT, DESCRIPTIVE OF MACKINAC ISLAND, NORTHERN TRIBUNE PRINT, 1876
- CLARENCE M. BURTON, THE CITY OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 1701-1922 (5 VOLS.), S.J. CLARKE PUB. CO., 1922
- THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS AND KENT COUNTY, MICH.: UP TO DATE, CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS., A.W. BOWEN CO., 1900
- THE COUNTY OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN : TOPOGRAPHY, HISTORY, ART FOLIO., IMPERIAL PUB. CO., 1896
- STANLEY NEWTON, THE STORY OF SAULT STE. MARIE AND CHIPPEWA COUNTY, SAULT NEWS PRINTING CO., 1923
- THE TRAVERSE REGION, HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCENERY AND PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS., H.R. PAGE, 1884