Newaygo County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 49,978. The county seat is White Cloud. The county was created in 1840, and was organized in 1851. It was either named for an Ojibwe leader who signed the Treaty of Saginaw in 1819 or for an Algonquian word meaning "much water".
Geography According to the US Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (5.6%) is covered by water. The county is considered to be part of West Michigan.
The county has more than 230 natural lakes. The combined total length of all the county's rivers and streams exceeds . Three large dams—Croton, Hardy, and Newaygo—were built at the beginning of the 20th century. The Hardy Dam is the largest earthen dam east of the Mississippi River. Over half of the county is in the Manistee National Forest.
Rivers Muskegon River Pere Marquette River Rogue River White River
Major highways runs east–west through center of county. Passes Hesperia, Aetna, and White Cloud. runs north–south through center of county. Passes Bitely, Brohman, White Cloud, Newaygo, Grant, and Ashland. runs east–west through southern part of county. Goes through Newaygo. Ends at county line tri-point of Muskegon, Oceana, and Newaygo Counties. runs the length of county's west line. Terminates in Hesperia.
County designated highways
Adjacent counties Mason County – northwest Lake County – north Osceola County - northeast Mecosta County – east Montcalm County – southeast Kent County – south Muskegon County – southwest Oceana County – west
National protected area Manistee National Forest (part)
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Newaygo County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)33,46936,43344,50844,11943,91595.85%95.37%92.97%91.04%87.87%Black or African American alone (NH)5554655194744241.59%1.22%1.08%0.98%0.85%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1422292863312560.41%0.60%0.60%0.68%0.51%Asian alone (NH)59911381841890.17%0.24%0.29%0.38%0.38%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census101114xx0.02%0.02%0.03%Other race alone (NH)121638321260.03%0.04%0.08%0.07%0.25%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census5306462,085xx1.11%1.33%4.17%Hispanic or Latino (any race)6809681,8452,6632,9691.95%2.53%3.85%5.50%5.94%Total34,91738,20247,87448,46049,978 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 49,978. The median age was 43.0 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.1 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 89.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.2% from some other race, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.9% of the population.
10.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 89.7% lived in rural areas.
There were 19,414 households in the county, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.9% were married-couple households, 18.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 24,542 housing units, of which 20.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.3% were owner-occupied and 16.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%.
2010 census
According to the 2010 American Community Survey, 21.5% of residents were of English ancestry, 20.5% were of German ancestry, 14.4% were of Dutch ancestry, 8.1% were of Irish ancestry, and 5.0% were of Polish ancestry. 95.7% spoke English and 3.2% spoke Spanish as their first language.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 47,874 people, 17,599 households, and 12,935 families in the county. The population density was . There were 23,202 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 1.12% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 3.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 17,599 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.
The county population contained 29.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,130, and the median income for a family was $42,498. Males had a median income of $35,549 versus $22,738 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,976. About 9.00% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Religion The Catholic church – 3,242 members The Christian Reformed Church in North America – 7 congregations and 2,056 members The United Methodist Church – 7 congregations and 1,600 members The Reformed Church in America – 3 congregations and 1,000 members The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 1 meetinghouse in the county.LDS.org Find a Meetinghouse (accessed 15 September 2018) The Seventh-day Adventist Church has only one church in Newaygo County.
Newaygo County is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
Economy Tourism is the most important economic activity in Newaygo County. Secondly is a blend of agricultural and small manufacturing. International baby food manufacturer Gerber Products Company is currently the county's largest employer with approximately 1,300 employees.Michigan Works! West Central
Newaygo County also has a large number of summer cottage residents. Fishermen can find many steelhead in the spring and salmon in the fall within the county's rivers and streams. Camping, hunting, cross country skiing, bicycling, birding and ORVing is common in the Manistee National Forest.
Notable companies County of Newaygo - White Cloud Dura Automotive Systems - Fremont Gerber Memorial Health Services - Fremont Gerber Products Company - Fremont Magna Donnelly - Newaygo North American Refractories - White Cloud Valspar Corporation - Fremont Wilbur Ellis - Grant Newaygo Brewing - Newaygo
Government Newaygo County has been strongly Republican since the Civil War era. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 92% of the national presidential elections (33 of 36). It has only supported a Democrat for president once in that time, in 1964. The Democrats have managed even 40 percent of the county's vote only five other times.
Newaygo 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
Prosecuting Attorney: Worth Stay Sheriff: Robert "Bob" Mendham County Clerk: Jason VanderStelt County Treasurer: Jason O'Connell Register of Deeds: Stewart K. Sanders Drain Commissioner: Dale Twing
(information as of May 2023)
Festivals and events
Memorial Weekend Arts & Crafts Festival - Newaygo River Country Home & Garden Show - Newaygo Middle School Newaygo County Kids' Day - Downtown Newaygo Trail Town Celebration - Celebrating White Clouds Trails & Waterways City-Wide Yard Sales - Grant Harvest Celebration - Grant Harvest Festival - Fremont Logging Festival - Mid-Michigan Lumberjack Competition in Newaygo Bitely Homecoming - Bitely National Baby Food Festival - Fremont Pow Wow - White Cloud Santa Parade - Fremont West Michigan's Longest Yard Sale - Grant, Newaygo, White Cloud, Bitely Winterfest - Newaygo Christmas in Newaygo Christmas in Grant Christmas in White Cloud Newaygo County Agricultural Fair - Fremont
Historic sites In Newaygo County there are 16 locations that the State Historic Preservation Office has designated as historical. Two of the sixteen have been listed with the National Register of Historic Places:
Big Prairie Grange Hall No. 935 - Goodwell Twp Birch Grove School - Lincoln Twp Croton Congregational Church - Croton Twp Croton Hydroelectric Plant - Croton Twp Ensley Windmill Tower First Christian Reformed Church (Demolished) - Fremont Gerber, Cornelius, Cottage - Sheridan Charter Twp Grant Depot and Water Tower - Grant Hardy Hydroelectric Plant - Big Prairie - Twp Lilley District No. 5 School - Lilley Twp Oak Grove District No. 3 Schoolhouse - Croton Twp Penoyer's Sawmill - Newaygo Saint Mark's Episcopal Church - Newaygo Weaver, Daniel, House - Denver Twp White Cloud Village Hall (Demolished) - White Cloud Woods, John F., Residence - Newaygo
Communities
Cities Fremont Grant Newaygo White Cloud (county seat)
Village Hesperia (partially)
Unincorporated communities
Aetna Big Prairie Bitely Brohman Brunswick (partially) Croton Ensley Center Lilley Riverview Woodland Park Woodville Wooster
Charter township
Sheridan Charter Township
Civil townships
Ashland Township Barton Township Beaver Township Big Prairie Township Bridgeton Township Brooks Township Croton Township Dayton Township Denver Township Ensley Township Everett Township Garfield Township Goodwell Township Grant Township Home Township Lilley Township Lincoln Township Merrill Township Monroe Township Norwich Township Sherman Township Troy Township Wilcox Township
Education
The Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency, based in Fremont, services the districts in the county. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services and technical career programs for its students.
Newaygo County is served by the following regular public school districts:
Big Jackson School District Fremont Public School District Grant Public Schools Hesperia Community Schools Newaygo Public Schools White Cloud Public Schools
Newaygo County has the following private schools:
Cornerstone Christian Academy Fremont Christian School Grant Christian School
See also List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Newaygo County National Register of Historic Places listings in Newaygo County
References
External links
County of Newaygo Newaygo County Convention and Visitors Bureau Newaygo County Road Commission Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency Recycling for Newaygo County