Arenac County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 15,002. The county seat is Standish. The name is pronounced AIR-uh-nak.

History

Arenac County was formed by the Michigan Territory on March 2, 1831, and later linked to Saginaw County on March 2, 1836, for administrative purposes. The creation of Bay County overlapped with Arenac County and included parts of Saginaw and Midland Counties, which led to Arenac County being legally removed on April 20, 1857. On April 21, 1883, Arenac County was re-established using the northern townships of Bay County, with boundaries slightly different from its original formation. The name "Arenac" was given by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, a U.S. Indian Agent and ethnologist. It comes from the Latin word "arena," meaning "sandy place," and the Native American word "ac," combining to mean "a sandy place for a good footing."

The county includes land owned by the federal government for the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation, which is based in Isabella County. In early 2007, plans were approved to build a casino near Standish, with a planned opening by the end of the year. The casino is owned and operated by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe. The Saganing Eagles Landing Casino officially opened on January 24, 2008.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 681 square miles (1,760 km), with 363 square miles (940 km) being land and 317 square miles (820 km) (47%) being water. It is the third smallest county in Michigan by land area. Arenac County is part of either Northern Michigan or Central Michigan.

• Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron
• Au Gres River
• Rifle River
• Pine River (Arenac County)

• I-75
• US 23
• M-13
• M-33
• M-61
• M-65

• Iosco County (northeast)
• Bay County (south)
• Gladwin County (west)
• Ogemaw County (northwest)

• Tuscola County (south)
• Huron County (southeast)

• Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 15,002. The median age was 50.6 years. 17.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 26.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 102.5 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 100.7 males aged 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 1.8% of the population.

12.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 87.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,631 households in the county. 22.2% of these households had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.2% were married-couple households, 20.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 9,504 housing units, of which 30.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.6% were owner-occupied, and 16.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%, and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 17,269 people, 6,710 households, and 4,717 families in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18 people per square kilometer). There were 9,563 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the county was 95.38% White, 1.82% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 1.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.0% were of German ancestry, 14.1% Polish, 11.6% French, 10.6% American, 7.9% English, 6.8% Irish, and 5.3% French Canadian. 96.9% spoke English as their first language, and 1.3% spoke Spanish.

There were 6,710 households, of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45, and the average family size was 2.92.

The county population included 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.40 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 104.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,805, and the median income for a family was $39,033. Males had a median income of $31,205, while females had a median income of $20,363. The per capita income for the county was $16,300. About 11.30% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.70% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church. There are no meeting places for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located within Arenac County.

Government

Arenac County is more likely to support the Republican Party. Since 1884, the Republican candidate has won the county in 56% of elections, or 20 out of 36 elections. During this time, independent candidates won 3 elections, and the Democratic candidate won 12 out of 36 elections, or 36%.

In 2024, Donald Trump received nearly 70% of the votes in Arenac County, which is the highest vote share in the county’s history.

The county government manages the jail, repairs rural roads, runs local courts, records legal documents like deeds and mortgages, keeps records of births and deaths, ensures public health rules are followed, and helps provide social services with the state. The county board of commissioners decides how money is spent and has limited power to create laws or rules. In Michigan, most local government duties, such as police and fire services, building rules, taxes, and road maintenance, are handled by cities and townships.

(information as of March 2009)

Communities

• Au Gres
• Omer
• Standish (county seat)

• Sterling
• Turner
• Twining

• Alger
• Delano
• Maple Ridge
• Melita
• Pine River

• Arenac County has land that is not on the reservation but is owned by the Isabella Indian Reservation. This land is located in Standish Township and includes three small areas.

Events

The Sunrise Side Heritage Bike Ride takes place during the first weekend in September. This planned event involves traveling along the Lake Huron shoreline (US 23) from the Arenac County fairgrounds to the Mackinac Bridge. Riders then continue south to West Branch, following M-33 and M-55. The total distance of the route is 400 miles.