Ogemaw County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Ogemaw County | state = Michigan | ex image = Ogemaw County Building (Michigan).jpg | ex image size = 300px | ex image cap = Ogemaw County Building in West Branch | flag = Flag of Ogemaw County, Michigan.svg | seal = | founded year = 1840 (authorized) 1875 (organized)<ref name=Clarke/> | founded date = | seat wl = West Branch | area_total_sq_mi = 575 | area_land_sq_mi = 563 | area_water_sq_mi = 11 | area percentage = 2.0% | census yr = 2020 | pop = 20770 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 21121 {{gain}} | pop_est_footnotes = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ogemawcountymichigan/PST045224|title=Ogemaw County, Michigan|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref> | density_sq_mi = 37.3 | district = 1st | time zone = Eastern | web = ocmi.us | largest city = Skidway Lake West Branch (incorporated) }}

'''Ogemaw County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|g|ə|m|ɔ:}} ''{{respell|OH|gə|maw}}'') is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,770.<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ogemawcountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref> The county seat is West Branch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county newspaper of record is the ''Ogemaw Herald''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ogemawherald.com|title=''Ogemaw County Herald''|publisher=Ogemaw County Herald|access-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref>

==History== {{See also|History of Northern Michigan}} Ogemaw County started as part of the Virginia Land owned by England. After the Revolutionary War, it broke up into smaller and smaller pieces. The county was originally created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840<ref>{{cite book |author=George Dawson |date=1840 |title=Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDg4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA196 |location=Detroit |pages=196-200}}</ref> from unorganized territory, but was absorbed into Iosco County in 1867. It was re-created in 1873, and was finally organized in 1875.<ref name="Clarke">{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/ogemaw.aspx|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Ogemaw County|access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> The county's name is an Anglicization of the Anishinaabemowin word ''ogimaa'', meaning "chief".<ref name=Clarke/> Ogemaw's name came from an eloquent, respected Native American orator named Little Elk. One of the first settlements in the county was Ogemaw Springs, the genesis of lumbering operations in the county. The settlement of Ogemaw Springs ended when the lumber industry in the region ended. (Due to the lumber industry, railways were built to transport the lumber, and towns often sprang up along the tracks. After timber supplies in the Midwest dwindled, loggers shifted westward to the Pacific Northwest to find new sources of lumber, and many of these fledgling settlements foundered.) With Ogemaw Springs in decline, the people flocked to West Branch, causing an economic boom, including the construction of its first hotel. This created even more growth, causing many restaurants, hotels, and businesses to be built, a vast majority of which still stand today.<ref name="Ogenaw County Citizens">{{cite book |title=100 Voices Through 100 Years |date=2008 |publisher=Arrowhead Book CO. |location=West Branch Michigan |isbn=978-0-9816201-0-7 |pages=1, 539 |edition=1}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|575|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|563|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> Ogemaw County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.

===Highways=== * {{jct|state=MI|I|75}} – Runs SE across the southwest part of the county; passes south of West Branch. * {{jct|state=MI|M|30}} – Enters from Gladwin County at {{convert|5.5|mi|km}} east of the SW corner of Ogemaw County; runs north and NE to intersection with M-55 near West Branch. * {{jct|state=MI|M|33}} – Runs north–south through the middle of county; passes Rose City. * {{jct|state=MI|M|55}} – Runs east–west across the lower part of county; enters from Iosco County at {{convert|6|mi|km}} north of SE corner of Ogemaw County; runs west to intersection with I-75, west of West Branch.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ogemaw+County,+MI/@44.2440309,-84.2548959,12.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8820edc423de647b:0xb49bf9a979e06eff!8m2!3d44.3270741!4d-84.1857115 ''Ogemaw County MI'' Google Maps (accessed 15 September 2018)]</ref>

===Adjacent counties=== {{div col|colwidth=16em}} * Oscoda County - north * Alcona County - northeast * Iosco County - east * Arenac County - southeast * Gladwin County - southwest * Roscommon County - west * Crawford County - northwest {{div col end}}

===National protected area=== * Huron National Forest (part)

===State protected area=== * Au Sable State Forest (part) * Rifle River State Recreation Area

==Communities== [[File:Ogemaw County, MI census map.png|thumb|right|380px|U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Ogemaw County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]

===Cities=== * Rose City * West Branch (county seat)

===Village=== * Prescott

===Civil townships=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Churchill Township * Cumming Township * Edwards Township * Foster Township * Goodar Township * Hill Township * Horton Township * Klacking Township * Logan Township * Mills Township * Ogemaw Township * Richland Township * Rose Township * West Branch Township {{div col end}}

===Census-designated places=== * Lupton * Skidway Lake

===Other unincorporated communities=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Camp Lu Lay Lea * Campbells Corners * Damon * Edwards * Elbow Lake * Fayettes Corner * Goodar * Greenwood * Ogemaw Springs * Selkirk * Shady Shores * South Branch {{div col end}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1870 = 12 | 1880 = 1914 | 1890 = 5583 | 1900 = 7765 | 1910 = 8907 | 1920 = 7786 | 1930 = 6595 | 1940 = 8720 | 1950 = 9345 | 1960 = 9680 | 1970 = 11903 | 1980 = 16436 | 1990 = 18681 | 2000 = 21645 | 2010 = 21699 | 2020 = 20770 |estyear=2025 |estimate=21121 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014}}</ref> 1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 27, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014}}</ref> 1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name=QF/><ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref> | align = right }} thumb|2020 population density of Ogemaw County MI by census block<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 TIGER/Line® Shapefiles |url=https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php?year=2025&layergroup=Blocks+(2020) |access-date=2026-04-13 |website=www.census.gov}}</ref>

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Ogemaw County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Michigan - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80124uns_bw.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=24-59|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111013246/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80124uns_bw.pdf| archive-date=January 11, 2025|via= Wayback Machine}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Michigan: Table 3-5 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-24.pdf|access-date=|page=37-179|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260304021445/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-24.pdf|via= Wayback Machine| archive-date=March 4, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ogemaw County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US26129&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ogemaw County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US26129&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ogemaw County, Michigan|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US26129&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |16,288 |18,405 |20,906 |20,865 |style='background: #ffffe6; |19,268 |99.10% |98.52% |96.59% |96.16% |style='background: #ffffe6; |92.77% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |9 |18 |28 |37 |style='background: #ffffe6; |59 |0.05% |0.10% |0.13% |0.17% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.28% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |63 |134 |121 |147 |style='background: #ffffe6; |108 |0.38% |0.72% |0.56% |0.68% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52% |- |Asian alone (NH) |16 |17 |81 |76 |style='background: #ffffe6; |57 |0.10% |0.09% |0.37% |0.35% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |7 |6 |style='background: #ffffe6; |8 |x |x |0.03% |0.03% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04% |- |Other race alone (NH) |7 |3 |3 |8 |style='background: #ffffe6; |58 |0.04% |0.02% |0.01% |0.04% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.28% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |247 |251 |style='background: #ffffe6; |775 |x |x |1.14% |1.16% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.73% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |53 |104 |252 |309 |style='background: #ffffe6; |437 |0.32% |0.56% |1.16% |1.42% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.10% |- |'''Total''' |'''16,436''' |'''18,681''' |'''21,645''' |'''21,699''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''20,770 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 20,770. The median age was 50.6 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.4 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A129&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A129&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A129&in=state%3A26|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 1, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 9,207 households in the county, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.6% were married-couple households, 22.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 15,246 housing units, of which 39.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.5% were owner-occupied and 19.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census===

As of the 2000 United States census,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 21,645 people, 8,842 households, and 6,189 families residing in the county.

==Government== For many years, Ogemaw County has been reliably Republican. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 75% of the national presidential elections (27 of 36). {{PresHead|place=Ogemaw County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1884|Republican|478|472|16|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1888|Republican|620|579|81|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1892|Republican|594|514|65|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1896|Republican|793|560|47|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,186|518|58|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,320|329|100|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,218|454|107|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1912|Progressive|541|319|850|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|878|743|94|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,687|444|102|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,714|258|189|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,630|579|12|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,472|1,645|87|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,631|1,774|200|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,447|1,278|14|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,339|1,006|18|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,062|1,038|87|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,983|1,030|23|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,931|1,300|6|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,664|1,867|11|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,609|2,812|4|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,526|1,647|457|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,367|2,056|118|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,212|3,545|67|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,169|3,426|533|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,901|3,132|27|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,091|4,012|47|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,936|4,016|2,174|Michigan}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,904|4,725|1,435|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|4,706|4,896|253|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,454|5,215|127|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|5,133|5,391|274|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,437|4,791|166|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,827|3,030|583|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,253|3,475|193|Michigan}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,879|3,578|185|Michigan}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Ogemaw County, Michigan|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)|website=Commonwealth of Michigan by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|8,312|3,684|315|Michigan}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{M.I. GovHead|place=Ogemaw County|Seat=|source=}}  {{M.I. GovRow|2022|Republican|6,151|3,532|209}} {{M.I. GovFoot}} Ogemaw County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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.

===Elected officials=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Prosecuting Attorney – LaDonna A. Schultz * Sheriff – Brian D. Gilbert * County Clerk – Breck Gildner * County Treasurer – Caren Piglowski * Register of Deeds – Denise Simmons * Drain Commissioner – Michael DeMatio * Commissioner Dist. 1 – Craig Scott * Commissioner Dist. 2 – Mark Surbrook * Commissioner Dist. 3 – Ronald Vaughn * Commissioner Dist. 4 – Brad Neubecker * Commissioner Dist. 5 – Jenny David<ref>[https://www.ocmi.us/all-departments/#top Ogemaw County website]</ref> {{div col end}} (information as of February 2021)

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * [http://www.ocmi.us/ Ogemaw County Website] * [http://www.ogemawherald.com/ Ogemaw County Herald] - local newspaper * {{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/ogemaw.html|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Ogemaw County}}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Ogemaw County, Michigan |North = Oscoda County |Northeast = Alcona County |East = Iosco County |Southeast = Arenac County |Southwest = Gladwin County |West = Roscommon County |Northwest = Crawford County }}

{{Ogemaw County, Michigan}} {{Northern Michigan}} {{Michigan}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|44.33|-84.13|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Ogemaw County, Michigan Category:Michigan counties Category:1875 establishments in Michigan Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1875 Category:Michigan placenames of Native American origin