Saginaw County (SAG-ə-naw) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2020 Census, the population was 190,124. The county seat is Saginaw. Saginaw County was established on September 10, 1822, and officially organized on February 9, 1835. The origin of the county's name is unknown. Some believe it comes from the Sauk tribe's language, meaning "Sauk land." Others think it may come from Ojibwe words meaning "place of the outlet"—"sag" meaning "an opening" and "ong" meaning "place of." For more information, see List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Saginaw County includes the Saginaw, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is part of the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City Combined Statistical Area, which is the fifth largest metropolitan area in Michigan.

Etymology

The name Saginaw is often thought to mean "where the Sauk were" in Ojibwe, from the words Sace-nong or Sak-e-nong, which mean "Sauk Town," because people believed the Sauk lived there. However, it is more likely that Saginaw means "place of the outlet," from the Ojibwe words sag (opening) and ong (place of).

When Samuel de Champlain met indigenous people who told him the Sauk nation lived on the western shore of Lake Michigan, he incorrectly placed them on the western shore of Lake Huron. This error appeared on later maps, and people later thought this was where the Sauks lived. Champlain himself never visited the area that is now Michigan.

History

The area was home to the Native American Hopewell culture from about 1000 B.C. to 1000 A.D., followed by the Anishnabeg people. Some historians think the Sauk once lived there but were later forced out by the Ojibwe (also called Chippewa) before Europeans arrived.

The Saginaw region has many rivers and streams that flow into the Saginaw River. These waterways made it easy for Native Americans to travel between settlements, hunting areas, and Lake Huron. Saginaw was also a common place where the Ojibwe, Pottawatomi, and Ottawa—known as the Three Fires of the Anishnabeg—held meetings.

When European settlers arrived, the Ojibwe were the main group living in what is now Saginaw County. They remained the strongest group in the area through the 1820s. In 1827, the Ojibwe fought against two groups of Winnebago people from Wisconsin and won with the help of nearby European settlers.

In 1853, the Ojibwe and Ottawa set up large hunting camps along the Saginaw River. At the same time, European settlers were starting to build sawmills and farms in the region.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 816 square miles (2,110 km²), of which 800 square miles (2,100 km²) is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) (1.9%) is water. It is part of the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Mid-Michigan. The median elevation in Saginaw County, Michigan is 620 feet (190 m) above sea level.

• Saginaw River, Shiawassee River, Cass River, Flint River, Bad River, Tittabawassee River
• Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
• Bay County (northeast)
• Midland County (northwest)
• Tuscola County (east)
• Gratiot County (west)
• Genesee County (southeast)
• Shiawassee County (south)
• Clinton County (southwest)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 190,124. The median age was 41.3 years. Twenty-one point eight percent of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males age 18 and over.

There were 78,442 households in the county. Twenty-seven percent of these households had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.4% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 85,953 housing units in the county, of which 8.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.5% were owner-occupied, and 29.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%, and the rental vacancy rate was 10.5%.

The racial makeup of the county was 70.4% White, 18.2% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.9% from some other race, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.9% of the population.

Sixty-seven point four percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 32.6% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2010 United States census, Saginaw County had a population of 200,169, a decrease of 9,870 people from the 2000 United States census. Overall, the county had a -4.7% growth rate during this ten-year period. In 2010, there were 79,011 households and 52,287 families in the county. The population density was 250.2 per square mile (96.6 per square kilometer). There were 86,844 housing units at an average density of 108.5 per square mile (41.9 per square kilometer).

The racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 70.5% White, 18.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 7.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races.

There were 79,011 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were husband and wife families, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 28.2% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, 23.4% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The 2010 American Community Survey 1-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $41,938, and the median income for a family was $52,243. Males had a median income of $27,691 versus $16,488 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,025. About 12.4% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw is the controlling regional body for the Catholic Church.

Government and politics

The county government is responsible for operating the jail, maintaining rural roads, managing major local courts, keeping records of deeds and mortgages, maintaining important records, enforcing public health rules, and working with the state to provide welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners manages the budget but has limited power to create laws or rules. In Michigan, most local government duties, such as police and fire services, building and zoning rules, tax assessments, and street maintenance, are handled by individual cities and townships.

From 1988 to 2012, Saginaw County consistently voted for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections. However, recent elections have shown the county becoming more competitive. In 2016, Donald Trump won Saginaw County by just over 1,000 votes. In 2020, he lost the county by about 300 votes. In 2024, Trump won again, this time by about 3,400 votes and securing a majority in the county.

• Prosecuting Attorney: John McColgan Jr.
• Sheriff: William Federspiel
• County Clerk: Vanessa Guerra
• County Treasurer: Timothy M. Novak
• Register of Deeds: Katheryn A. Kelly
• Public Works Commissioner: Brian Wendling

All countywide officials are elected for four-year terms. The next election for these positions is scheduled for November 2024.

(Information as of April 2021)

The Saginaw County Parks and Recreation Commission is a countywide organization created by William H. Haithco Sr. in 1969. Haithco served as chairman from 1972 to 1999. The organization manages six parks across the county: Imerman Memorial Park, Veterans Memorial Park, Ringwood Forest, Price Nature Center, William H. Haithco Recreation Area, and The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail. These parks cover more than 550 acres, including 18 miles of hiking trails, two boat launches, four fishing access points, a swimming beach, picnic shelters, and recreation programs.

Transportation

Saginaw County was the location of a path used by the Sauk people, which became one of the first roads in what is now Michigan, called the Saginaw Trail. This trail was first approved in 1819 and completed to Saginaw in 1841. Since then, Saginaw’s ability to connect with other places has grown because of the development of roads, railroads, planes, and ships that link Saginaw to major cities in Michigan and nearby states and countries.

Scheduled airline service is available from MBS International Airport near Freeland, Michigan, and Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan. Harry Browne Airport in Buena Vista Charter Township also serves the area.

Highways and roads in Saginaw include:
• I-75, a major north-south highway that runs from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Miami-Dade County, Florida.
• I-675, a highway that connects to I-75 and passes through downtown Saginaw.
• US 23
• M-13, a road that runs from I-69 through downtown Saginaw and continues north to Standish.
• M-15
• M-30
• M-46, a road that crosses the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from Port Sanilac on Lake Huron, through Saginaw near Saginaw Bay, and to Muskegon on Lake Michigan. This road runs east-west and divides the Lower Peninsula from north to south.
• M-47, a road that goes through Saginaw’s western suburbs and connects directly to MBS International Airport in Freeland before ending at US 10 in Bay County.
• M-52, a road that starts at the Ohio border, goes through Adrian and Owosso, and ends at M-46 in Saginaw’s western suburbs. This road also connects to Lansing, Michigan’s state capital.
• M-54
• M-57
• M-58, a road that connects M-47 to I-675.
• M-81, a road that runs east from M-13 to Caro and Cass City and ends at M-53 in Sanilac County.
• M-83
• M-84, a road that runs from M-25 in downtown Bay City to M-58 in Saginaw.

The Saginaw River is maintained by the Corps of Engineers, a government group that manages waterways. At times, the river is dredged, or cleaned, to keep a shipping channel open from Saginaw to Bay City and then to the Great Lakes.

Education

Most of Saginaw County is managed by the Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD). This district helps local school boards work together, but it does not control how schools operate daily. In Michigan, local school boards have independent control over daily school activities. There are also several charter schools that operate in Saginaw County.

School districts in Saginaw County (including any district that covers even a small area, even if the schools or offices are in other counties) include:

Former school districts include:

• Buena Vista School District

• Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) is a four-year state university located in eastern Kochville Township.
• Delta College is a two-year community college that serves Saginaw County but is located in neighboring Bay County, a short distance north of the SVSU campus.

Notable natives

• George C. Hinkley (1892–1936), a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and businessman, was born in Saginaw County.
• Theodore Roethke (1908–1963), a poet who won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, was born and buried here.

Historical markers

There are twenty-eight officially recognized historical markers in the county. They include:

• Bliss Park
• Burt Opera House (associated with Wellington R. Burt)
• Coal Mine No. 8
• The Cushway House (associated with Benjamin Cushway and Adelaide Cushway)
• First Congregational Church (located in Saginaw)
• Fowler Schoolhouse (located in Fremont Township)
• Frankenmuth (Saint Lorenz Evangelical Lutheran Church)
• Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn
• Freeland United Methodist Church
• George Nason House
• Hess School
• Hoyt Library
• Leamington Stewart House
• Michigan's German Settlers
• Morseville Bridge
• Presbyterian Church of South Saginaw
• Saginaw Club
• Saginaw Oil Industry
• Saginaw Post Office
• Saginaw Valley Coal
• Saginaw Valley Lumbering Era
• St. Mary's Hospital
• Saint Michael Catholic Parish
• St. Paul's Episcopal Mission
• Shroeder House
• Theodore Roethke (Childhood Home)

Communities

• Frankenmuth
• Saginaw (county seat)
• Zilwaukee

• Birch Run
• Chesaning
• Merrill
• Oakley
• Reese (partially)
• St. Charles

• Bridgeport Charter Township
• Buena Vista Charter Township
• Saginaw Charter Township

• Bridgeport
• Buena Vista
• Burt
• Freeland
• Hemlock
• Robin Glen-Indiantown
• Shields