Michigan Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor and Historical Compiler; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing Director; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry Library 2007
2 June 1609
King James I granted a new charter to the Virginia Company of London, expanding Virginia's jurisdiction westward and northwestward to the Pacific Ocean; included all of present Michigan. (Paullin, pl. 42; Swindler, 10:24-36; Van Zandt, 92)
10 February 1763
The Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War between Great Britain (the victor) and France and Spain, formally transferred to the British all of Canada (territory north of the Ohio River-Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River line), including present Michigan, and implicitly set the Mississippi River as the new western limit for the British colonies. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 1)
20 May 1774
The British Parliament passed the Quebec Act, placing all territory north and west of the Ohio River, including present Michigan, under the jurisdiction of the province of Quebec. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 16, 87)
4 July 1776
The United States declared itself independent of Great Britain, implicitly opening the possibility that Virginia and some other states might claim territory north of the Ohio River and west of the Appalachian Mountains based on their colonial charters. (Declaration of Independence)
9 December 1778
ILLINOIS (Va., extinct) created by Virginia to encompass all territory north and west of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River claimed by Virginia on the basis of its 1609 charter. ILLINOIS County included all of present Michigan. (Hening, 9:552-555, 10:303-304; Robinson, 55)
3 September 1783
Commissioners from Great Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (ratifications exchanged 12 May 1784), ending the War of the American Revolution, recognizing American independence, and generally defining U.S. territory as extending to the Great Lakes-Lake of the Woods line on the north and the Mississippi River on the west, including present Michigan. (Parry, 48:481, 487, 491-492; Van Zandt, 12)
1 March 1784
Virginia ceded to the United States its charter claims to territory "northwestward of the river Ohio;" ILLINOIS County (Va.) eliminated. Other state claims in the area were effectively eliminated by 1787. All of present Michigan became unorganized federal territory. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 62, 130-131; Hening, 11:571-575)
13 July 1787
The United States created the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio (Northwest Territory), including all of present Michigan, to govern all territory west of Pennsylvania, north of the Ohio River, and east of the Mississippi River to which states had ceded their colonial charter claims. Map depicts area of the Northwest Territory in present Michigan only. (Terr. Papers U.S., 2:39-50)
20 June 1790
KNOX (Ind.) created by the Northwest Territory from non-county area; included the western half of the Lower Peninsula of present Michigan, the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula, all of present Indiana, and parts of present Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. (Terr. Papers U.S., 3:313)
11 February 1792
As a Northwest Territory county (created in 1790), HAMILTON (Ohio) gained from non-county area in the Northwest Territory; included the eastern part of present Michigan. (Terr. Papers U.S., 3:363-364)
15 August 1796
WAYNE (Northwest Territory, extinct) created by the Northwest Territory from HAMILTON (Ohio), KNOX (Ind.), and non-county area; included all of the Lower Peninsula of present Michigan, the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula, and parts of present Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Non-county area in the Northwest Territory of present Michigan gained from KNOX (Ind.). HAMILTON (Ohio) and KNOX (Ind.) eliminated from present Michigan. (Terr. Papers U.S., 2:567-568, 3:447; Pence and Armstrong, 216)
4 July 1800
The United States created Indiana Territory from the Northwest Territory; included all of present Illinois and Wisconsin, most of present Indiana, and parts of present Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio. Map depicts non-county area in Indiana Territory in present Michigan. WAYNE (Northwest Territory, extinct) lost to Indiana Territory; the eastern half of present Michigan remained part of WAYNE (Northwest Territory, extinct). (Terr. Papers U.S., 3:86-88; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 41 [1800]/pp. 58-59)
10 July 1800
WAYNE (Northwest Territory, extinct) lost to creation of TRUMBULL (Ohio); area within present Michigan was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 3:525; Chase, 3:2097)
3 February 1801
As an Indiana Territory county, KNOX (Ind.) gained non-county area in present Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio; lost to RANDOLPH (Ill.) and ST. CLAIR (Ill.); and lost to creation of CLARK (Ind.). KNOX (Ind.) included territory in present Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. (Ind. Terr., Exec. Journal, 98-100; Pence and Armstrong, 212, 520)
As an Indiana Territory county (created in 1790), ST. CLAIR (Ill.) gained non-county area in Indiana Territory, gained from KNOX (Ind.), and lost to RANDOLPH (Ill.). ST. CLAIR (Ill.) included territory in present Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. (Ind. Terr., Exec. Journal, 98-100; Pence and Armstrong, 212, 520)
1 March 1803
Indiana Territory gained the remainder of the Northwest Territory when the state of Ohio was created, including the eastern half of present Michigan; the Northwest Territory and WAYNE (Northwest Territory, extinct) were eliminated. WAYNE (Indiana Territory, extinct) created by Indiana Territory from KNOX (Ind.), ST. CLAIR (Ill.), and WAYNE (Northwest Territory, extinct); included nearly all of present Michigan, except for the western part of the Upper Peninsula, and parts of present Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. KNOX (Ind.) also lost to HAMILTON (Ohio) and to non-county area in Ohio; KNOX (Ind.) eliminated from present Michigan. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 40 [1802], secs. 1-3/pp. 173-174; Ind. Terr., Exec. Journal, 114-115; Pence and Armstrong, 218; Van Zandt, 112)
1 May 1803
ST. CLAIR (Ill.) exchanged with RANDOLPH (Ill.); area within present Michigan was unchanged. (Ind. Terr., Exec. Journal, 117-118)
30 June 1805
The United States created Michigan Territory from Indiana Territory; included all of the Lower Peninsula of present Michigan, the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the northern part of present Indiana. Michigan Territory claimed and controlled a strip that ran from Indiana Territory east to Lake Erie that also was claimed by Ohio. WAYNE (Indiana Territory, extinct) eliminated. Non-county area in Indiana Territory included part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:5-7; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 5 [1805]/pp. 309-310)
3 July 1805
Territorial Governor William Hull created four civil districts in Michigan Territory: District of Detroit, District of Erie, District of Huron, and District of Michilimackinac. These county precursors carried out many of the administrative and judicial functions of the territorial government. ("Territorial Records," 118-121; Blume, 1:2-4)
Territorial Governor William Hull authorized the creation of an unnamed county in the part of Michigan Territory in which the Indian title had been extinguished. Boundaries were: on the north, the north end of Lake St. Clair; on the south, the Raisin River; and on the west, a line six miles inland from the shore of Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and Lake St. Clair. No record of this county was found, and it appears no further efforts were made to effect its organization [not mapped]. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:21; Royce, 654-655, pl. 31)
1 March 1809
The United States created Illinois Territory from Indiana Territory; included all of present Illinois (except 2 small areas along the Wabash River), most of present Wisconsin, parts of present Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and a small area of present Indiana along the Wabash River. ST. CLAIR (Ill.) became a county in Illinois Territory; ST. CLAIR (Ill.) continued to function de facto with no new boundaries specified. Map depicts non-county area in Illinois Territory located in present Michigan. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 13 [1809], sec. 1/p. 514)
28 April 1809
ST. CLAIR (Ill.) created by Illinois Territory (effectively continuing the county of the same name that had been created by the Northwest Territory in 1790). ST. CLAIR (Ill.) exchanged with Indiana Territory (gaining the non-county area along the west side of Lake Michigan now in Illinois Territory); included the western part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan. ST. CLAIR (Ill.) also lost to RANDOLPH (Ill.). (Terr. Papers U.S., 17:620-621)
1 January 1812
Detroit District gained from Huron District. ("Territorial Records," 241)
14 September 1812
MADISON (Ill.) created by Illinois Territory from RANDOLPH (Ill.) and ST. CLAIR (Ill.); included the western part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan. ST. CLAIR (Ill.) eliminated from present Michigan. (Terr. Papers U.S., 17:643)
28 November 1814
EDWARDS (Ill.) created by Illinois Territory from GALLATIN (Ill.) and MADISON (Ill.); included part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan. (Ill. Terr. Laws, 128)
21 November 1815
WAYNE created by Michigan Territory from non-county area in Detroit, Erie, and Huron Districts; included part of the disputed strip west of Lake Erie that was also claimed by Ohio but controlled by Michigan. No change was made to the underlying boundaries of Detroit, Erie, and Huron Districts. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:720)
18 October 1816
WAYNE gained the non-county area known as Michilimackinac District; WAYNE was divided in two parts. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:722)
11 December 1816
The United States created the state of Indiana from Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan Territories; that part of Indiana Territory in the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan became unorganized federal territory. EDWARDS (Ill.) exchanged with the state of Indiana; area within present Michigan was unchanged. Erie District lost to the state of Indiana. (U.S. Stat., vol. 3, ch. 57 [1816], secs. 1-2/p. 289, and res. 1 [1816]/p. 399; Van Zandt, 115)
31 December 1816
CRAWFORD (Ill.) created by Illinois Territory from EDWARDS (Ill.); included part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan; EDWARDS (Ill.) eliminated from present Michigan. (Ill. Terr. Laws, 247-248)
4 January 1817
BOND (Ill.) created by Illinois Territory from MADISON (Ill.); included part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan. (Ill. Terr. Laws, 254)
14 July 1817
MONROE created by Michigan Territory from WAYNE; included part of the disputed strip west of Lake Erie that also was claimed by Ohio but controlled by Michigan; WAYNE eliminated from Ohio. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:729)
15 January 1818
MACOMB created by Michigan Territory from WAYNE. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:772)
29 January 1818
Ohio pressed its dispute with Michigan Territory when it formally claimed the strip west of Lake Erie that lay between the northern limit of Ohio, as described when it became a state in 1803, and the southern limit of Michigan Territory, as described in the Territory's enabling act of 1805. Michigan Territory retained actual control of the disputed area. (Chase, 2:1045)
2 October 1818
Judicial districts were eliminated, and their functions supplanted by counties in Michigan Territory by proclamation of William Woodbridge, Secretary of Michigan Territory. Non-County Area 1 created in the Lower Peninsula when the judicial districts were eliminated. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:801)
3 December 1818
The United States created the state of Illinois from Illinois Territory; BOND (Ill.), CRAWFORD (Ill.), and MADISON (Ill.) eliminated from present Michigan. Michigan Territory gained the former parts of Illinois and Indiana Territories in present Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:803; U.S. Stat., vol. 3, ch. 67 [1818], sec. 7/p. 431, and res. 1 [1818]/p. 536)
BROWN (Wis.) created by Michigan Territory from non-county area in present Michigan and Wisconsin. CRAWFORD (Wis.) created by Michigan Territory from non-county area in present Wisconsin and Minnesota. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:803-804)
MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) created by Michigan Territory from WAYNE, Non-County Area 1, unorganized federal territory, and former parts of BOND (Ill.), CRAWFORD (Ill.), and MADISON (Ill.); included parts of present Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:802)
28 March 1820
OAKLAND created by Michigan Territory from MACOMB. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:842, 11:40)
13 April 1821
Non-County Area 2 created from part of MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and part of Non-County Area 1; Non-County Area 2 was attached to OAKLAND for administrative and judicial purposes. (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:132)
8 May 1821
ST. CLAIR created by Michigan Territory from MACOMB. (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:39-40, 133)
10 September 1822
Territorial Governor Lewis Cass created six new counties by proclamation:
LAPEER created by Michigan Territory from OAKLAND, ST. CLAIR, and a small piece of Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; LAPEER not fully organized, attached to OAKLAND for administrative and judicial purposes (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:310-311)
LENAWEE created by Michigan Territory from MONROE; included part of the disputed strip west of Lake Erie that also was claimed by Ohio but controlled by Michigan. LENAWEE not fully organized, attached to MONROE for administrative and judicial purposes (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:311, 313)
SAGINAW created by Michigan Territory from ST. CLAIR and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; SAGINAW not fully organized, attached to OAKLAND for administrative and judicial purposes (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:310-311)
SANILAC created by Michigan Territory from ST. CLAIR and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; SANILAC not fully organized, attached to OAKLAND for administrative and judicial purposes (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:310-311)
SHIAWASSEE created by Michigan Territory from OAKLAND, ST. CLAIR, and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; SHIAWASSEE not fully organized, attached to OAKLAND for administrative and judicial purposes (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:311)
WASHTENAW created by Michigan Territory from MONROE, OAKLAND, and WAYNE; WASHTENAW not fully organized, attached to WAYNE for administrative and judicial purposes (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:311)
MACOMB gained from ST. CLAIR. WAYNE gained from MONROE. Non-County Area 1 gained the land acquired from the Indians by the 1821 Treaty at Chicago from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); Non-County Area 1 attached to MONROE for administrative and judicial purposes. Non-County Areas 3 and 4 created from Non-County Area 1. (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:308-313)
31 December 1826
WASHTENAW fully organized, detached from WAYNE. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:292)
LENAWEE fully organized, detached from MONROE; Non-County Area 1 detached from MONROE, attached to LENAWEE for administrative and judicial purposes. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:292)
1 February 1827
CHIPPEWA created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); included parts of present Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:295-296)
12 April 1827
SANILAC detached from OAKLAND, attached to ST. CLAIR "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:588)
22 September 1829
Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE gained from Non-County Area 3. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:709-710)
29 October 1829
Legislature passed a single act creating twelve new counties:
BARRY created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; BARRY not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 4/p. 735)
BERRIEN created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 3 and Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE; Non-County Area 3 eliminated. BERRIEN not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 13/p. 737)
BRANCH created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE; BRANCH not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 10/p. 736)
CALHOUN created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; CALHOUN not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 6/p. 736)
CASS created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE; CASS not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 12/p. 737)
EATON created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; EATON not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 3/p. 735)
HILLSDALE created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 4 and Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE; Non-County Area 4 eliminated. HILLSDALE included part of the disputed strip west of Lake Erie that was also claimed by Ohio but controlled by Michigan; HILLSDALE not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 9/p. 736)
INGHAM created by Michigan Territory from SHIAWASSEE (which was attached to OAKLAND), WASHTENAW, and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; INGHAM not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 2/p. 735)
JACKSON created by Michigan Territory from WASHTENAW, Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE, and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; JACKSON not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 5/p. 735)
KALAMAZOO created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; KALAMAZOO not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 7/p. 736)
ST. JOSEPH created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE; ST. JOSEPH not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 11/p. 736)
VAN BUREN created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 1 attached to LENAWEE; VAN BUREN not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:sec. 8/p. 736)
4 November 1829
CASS fully organized. BERRIEN and VAN BUREN attached to CASS; part of Non-County Area 1 detached from LENAWEE, attached to CASS. HILLSDALE attached to LENAWEE. INGHAM and JACKSON attached to WASHTENAW. ST. JOSEPH fully organized. BARRY, BRANCH, CALHOUN, EATON, and KALAMAZOO all attached to ST. JOSEPH. Part of Non-County Area 1 detached from LENAWEE and part of Non-County Area 2 detached from OAKLAND; this became Non-County Area 5 attached to ST. JOSEPH. All attachments were for administrative and judicial purposes. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:744-746)
1 January 1830
IOWA (Wis.) created by Michigan Territory in present Wisconsin from CRAWFORD (Wis.). (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:714-715)
1 October 1830
KALAMAZOO fully organized, detached from ST. JOSEPH. BARRY, CALHOUN, EATON, and Non-County Area 5 detached from ST. JOSEPH, attached to KALAMAZOO "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:836-837)
2 March 1831
Legislature passed a single act creating twelve new counties; Non-County Area 1 eliminated:
ALLEGAN created by Michigan Territory from BARRY (which was attached to KALAMAZOO), Non-County Area 1 attached to CASS, and Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO; ALLEGAN not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 4/p. 871)
ARENAC created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; ARENAC not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 12/p. 872)
CLINTON created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO; CLINTON not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 1/p. 871)
GLADWIN created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; GLADWIN not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 11/p. 872)
GRATIOT created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO; GRATIOT not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 6/p. 871)
IONIA created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO; IONIA not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 2/p. 871)
ISABELLA created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO; ISABELLA not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 13/p. 873)
KENT created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO; KENT not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 3/p. 871)
MIDLAND created by Michigan Territory from SAGINAW (which was attached to OAKLAND), Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO, and Non-County Area 2 attached to OAKLAND; MIDLAND not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 10/p. 872)
MONTCALM created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 5 attached to KALAMAZOO; MONTCALM not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 7/p. 872)
OCEANA created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); OCEANA not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 8/p. 872)
OTTAWA created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 1 attached to CASS; OTTAWA not fully organized, not attached (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:sec. 5/p. 871)
3 March 1831
ST. JOSEPH gained small area from CASS. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:889)
1 September 1831
BERRIEN fully organized, detached from CASS. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:902-903)
1 August 1832
JACKSON fully organized, detached from WASHTENAW. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:929)
1 March 1833
BRANCH fully organized, detached from ST. JOSEPH. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:977)
21 March 1833
LIVINGSTON created by Michigan Territory from SHIAWASSEE (which was attached to OAKLAND) and WASHTENAW; LIVINGSTON not fully organized, part attached to SHIAWASSEE and indirectly through SHIAWASSEE to OAKLAND, and part attached to WASHTENAW. LIVINGSTON attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:993)
31 March 1833
MACOMB gained from ST. CLAIR. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:926)
1 April 1833
ALLEGAN attached to KALAMAZOO "for all legal purposes." (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:997-998)
CALHOUN fully organized, detached from KALAMAZOO. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3: 984-985)
4 April 1834
Part of KENT was organized as the township of Kent and may have been attached to KALAMAZOO for administrative and judicial purposes. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1275; History of Kent, 1:284)
28 June 1834
Michigan Territory gained unorganized federal territory west of the Mississippi River, north of the state of Missouri, and east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers, including present Iowa and parts of present Minnesota and North and South Dakota. Map depicts non-county area in Michigan Territory west of the Mississippi River. (U.S. Stat., vol. 4, ch. 98 [1834]/p. 701; Terr. Papers U.S., 12:778-779)
6 September 1834
MILWAUKEE (Wis.) created by Michigan Territory in present Wisconsin from BROWN (Wis.) and IOWA (Wis.). BROWN (Wis.) exchanged with CRAWFORD (Wis.). MILWAUKEE (Wis.) not fully organized, attached to BROWN (Wis.) "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1325)
1 October 1834
DES MOINES (Iowa) created by Michigan Territory from non-county area in present Iowa. DUBUQUE (Iowa) created by Michigan Territory from non-county area in present Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1326-1327)
2 February 1835
LAPEER fully organized, detached from OAKLAND. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1348)
9 February 1835
SAGINAW fully organized, detached from OAKLAND. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1359)
11 February 1835
HILLSDALE fully organized, detached from LENAWEE. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1362)
28 March 1835
GENESEE created by Michigan Territory from LAPEER, SAGINAW, and SHIAWASSEE (which was attached to OAKLAND); GENESEE not fully organized, attached to OAKLAND "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1416)
7 September 1835
ALLEGAN fully organized, detached from KALAMAZOO. MILWAUKEE (Wis.) fully organized, detached from BROWN (Wis.). (Mich. Terr. Laws, 4:136-137)
2 March 1836
ARENAC, GLADWIN, GRATIOT, ISABELLA, and MIDLAND all attached to SAGINAW. Non-County Area 5 detached from KALAMAZOO and Non-County Area 2 detached from OAKLAND. Non-County Area 2 gained all of Non-County Area 5; Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1836, ann. sess., p. 67)
28 March 1836
Part of SANILAC was detached from ST. CLAIR, attached to LAPEER "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1836, ann. sess., p. 67)
4 April 1836
GENESEE fully organized, detached from OAKLAND; SHIAWASSEE detached from OAKLAND, attached to GENESEE "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1836, ann. sess., p. 66)
KENT fully organized; CLINTON, IONIA, and OTTAWA attached to KENT "for judicial purposes." LIVINGSTON fully organized, detached from WASHTENAW, and detached from SHIAWASSEE and indirectly through SHIAWASSEE from OAKLAND. (Mich. Acts 1836, ann. sess., p. 65)
3 July 1836
The United States created Wisconsin Territory from Michigan Territory. BROWN (Wis.), CRAWFORD (Wis.), DES MOINES (Iowa), DUBUQUE (Iowa), IOWA (Wis.), and MILWAUKEE (Wis.) became Wisconsin Territory counties and were eliminated from Michigan Territory. Non-County Area 6 [remnant of BROWN (Wis.) and CRAWFORD (Wis.)] was created in the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan when Wisconsin Territory was created. CHIPPEWA and MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) lost to Wisconsin Territory; CHIPPEWA and MICHILIMACKINAC both eliminated from present Minnesota and Wisconsin. (U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 54 [1836], sec. 1/p. 10; Terr. Papers U.S., 27:41-52)
26 January 1837
The state of Michigan was created from Michigan Territory; boundary dispute with Ohio over the strip running from Indiana to Lake Erie was settled in favor of Ohio. HILLSDALE, LENAWEE, and MONROE lost to the state of Ohio. (U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 99 [1836], secs. 1-2/p. 49 and ch. 6 [1837]/p. 144; Van Zandt, 127)
18 March 1837
SHIAWASSEE fully organized, detached from GENESEE; CLINTON detached from KENT, attached to SHIAWASSEE "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1837, ann. sess., no. 56/p. 106)
3 April 1837
IONIA fully organized, detached from KENT. Part of ISABELLA detached from SAGINAW, attached to IONIA; MONTCALM attached to IONIA. OCEANA attached to KENT. VAN BUREN fully organized, detached from CASS. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1837, ann. sess., no. 51/p. 97)
by October 1837
By October 1837, INGHAM was detached from WASHTENAW, attached to JACKSON "for judicial purposes." (History of Jackson County, 277, 287)
29 December 1837
EATON fully organized, detached from KALAMAZOO. OTTAWA fully organized, detached from KENT. (Mich. Acts 1837, adj. sess., no. 8/p. 9)
4 June 1838
INGHAM fully organized, detached from JACKSON. (Mich. Acts 1838, reg. sess., no. 98/p. 221)
12 March 1839
CLINTON fully organized, detached from SHIAWASSEE. (Mich. Acts 1839, ann. sess., no. 20/p. 15)
15 March 1839
BARRY fully organized, detached from KALAMAZOO. (Mich. Acts 1839, ann. sess., no. 22/p. 17)
1 April 1840
Legislature passed a single act creating twenty-nine new counties; Non-County Area 2 eliminated:
AISHCUM (now LAKE) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); AISHCUM not fully organized, attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 6, 35/pp. 196, 200)
ANAMICKEE (now ALPENA) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; ANAMICKEE not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 24, 35/pp. 199-200)
CHEBOYGAN created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); CHEBOYGAN not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 29, 35/pp. 199-200)
CHEONOQUET (now MONTMORENCY) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; CHEONOQUET not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 23, 35/pp. 199-200)
HURON created from SANILAC (which was attached to LAPEER and ST. CLAIR); HURON not fully organized, attached to SAGINAW "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 32, 34/p. 200)
KANOTIN (now IOSCO) created from Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; KANOTIN not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 14, 35/pp. 197, 200)
KAUTAWAUBET (now WEXFORD) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); KAUTAWAUBET not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 10, 35/pp. 197, 200)
KAYKAKEE (now CLARE) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; KAYKAKEE not fully organized, attached to SAGINAW "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 8, 34/pp. 197, 200)
KESKKAUKO (now CHARLEVOIX) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); KESKKAUKO not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 27, 35/pp. 199-200)
LEELANAU created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); LEELANAU not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 20, 35/pp. 198, 200)
MANISTEE created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); MANISTEE not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 9, 35/pp. 197, 200)
MECOSTA created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and OCEANA (which was attached to KENT); MECOSTA not fully organized, attached to KENT "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 3, 35/pp. 196, 200)
MEEGISEE (now ANTRIM) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); MEEGISEE not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 21, 35/pp. 198, 200)
MIKENAUK (now ROSCOMMON) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; MIKENAUK not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 12, 35/pp. 197, 200)
MISSAUKEE created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); MISSAUKEE not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 11, 35/pp. 197, 200)
NEGWEGON (now ALCONA) created from Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; NEGWEGON not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 15, 35/pp. 198, 200)
NEWAYGO created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and OCEANA (which was attached to KENT); NEWAYGO not fully organized, attached to KENT "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 2, 35/pp. 196, 200)
NOTIPEKAGO (now MASON) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); NOTIPEKAGO not fully organized, attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 5, 35/pp. 196, 200)
OGEMAW created from Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; OGEMAW not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 13, 35/pp. 197, 200)
OKKUDDO (now OTSEGO) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); OKKUDDO not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 22, 35/pp. 199-200)
OMEENA (extinct) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); OMEENA not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 19, 35/pp. 198, 200)
OSCODA created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; OSCODA not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 16, 35/pp. 198, 200)
PRESQUE ISLE created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); PRESQUE ISLE not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 25, 35/pp. 199-200)
SHAWONO (now CRAWFORD) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 2 attached to SAGINAW; SHAWONO not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 17, 35/pp. 198, 200)
TONEDAGANA (now EMMET) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); TONEDAGANA not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 28, 35/pp. 199-200)
TUSCOLA created from SANILAC (which was attached to LAPEER); TUSCOLA not fully organized, attached to SAGINAW "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 30, 34/p. 200)
UNWATTIN (now OSCEOLA) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); UNWATTIN not fully organized, attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 7, 35/pp. 197, 200)
WABASSEE (now KALKASKA) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); WABASSEE not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 18, 35/pp. 198, 200)
WYANDOT (extinct) created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); WYANDOT not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 26, 35/pp. 199-200)
KENT gained from OCEANA. OCEANA gained from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); OCEANA detached from KENT, attached to OTTAWA. ISABELLA detached from IONIA, re-attached to SAGINAW. SANILAC detached from LAPEER, re-attached to ST. CLAIR. Attachment of ARENAC, GLADWIN, GRATIOT, and MIDLAND to SAGINAW was confirmed [no change]. Attachment of MONTCALM to IONIA was confirmed [no change]. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1840, ann. sess., no. 119, secs. 1-4, 33-35/pp. 196, 200)
8 March 1843
Legislature passed a single act changing the names of sixteen counties:
AISHCUM renamed LAKE (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
ANAMICKEE renamed ALPENA (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
CHEONOQUET renamed MONTMORENCY (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
KANOTIN renamed IOSCO (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
KAUTAWAUBET renamed WEXFORD (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
KAYKAKEE renamed CLARE (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
KESKKAUKO renamed CHARLEVOIX (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
MEEGISEE renamed ANTRIM (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
MIKENAUK renamed ROSCOMMON (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
NEGWEGON renamed ALCONA (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
NOTIPEKAGO renamed MASON (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
OKKUDDO renamed OTSEGO (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
SHAWONO renamed CRAWFORD (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
TONEDAGANA renamed EMMET (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
UNWATTIN renamed OSCEOLA (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
WABASSEE renamed KALKASKA (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 67/p. 145)
9 March 1843
Legislature passed a single act creating four new counties in the Upper Peninsula; Non-County Area 6 eliminated:
DELTA created from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC) and Non-County Area 6; DELTA not fully organized, attached to MICHILIMACKINAC "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 89, secs. 6-7/pp. 202-203)
MARQUETTE created from CHIPPEWA, MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC), and Non-County Area 6; MARQUETTE not fully organized, attached to CHIPPEWA "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 89, secs. 4, 7/pp. 202-203)
ONTONAGON created from CHIPPEWA, MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC), and Non-County Area 6; ONTONAGON not fully organized, attached to CHIPPEWA "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 89, secs. 5, 7/pp. 202-203)
SCHOOLCRAFT created from CHIPPEWA and MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC); SCHOOLCRAFT not fully organized, attached to CHIPPEWA "for judicial purposes" (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 89, secs. 3, 7/pp. 202-203)
CHIPPEWA exchanged with MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC). (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 89, secs. 1-2/pp. 201-202)
31 March 1843
GENESEE gained from LAPEER. (Mich. Acts 1843, ann. sess., no. 85/p. 189)
11 March 1844
HURON detached from SAGINAW, attached to ST. CLAIR "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1844, ann. sess., no. 78/p. 112)
19 March 1845
TUSCOLA gained from LAPEER. Part of GRATIOT was detached from SAGINAW, attached to CLINTON for administrative and judicial purposes. (Mich. Acts 1845, ann. sess., no. 42, secs. 1, 25/pp. 49, 53)
HOUGHTON created from MARQUETTE and ONTONAGON (both of which were attached to CHIPPEWA); HOUGHTON not fully organized, attached to CHIPPEWA "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1845, ann. sess., no. 48/p. 58)
25 March 1846
MANISTEE detached from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC), attached to OTTAWA; part of NEWAYGO detached from KENT, attached to OTTAWA. Both attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1846, ann. sess., no. 33, secs. 21-22/p. 31)
18 May 1846
HOUGHTON fully organized, detached from CHIPPEWA; MARQUETTE, ONTONAGON, and SCHOOLCRAFT detached from CHIPPEWA, attached to HOUGHTON "for judicial and other purposes." (Mich. Acts 1846, ann. sess., no. 157, secs. 1, 7/pp. 286-287)
3 April 1848
SANILAC gained from ST. CLAIR. (Mich. Acts 1848, ann. sess., no. 228/p. 344)
Boundaries of HOUGHTON, MARQUETTE, ONTONAGON, and SCHOOLCRAFT were redefined [no change]. (Mich. Acts 1848, ann. sess., no. 229, secs. 1-4, 10/pp. 345-347)
31 December 1849
SANILAC fully organized, detached from ST. CLAIR. (Mich. Acts 1848, ann. sess., no. 228/p. 344)
c. 1850
MICHILIMACKINAC was renamed MACKINAC; this change was never officially adopted by the legislature and both names were used interchangeably through the 1840s. (Mich. Acts 1847, ann. sess., no. 56/pp. 68-69; Mich. Acts 1848, ann. sess., no. 108/pp. 119-124)
2 March 1850
TUSCOLA fully organized, detached from SAGINAW. (Mich. Acts 1850, ann. sess., no. 53/p. 45)
20 March 1850
MONTCALM fully organized, detached from IONIA. (Mich. Acts 1850, ann. sess., no. 129/p. 114)
1 April 1850
HURON detached from ST. CLAIR, attached to SANILAC "for judicial and representative purposes." (Mich. Acts 1850, ann. sess., no. 212/p. 215)
31 December 1850
MIDLAND was authorized to become fully organized, but elections were never held; MIDLAND remained attached to SAGINAW "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1850, ann. sess., no. 183/p. 182; Yates, 19; County of Midland, [81])
7 April 1851
GRAND TRAVERSE created from OMEENA (extinct, which was attached to MACKINAC). (Mich. Acts 1851, ann. sess., no. 141/p. 172)
OCEANA was authorized to become fully organized, but change did not take effect. (Mich. Acts 1851, ann. sess., no. 114/p. 150; History of Oceana, 84)
27 June 1851
NEWAYGO fully organized, detached from KENT and OTTAWA. (Mich. Acts 1851, ext. sess., no. 177/p. 305)
1 December 1851
MARQUETTE fully organized, detached from HOUGHTON; SCHOOLCRAFT detached from HOUGHTON, attached to MARQUETTE "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1851, ann. sess., no. 105/p. 142; Mich. Acts 1853, reg. sess., no. 4/p. 4)
17 January 1853
ONTONAGON gained from HOUGHTON; ONTONAGON fully organized, detached from HOUGHTON. (Mich. Acts 1853, reg. sess., no. 3/p. 3)
29 January 1853
CHEBOYGAN gained all of WYANDOT; WYANDOT eliminated, ending its attachment to MACKINAC. CHEBOYGAN fully organized, detached from MACKINAC. ALCONA, ALPENA, CRAWFORD, IOSCO, MONTMORENCY, OGEMAW, OSCODA, OTSEGO, PRESQUE ISLE, and ROSCOMMON all detached from MACKINAC, attached to CHEBOYGAN "for judicial and municipal purposes." CHEBOYGAN assigned jurisdiction over Lake Huron and Thunder and Saginaw Bays concurrent with "the other counties contiguous thereto." (Mich. Acts 1853, reg. sess., no. 20/p. 19)
EMMET gained from CHEBOYGAN; gained Beaver Island, the surrounding islands, and the Fox Islands from MACKINAC; and gained all of CHARLEVOIX; CHARLEVOIX eliminated, ending its attachment to MACKINAC. EMMET fully organized, detached from MACKINAC. EMMET assigned jurisdiction over Lake Michigan and Green Bay concurrent with "the other counties contiguous thereto." (Mich. Acts 1853, reg. sess., no. 18, secs. 1, 4, 7-8/pp. 15-17)
3 February 1853
GRAND TRAVERSE gained all of OMEENA; OMEENA eliminated, ending its attachment to MACKINAC. ANTRIM, KALKASKA, LEELANAU, MISSAUKEE, and WEXFORD all detached from MACKINAC, attached to GRAND TRAVERSE. MANISTEE detached from OTTAWA, attached to GRAND TRAVERSE. All attachments were "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1853, reg. sess., no. 34/p. 43)
IOSCO detached from CHEBOYGAN, attached to SAGINAW "for judicial and representative purposes." (Mich. Acts 1853, reg. sess., no. 35/p. 44)
12 February 1853
Part of HURON was detached from SANILAC, attached to TUSCOLA "for judicial and representative purposes." (Mich. Acts 1853, reg. sess., no. 69/p. 113)
3 February 1855
GRATIOT fully organized, detached from CLINTON and SAGINAW. (Mich. Acts 1855, reg. sess., no. 16/p. 12)
12 February 1855
MANITOU (extinct) created from EMMET and LEELANAU (which was attached to GRAND TRAVERSE). MANITOU included Beaver Island, the surrounding islands, the Fox Islands, and the Manitou Islands. MANITOU assigned jurisdiction over Lake Michigan concurrent with "the other counties contiguous thereto." (Mich. Acts 1855, reg. sess., no. 92/p. 197)
GLADWIN and ISABELLA detached from SAGINAW, attached to MIDLAND and indirectly through MIDLAND to SAGINAW "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1855, reg. sess., no. 98/p. 231)
13 February 1855
LAPEER exchanged with TUSCOLA. (Mich. Acts 1855, reg. sess., no. 144/p. 313)
MANISTEE fully organized, detached from GRAND TRAVERSE; WEXFORD detached from GRAND TRAVERSE, attached to MANISTEE. MASON fully organized, detached from OTTAWA; LAKE and OSCEOLA detached from OTTAWA, attached to MASON. Part of OCEANA reverted to Non-County Area 7; Non-County Area 7 was attached to OTTAWA. OCEANA fully organized, detached from OTTAWA. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1855, reg. sess., no. 171, secs. 1-3/pp. 423-424)
3 July 1855
MIDLAND fully organized, detached from SAGINAW; GLADWIN and ISABELLA remained attached to MIDLAND "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1855, reg. sess., no. 36/p. 48)
7 February 1857
ALPENA fully organized, detached from CHEBOYGAN; ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, OSCODA, and part of PRESQUE ISLE detached from CHEBOYGAN, attached to ALPENA "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1857, reg. sess., no. 65/p. 162)
16 February 1857
IOSCO fully organized, detached from SAGINAW. IOSCO assigned jurisdiction over Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay concurrent with "the other counties contiguous thereto." (Mich. Acts 1857, reg. sess., no. 130/p. 358)
17 February 1857
LAKE and OSCEOLA detached from MASON, attached to NEWAYGO. MECOSTA detached from KENT, attached to NEWAYGO. All attachments were "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1857, reg. sess., no. 180/p. 463)
20 April 1857
BAY created from MIDLAND, SAGINAW, and all of ARENAC; ARENAC eliminated. IOSCO was authorized to be attached to BAY, but IOSCO had been fully organized on 16 February 1857 [mistake corrected 11 February 1859]. (Mich. Acts 1857, reg. sess., no. 171, secs. 1-2, 15/pp. 438-439, 441; Mich. Rpts., 5:114)
29 January 1858
ALCONA and OSCODA detached from ALPENA, attached to IOSCO. CRAWFORD and OGEMAW detached from CHEBOYGAN, attached to IOSCO. CLARE detached from SAGINAW, attached to MIDLAND. LAKE detached from NEWAYGO, re-attached to MASON. MISSAUKEE detached from GRAND TRAVERSE, attached to MANISTEE. OTSEGO and PRESQUE ISLE detached from CHEBOYGAN, attached to ALPENA. ROSCOMMON detached from CHEBOYGAN, attached to MIDLAND. All attachments were "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1858, ext. sess., no. 5, sec. 1/p. 15)
25 January 1859
HURON fully organized, detached from SANILAC and TUSCOLA. (Mich. Acts 1859, reg. sess., no. 6, sec. 1/p. 4)
4 February 1859
MUSKEGON created from OTTAWA and all of Non-County Area 7 attached to OTTAWA. (Mich. Acts 1859, reg. sess., no. 55/p. 94)
11 February 1859
ISABELLA fully organized, detached from MIDLAND. CLARE detached from MIDLAND, attached to ISABELLA "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1859, reg. sess., no. 118/p. 318)
MECOSTA fully organized, detached from NEWAYGO; OSCEOLA detached from NEWAYGO, attached to MECOSTA "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1859, reg. sess., no. 99, secs. 1, 6/pp. 257-259)
BAY boundaries redefined [no change]; mistake of 20 April 1857, attaching IOSCO to BAY, was corrected [no change]. (Mich. Acts 1859, reg. sess., no. 97/p. 255)
MONTCALM gained from MECOSTA. (Mich. Acts 1859, reg. sess., no. 103/p. 261)
1 March 1861
Attachment of OGEMAW to IOSCO was confirmed [no change]. (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 87/p. 121)
11 March 1861
KEWEENAW created from HOUGHTON. (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 118/p. 156; Mich. Acts 1862, ext. sess., nos. 2-3/pp. 2-3)
12 March 1861
DELTA gained from SCHOOLCRAFT (which was attached to MARQUETTE), lost to creation of Non-County Areas 8 and 9; DELTA fully organized, detached from MACKINAC. (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 129, secs. 1, 5/pp. 174-175; Mich. Acts 1863, reg. sess., no. 16/p. 14)
HOUGHTON gained from MARQUETTE and ONTONAGON. (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 128/p. 173)
15 March 1861
BLEEKER (now MENOMINEE) created from Non-County Area 9; BLEEKER not fully organized, attached to MARQUETTE "for judicial and other purposes." (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 213, secs. 1, 6, 11/pp. 448, 450-451; History of the Upper Peninsula, 477)
Non-County Area 8 attached to DELTA for administrative and judicial purposes. (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 199/p. 409)
16 March 1861
MARQUETTE gained from HOUGHTON. (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 261/p. 556)
MANITOU (extinct) attached to MACKINAC for meetings of the district court; all other county functions continued uninterrupted. (Mich. Acts 1861, reg. sess., no. 262/p. 556)
18 January 1862
SCHOOLCRAFT gained all of Non-County Area 8 attached to DELTA; Non-County Area 8 eliminated. SCHOOLCRAFT remained attached to MARQUETTE. (Mich. Acts 1862, ext. sess., no. 23/p. 53)
27 February 1863
BENZIE created from LEELANAU; BENZIE not fully organized, attached to GRAND TRAVERSE "for civil and municipal purposes." LEELANAU fully organized, detached from GRAND TRAVERSE. (Mich. Acts 1863, reg. sess., no. 48, secs. 1, 7/pp. 56, 58)
11 March 1863
ANTRIM fully organized, detached from GRAND TRAVERSE. CRAWFORD detached from IOSCO, attached to ANTRIM; KALKASKA detached from GRAND TRAVERSE, attached to ANTRIM; OTSEGO detached from ALPENA, attached to ANTRIM. All attachments were "for municipal and judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1863, reg. sess., no. 78/p. 119)
19 March 1863
BLEEKER renamed MENOMINEE; MENOMINEE fully organized, detached from MARQUETTE. (Mich. Acts 1863, reg. sess., no. 163, secs. 1, 9/pp. 297, 299)
10 March 1865
MANITOU (extinct) detached from district court jurisdiction of MACKINAC, attached to LEELANAU for meetings of the circuit court; all other county functions continued uninterrupted. (Mich. Acts 1865, reg. sess., no. 138/p. 246)
18 March 1865
ANTRIM gained from GRAND TRAVERSE. (Mich. Acts 1865, reg. sess., no. 254/p. 528)
7 March 1867
IOSCO gained all of OGEMAW; OGEMAW eliminated. (Mich. Acts 1867, reg. sess., no. 301/p. 222)
26 March 1867
Part of LAKE was detached from MASON, attached to MECOSTA "for municipal and judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1867, reg. sess., no. 444/p. 925)
12 March 1869
ALCONA fully organized, detached from IOSCO; OSCODA detached from IOSCO, attached to ALCONA "for judicial and other purposes." (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 266, secs. 1, 5/pp. 336-337)
17 March 1869
OSCEOLA fully organized, detached from MECOSTA. (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 301/p. 487)
22 March 1869
Part of CLARE was detached from ISABELLA, attached to MECOSTA "for judicial and other purposes." (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 320/p. 621)
Part of LAKE was detached from both MASON and MECOSTA, attached to OSCEOLA "for judicial and municipal purposes." (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 308/p. 605)
24 March 1869
MANITOU (extinct) detached from circuit court jurisdiction of LEELANAU. (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 336/p. 661)
30 March 1869
WEXFORD fully organized, detached from MANISTEE; MISSAUKEE detached from MANISTEE, attached to WEXFORD "for municipal and judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 386, secs. 1-2/p. 1085)
BENZIE fully organized, detached from GRAND TRAVERSE. (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 385, sec. 1/p. 1083)
2 April 1869
CHARLEVOIX re-created from ANTRIM, EMMET, and OTSEGO (which was attached to ANTRIM); boundaries were somewhat different from those CHARLEVOIX originally had in 1840. (Mich. Acts 1869, reg. sess., no. 390/p. 1091)
27 January 1871
KALKASKA fully organized, detached from ANTRIM; CRAWFORD detached from ANTRIM, attached to KALKASKA "for municipal and judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 294/p. 8)
11 March 1871
MISSAUKEE fully organized, detached from WEXFORD. (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 336, sec. 1/p. 44)
16 March 1871
CLARE fully organized, detached from ISABELLA and MECOSTA. (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 345/p. 59)
18 March 1871
LAKE fully organized, detached from MASON and OSCEOLA. (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 357, secs. 1, 7/pp. 71, 73)
23 March 1871
SCHOOLCRAFT fully organized, detached from MARQUETTE. (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 373/p. 99)
31 March 1871
PRESQUE ISLE fully organized, detached from ALPENA. (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 398, sec. 1/p. 128)
15 April 1871
BAY gained from SAGINAW. (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 448/p. 194)
DELTA boundaries were clarified to include Big Summer Island, St. Martin's Island, Gull Island, and Poverty Island [no change]. (Mich. Acts 1871, reg. sess., no. 470/p. 219)
27 March 1873
WEXFORD gained from MANISTEE. (Mich. Acts 1873, reg. sess., no. 332/p. 80)
28 March 1873
OGEMAW re-created from IOSCO; OGEMAW not fully organized, attached to IOSCO "for judicial and municipal purposes." MARQUETTE gained from Non-County Area 9. PRESQUE ISLE gained from CHEBOYGAN. MENOMINEE, MIDLAND, and ROSCOMMON boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Mich. Acts 1873, reg. sess., no. 338/p. 85)
19 February 1875
BARAGA created from HOUGHTON. BARAGA was assigned jurisdiction over Lake Superior concurrent with "the counties contiguous thereto." (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., pub., no. 14/p. 13)
4 March 1875
ISLE ROYALE (extinct) created from KEWEENAW. ISLE ROYALE assigned jurisdiction over Lake Superior concurrent with "the other counties contiguous thereto." (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., pub., no. 18/p. 18)
10 March 1875
MENOMINEE gained all of Non-County Area 9; Non-County Area 9 eliminated. (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., loc., no. 258/p. 21)
12 March 1875
OTSEGO fully organized, detached from ANTRIM. (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., pub., no. 32/p. 28)
20 March 1875
ROSCOMMON fully organized, detached from MIDLAND. (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., pub., no. 41/p. 34)
26 March 1875
MARQUETTE gained from SCHOOLCRAFT. (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., loc., no. 292/p. 233)
8 April 1875
GLADWIN fully organized, detached from MIDLAND. (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., pub., no. 69/p. 107)
27 April 1875
OGEMAW fully organized, detached from IOSCO. (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., pub., no. 132/p. 159)
1 May 1875
Boundary between CHIPPEWA and MACKINAC was redefined [no change]. (Mich. Acts 1875, reg. sess., pub., no. 185/p. 213)
26 April 1877
MENOMINEE gained non-county area over the waters of Green Bay [not mapped]. MENOMINEE also gained from MARQUETTE, lost to creation of Non-County Area 10. (Mich. Acts 1877, reg. sess., pub., no. 75/p. 59)
22 March 1879
CRAWFORD fully organized, detached from KALKASKA. (Mich. Acts 1879, reg. sess., pub., no. 12/p. 8)
1 January 1880
BAY gained the Charity Islands from HURON. (Mich. Acts 1879, reg. sess., pub., no. 265/p. 287)
10 March 1881
OSCODA fully organized, detached from ALCONA. (Mich. Acts 1881, reg. sess., pub., no. 19/p. 16)
12 March 1881
ANTRIM gained small area from KALKASKA. (Mich. Acts 1881, reg. sess., loc., no. 315/p. 102)
22 March 1881
MANISTEE gained from WEXFORD. (Mich. Acts 1881, reg. sess., loc., no. 337/p. 120)
21 May 1881
MONTMORENCY fully organized, detached from ALPENA. (Mich. Acts 1881, reg. sess., pub., no. 163, sec. 1/p. 160)
3 June 1881
BAY gained from SAGINAW. (Mich. Acts 1881, reg. sess., loc., no. 414/p. 343)
21 April 1883
ARENAC re-created from BAY; boundaries were somewhat different from those ARENAC originally had in 1831. (Mich. Acts 1883, reg. sess., pub., no. 35/p. 25)
12 March 1885
BARAGA exchanged with HOUGHTON. (Mich. Acts 1885, reg. sess., pub., no. 12/p. 10)
13 March 1885
ISLE ROYALE (extinct) no longer fully organized, attached to HOUGHTON "for judicial purposes." (Mich. Acts 1885, reg. sess., pub., no. 16/p. 13)
17 March 1885
ALGER created from SCHOOLCRAFT. (Mich. Acts 1885, reg. sess., pub., no. 23/p. 17)
3 April 1885
IRON created from MARQUETTE, MENOMINEE, and all of Non-County Area 10. (Mich. Acts 1885, reg. sess., pub., no. 35, secs. 1, 19/pp. 32, 34)
7 February 1887
GOGEBIC created from ONTONAGON. (Mich. Acts 1887, reg. sess., loc., no. 337, secs. 1, 14/pp. 23, 25)
1 March 1887
LUCE created from CHIPPEWA and MACKINAC. (Mich. Acts 1887, reg. sess., loc., no. 363, secs. 1, 13/pp. 84, 86)
21 May 1891
DICKINSON created from IRON, MARQUETTE, and MENOMINEE. (Mich. Acts 1891, reg. sess., pub., no. 89, secs. 1, 8/pp. 98, 100)
22 May 1891
IRON gained from MARQUETTE. (Mich. Acts 1891, reg. sess., pub., no. 92/p. 106)
4 April 1895
CHARLEVOIX and LEELANAU gained all of MANITOU; MANITOU eliminated. (Mich. Acts 1895, reg. sess., loc., no. 362, secs. 1-2/p. 132)
6 April 1896
EMMET gained from CHARLEVOIX. (Mich. Acts 1895, reg. sess., loc., no. 428/p. 484; Traverse Region, facing p. 169)
9 April 1897
KEWEENAW gained all of ISLE ROYALE; ISLE ROYALE eliminated, ending its attachment to HOUGHTON. (Mich. Acts 1897, reg. sess., pub., no. 65/p. 75)
1 January 1909
The new Michigan constitution redefined part of the interstate boundary with Wisconsin across the Upper Peninsula; GOGEBIC implicitly overlapped Wisconsin (IRON and VILAS Counties), but Wisconsin kept control of the disputed area. (Swindler, 5:249)
8 October 1923
Michigan took its 1909 boundary dispute with Wisconsin to the United States Supreme Court and expanded its scope by claiming more territory on the Upper Peninsula and more of the waters and islands of Green Bay. Wisconsin claimed the old, established line and never lost control of the disputed area. DELTA implicitly overlapped DOOR (Wis.) and claimed Washington, Rock, Chambers, Plum, and smaller islands in Green Bay. GOGEBIC implicitly overlapped IRON (Wis.) and VILAS (Wis.). IRON implicitly overlapped FOREST (Wis.) and VILAS (Wis.). (Martin, "Michigan-Wisconsin," 116, 118, 132)
1 March 1926
The United States Supreme Court decided the dispute between Michigan and Wisconsin entirely in favor of Wisconsin; implicit overlaps of Wisconsin by DELTA, GOGEBIC, and IRON ended. (Martin, "Michigan-Wisconsin," 141-143)
22 November 1926
The United States Supreme Court decreed the precise course of the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary through Lake Michigan and Green Bay and introduced some unintentional errors. An overlap between Michigan and Wisconsin was created in Green Bay, and DOOR (Wis.) appeared to gain islands north of the Rock Island Passage from DELTA. (Martin, "Michigan-Wisconsin," 143-145, 156-158; Paullin, 86, pl. 101)
7 November 1932
Wisconsin filed suit in the United States Supreme Court to correct the Green Bay-Lake Michigan portion of the boundary with Michigan [no change]. (Martin, "Second Wisconsin-Michigan," 83)
20 May 1935
The United States Supreme Court decided that its Green Bay-Lake Michigan line, decreed 22 November 1926, was in error [no change]. (Martin, "Second Wisconsin-Michigan," 86, 111-118)
16 March 1936
Overlap between Michigan and Wisconsin ended when the United States Supreme Court decreed the precise course of the revised Michigan-Wisconsin boundary through Green Bay and Lake Michigan, restoring to Michigan the area it appeared to lose in 1926; DELTA regained full control of islands in the Rock Island Passage from DOOR (Wis.). (Martin, "Second Wisconsin-Michigan," 86, 118-121)