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Clare County

Clare County Courthouse in Harrison, Michigan

Clare County is a county located in the central region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Established in 1840 and organized in 1871, the county is known for its forests, rivers, outdoor recreation, logging heritage, and central location within the state. The county seat is Harrison, while the largest city is Clare. The county is often considered part of both Central Michigan and Northern Michigan. 1) 2) :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Quick Facts

Attribute Information
State Michigan
County Seat Harrison
Largest City Clare
Established 1840
Organized 1871
Region Central Michigan / Northern Michigan
Population (2020) 30,856
Area 575 sq mi
Known For Logging, Recreation, Forests, Oil & Gas

3) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Etymology

When first created in 1840, the county was named:

after a Sauk leader. In 1843, the name was changed to Clare County, reportedly by an Irish surveyor who named it after:

4) 5) :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Geography

Clare County is located near the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula and borders:

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Major waterways include:

The county contains extensive forests, wetlands, lakes, and recreational lands. Portions of the:

are located within the county. 7) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Indigenous History

Prior to European-American settlement, the region was inhabited by Indigenous peoples including:

The forests, rivers, and lakes of the area supported hunting, fishing, trapping, and trade throughout the Great Lakes region. 8)

Early History

For much of its early existence, Clare County had very little permanent settlement.

After its creation in 1840, the county was administered by neighboring counties until local government was formally organized in 1871. 9) 10) :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

The arrival of railroads and the lumber industry transformed the region during the late nineteenth century.

Lumber Era

Clare County became one of Michigan's important logging regions.

The county's vast white pine forests supported:

11) :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

One of the county's most significant developments was the:

which helped transport timber and supplies throughout the region. 12) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

The lumber industry fueled rapid settlement and economic growth throughout the county during the late nineteenth century.

Clare

The largest city in the county is:

Founded in 1870 with the arrival of the Pere Marquette Railroad, Clare became an important transportation and commercial center. 13) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

The city is often known as:

because of its central location and transportation connections. 14) :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Harrison

The county seat is:

The county seat was originally located in Farwell but was moved to Harrison in 1877. 15) :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Today, Harrison serves as the center of county government and is a popular destination for outdoor recreation.

Oil and Gas Development

During the twentieth century, Clare County experienced a second economic boom with the discovery of:

16) 17) :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Energy production became an important component of the county economy and supplemented traditional industries such as agriculture and forestry.

Recreation

Outdoor recreation is one of the county's most important industries.

Popular activities include:

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Major attractions include:

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Agriculture

Following the decline of the lumber industry, portions of Clare County were converted to agricultural use.

Major agricultural activities include:

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Agriculture remains an important part of the county's rural economy.

Communities

Major communities within Clare County include:

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The county consists of sixteen civil townships and numerous unincorporated communities.

Government

County government administers:

County offices are headquartered in:

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Legacy

Clare County has contributed to Michigan history through its:

Today, the county remains one of Michigan's most popular recreation destinations and serves as a gateway between Central and Northern Michigan. 23) 24) :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

See Also

References

1) Clare County History. https://www.clarecounty.com/discover-clare-county/history/
2) Clare County, Michigan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_County,_Michigan
3) clarewiki
4) clarehistory
5) Clare County Michigan Genealogy. https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Clare_County,_Michigan_Genealogy
6) clarewiki
7) clarewiki
8) Michigan History Center. Indigenous Peoples of Michigan. https://www.michigan.gov/mhc
9) clarewiki
10) genealogy
11) clarehistory
12) clarehistory
13) clarewiki
14) clarewiki
15) clarewiki
16) clarehistory
17) clare.migenweb
18) clarewiki
19) clarewiki
20) clare.migenweb
21) clarewiki
22) clarewiki
23) clarehistory
24) clarewiki

counties clare_county clare harrison logging forestry recreation central_michigan northern_michigan