'Montcalm County' is a
county in the
U.S. state of
Michigan. As of the
2000 census, its population was 61,266. The
county seat is
Stanton6. The county is named for
Louis-Joseph de Montcalm, French military commander in the
French and Indian War.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,867
km² (721
mi²). 1,834 km² (708 mi²) of it is land and 34 km² (13 mi²) of it (1.79%) is water.
Adjacent Counties
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Isabella County (northeast)
★
Mecosta County (north)
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Gratiot County (east)
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Newaygo County (west)
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Ionia County (south)
★
Kent County (southwest)
Demographics
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 61,266 people, 22,079 households, and 16,183 families residing in the county. The
population density was 33/km² (86/mi²). There were 25,900 housing units at an average density of 14/km² (37/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.83%
White, 2.17%
Black or
African American, 0.60%
Native American, 0.26%
Asian, 0.05%
Pacific Islander, 0.64% from
other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. 2.28% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. 96.4% spoke
English and 2.1%
Spanish as their first language.
There were 22,079 households out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were
married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,218, and the median income for a family was $42,823. Males had a median income of $32,635 versus $23,645 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $16,183. About 7.40% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% 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.
Montcalm County elected officials
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Prosecuting Attorney: Andrea Krause
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Sheriff: Bill Barnwell
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County Clerk: Kristen Millard
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County Treasurer: Marcia Sawdy
★
Register of Deeds: Lori A. Wilson
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Drain Commissioner: Donald Cooper
★ Road Commissioners: Dale Liston; Bob Brundage; Don McCracken
(information as of September 2005)
Cities, villages, and townships
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Belvidere Township
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Bloomer Township
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Bushnell Township
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Carson City, city
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Cato Township
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Crystal Township
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Day Township
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Douglass Township
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Edmore, village
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Eureka Township
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Evergreen Township
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Fairplain Township
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Ferris Township
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Greenville, city
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Home Township
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Howard City, village
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Lakeview, village
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Maple Valley Township
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McBride, village
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Montcalm Township
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Pierson Township
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Pierson, village
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Pine Township
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Reynolds Township
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Richland Township
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Sheridan, village
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Sidney Township
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Stanton, city
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Vestaburg, unincorporated village
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Winfield Township
External links
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Montcalm County government
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Ionia Montcalm Magazine website