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Mackinac County Courthouse     The name Mackinac was taken from the Indian "Michinimackinog", the place of Giant Fairies, or Great Turtle place.  
"Mighty Mac" Mackinac Bridge, connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.
 
Statistics from 1838       County contained 17,117,760 acres of the states total 38,732,800  
Vacations Mackinac County is an ideal place to take a vacation! Surrounded by beauty on all sides, one can rest, play and/or explore the wonders of the Great Up North.

Mackinac County

 
   

Mackinac County Facts

Mackinac County is located on the northern shores of Lakes Huron and Michigan and encompasses 2 cities and 11 townships.

State and Federal land ownership is 54%. The largest seasonal employer is the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and the largest year round employer is the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

The growing tourism industry is currently built around the many attractions in St. Ignace and on Mackinac Island, National Forests, Lake Huron and Michgan, numerous rivers, streams, inland lakes, public and private campgrounds and the rapidly increasing snowmobile tourist season.

Land in Mackinac County
  • Acres - 691,000
  • Square Miles - 1,093
  • Federal Forest - 135,000
  • Shore Line - 230 approximately
Population 2000
  • County 11,943
  • Region (Sq. Mile) 1127
  • Persons Sq. Mile 10.6
Labor Force
  • Total Labor Force 7,450
  • Employed 6,750

Unemployment Rate

  • Summer: 1.6
  • Winter: 21.7
Education & Training - Public Schools
  • Engadine 2,058
  • Les Cheneaux 2,444
  • Mackinac Island 523
  • St. Ignace 4,249
  • Tahquamenon Area Schools 1,238
Workforce Development
  • Michigan Works!
  • Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Colleges & Universities
  • Lake Superior State Univ. 3,077
  • North Central Michigan College
  • Bay Mills Community College
Healthcare & Emergency Services
  • Straits Area Hospital
  • Basic Care n/a Beds
  • Long Term Care 99 Beds
Ambulance
  • Volunteer Ambulance Corps throughout County
  • 2 City Ambulance
Clinics
  • MSAH/HNJ/Schoolcraft Memorial – Curtis
  • MSAH/HNJ Clinic – Engadine, Mackinac Island
  • MSAH - Naubinway

 

MSAH – Mackinac Straits Area Hospital
HNJ – Helen Newberry Joy Hospital

Financial Services
  • Central Savings Bank
  • First National Bank of St. Ignace
  • North Country Bank & Trust
  • State Savings Bank of Manistique
  • Soo Co-Op Credit Union (Cedarville)
  • UP State Credit Union
Fire Departments (Class Rating)
  • Townships 11
  • City 2
Climate

Average Temperatures

  • Summer High 75 Low 48
  • Winter High 26 Low 9


Snowfall

  • Average 115 Inches Annually

Home of the Mackinac Bridge

Manufacturers
  • Bickham Doors
  • Carl’s Cedar Shingles
  • Haske Post Company
  • Hessel Block Company
  • Flotation Docking Systems
  • Mackinac Fish Market
  • Maples Sawmill
  • Michigan Limestone
  • North Arrow Log Homes
  • Nye Farms
  • Old Mill Designs
  • Sand Products
  • Tassier Sugar Bush
  • Think ‘N’ Thin Lumber Co.
  • Up North Studio
Major Employers
  • Arnold Transit Co.
  • Autore Oil Co.
  • Grand Hotel
  • Les Cheneaux Community Schools
  • LMAS District Health Dept.
  • Mackinac Bridge Authority
  • Mackinac County
  • Mackinac Straits Area Hospital
  • Michigan Limestone
  • St. Ignace Area Schools
  • Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
  • Star Line Mackinac
  • State of Michigan
  • Shepler’s Mackinac
Industrial & Commercial
  • Accounting, Auditing & Bookkeeping
  • Computer & Data Processing
  • Financial
  • Fishing
  • General Building Contractors
  • Legal Services
  • Lodging and Resorts
  • Management & Public Relations
  • Retail Trade
  • Real Estate
  • Tourism Industry
  • Truck & Courier
Industrial Parks
  • Clark Twp. Industrial Park

Telecommunications

Local

  • SBC/Ameritech
  • CenturyTel

Cellular

  • Alltel Cellular, Cellular One

Internet Service Provider

  • Cedarville.Net
  • MOTHERS Computers
  • EasternUP.Net
  • Lighthouse Computers
Transportation
  • Trucking Companies
  • UP Special Delivery
  • FedEx Delivery
  • United Parcel Service
Rail Carrier
  • Canadian National Railway
Marine

Commercial Ports

  • Port Inland
  • Port Dolomite
  • Cedarville Quarry

Marinas

  • Bois Blanc
  • Cedarville
  • Hessel
  • Naubinway
  • Mackinac Island
  • St. Ignace
Airports
  • Bois Blanc
  • Hessel
  • Mackinac Island
  • St. Ignace
UtilitiesElectricity
  • Edison Sault Electric
  • Cloverland Electric Co-Op
Natural Gas
  • DTE Energy
  • SEMCO
Propane
  • AmeriGas
  • Autore Oil Company
  • Bowman Oil Company, Inc.
  • Shute Oil Company, Inc.
  • ThermoGas
Water
  • Municipal
  • Private Wells
Sewer
  • Municipal, Septic Systems
Waste Disposal
  • Waste Management
  • Private Haulers

Cable TV

  • Charter Communications
  • UP Communications

 

Recreational
  • Mackinac Bridge State Park
  • Mackinac Island
  • Hiawatha National Forest
  • Northern Lake Huron Nature Trail – East
  • Northern Lake Huron Nature Trail – West
  • Northern Lake Michigan Nature Trail
  • North Country Trail
  • Sport Fishing & Hunting
  • Peek-a-Boo Hill Cross-country Ski Trail
  • Golf Course
  • Les Cheneaux Historic Golf
  • Hessel Ridge Golf Course
  • St. Ignace Links
  • Wawashkamo Golf Course
  • Numerous Rivers, Lakes, & Streams
  • Snowmobile & Hiking Trails, ORV, ATV, Motorcycle Trails
  • Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Bird watching
  • Campgrounds
   

Early History

The ancient history of St. Ignace and Mackinac County will show that this was the original center of the Indian population in upper Michigan, that is, the place where the Indians congregated in large numbers. Also, it will show that this was the first French settlement which was continued - the first in Michigan and the Northwest; the original French fort was set up here; and, this was the center of the vast fur trading industry 150 years before it was concentratec in Mackinac Island (also in Mackinac County four miles from St. Ignace).

Nearly three hundred years ago, St. Ignace was the center of the fur trade which was the chief support of France's American empire. Here trod the early fur traders, Gorseillers and Raddison; here voyaged Nicolet in his search for the way to China (1634); the footsteps of Pere Marquette and Joliet were etched in the sands of time and history on these shores. Here Cadillac founded ancient Fort DeBaude which was occupied by the French Military years before the soldiers moved to Mackinac City, Mackinac Island, and Detroit. Native Indians in this early settlement numbered fully 2,000. Descendants are numerous in this territory today. At one time the County of Mackinac or Michiglimackinac as it was then called, extended from Detroit to Minneapolis, Nimmesota.

Pere Marquette, "The Angel of the Ottawa Missions," founded his chapel at St. Ignace 1671, exactly on the spot beneath where he lies buried today. He left here to explore the Mississippi in 1673, dying near Ludington in 1675. Indians exhumed their White Fatehr and returned him to St. Ignace where he was buried in 1677. His grave was discovered here in 1877 by the late Patrick Murray. The citizens of St. Ignace marked the spot with a modest monument which stands in Marquette's Park today.
   

Historical Sites

  • Grave of Father Marquette, who established the Jesuit Mission here in 1671
  • A copy of the original painting of St. Ignatius Loyola recouncing the world. Hangs in entry of St. Ignatius church. It is believed that bishop Baraga brought this painting here.
  • Castle Rock, Ancient Lookout of Indian Chief Pontiac; site for signal fires of algonquin Indians
  • Museum in reproduction of ancient Indian fort of Algonquin Indian nation.
  • Rabbits Back, natural wonder of great height. Home of chippewa Indians and site of white man's fishing village two centuries ago.
  • Graham's Point. Site of Indian battle and massacre. Named after John Graham who came in 1818.
  • State auto Park and Old Cave overlooking the Straits of Mackinac.
  • St. Anthon'ys Rock, natural stone formation in heart of city.
  • Biddle House 1882 - Market Street, Mackinac
   

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