Anthology of Michigan
The Meaning of Michigan
County Names
In a Poem
Copyright 2011
Mark R. Putnam
Caro, Michigan
Contents
This anthology is a compilation of poems.
It is filled with
many historical gems.
The counties of Michigan are listed below in alphabetical
order—
There are eighty-three
(83).
Become a avid reader.
Learn the origin and meaning of each Michigan county.
Alcona.
10
Alger.
11
Allegan.
12
Alpena.
13
Antrim.
14
Arenac.
15
Baraga.
16
Barry.
17
Bay.
18
Benzie.
19
Berrien.
20
Branch.
21
Calhoun.
22
Cass.
23
Charlevoix.
24
Cheboygan.
25
Chippewa.
26
Clare.
27
Clinton.
28
Crawford.
29
Delta.
30
Dickenson.
31
Eaton.32
Emmet.
33
Genesee.
34
Gladwin.
35
Gogebic.
36
Grand Traverse.
37
Gratiot.
38
Hillsdale.
39
Houghton.
40
Huron.
41
Ingham..
42
Ionia.
43
Iosco.
44
Iron.
45
Isabella.
46
Jackson.
47
Kalamazoo.
48
Kalkaska.
49
Kent.
50
Keweenaw..
51
Lake.
52
Lapeer.
53
Leelanaw.
54
Lenawee.
55
Livingston.
56
Luce.
57
Mackinaw..
58
Macomb.
59
Manistee.
60
Marquette.
61
Mason.
62
Mecosta.
63
Menominee.
64
Midland.
65
Missaukee.
66
Monroe.
67
Montcalm.
68
Montmorency.
69
Muskegon.
70
Newago.
71
Oakland.
72
Oceana.
73
Ogemaw..
74
Ontonagon.
75
Osceola.
76
Oscoda.
77
Otsego.
78
Ottawa.
79
Presque Isle.
80
Roscommon.
81
Saginaw.
82
St. Clair.
83
St. Joseph.
85
Sanilac.
86
Schoolcraft.
87
Shiawassee.
88
Tuscola.
89
Van Buren.
90
Washtenaw..
91
Wayne.
92
Wexford.
93
Counties of Michigan
An Anthology
of Michigan's Counties
Alcona means the place of the woodland clearing.
The name Alcona comes from the Algonquin word “mkoda”,
which means
the grassy opening.
“Mkoda” means the plain or the meadow.
A major road in Alcona County is "Mikode” that runs through a
meadow.
The county seat is the City of Harrisville.
In Latin a sandy place is called an “harea”—an sandy beach
or sandy hill.
Harrisvile is on Lake Huron's shore.
For a retreat one would not want much more.
Alcona is in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula.
Alcona and Harrisville mean the meadow like clearing.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Harrisville.
This county name was believed to be a Henry Schoolcraft creation
said to mean "Excellent Plain".
Schoolcraft was a mediator between Michigan’s Native Americans and the United
States.
The county name Alger a personal name may mean islander.
In Arabic Algeria means the place of
the isle.
The seat of the County of Alger is the City of Munising.
In Chippewa/Ottawa an islander is a “minissing”.
In the middle of Munising Bay lies the large Grand Island,
Which is Lake Superior’s second largest island.
Today in Arabic an island is called an “il-gezir”.
In Latin "insula" meansa land that is surrounded by water.
Munising and Alger mean the islander.
Formed
in 1885,
It became a county in 1885.
County
Seat: Munising.
This county was named for Governor Russell A. Alger (1885-1961).
Allegan means the place of the beautiful lake.
“Gnaaj" means in the Chippewa/Ottawa
lexicon elegant.
The Latin word "elegans" means to be fair.
Allegan was the place with splendid water.
On Lake Allegan an enjoyable day is often spent.
Lake Allegan is formed by the beautiful Kalamazoo River.
Also in Latin "allego" means the elected one
or one who is chosen.
The water that is pristine is the meaning of Allegan.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1835.
County Seat:
Allegan.
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft invention.
Alpena means the place of the great bird
the partridge.
In Chippewa bine is the word for a ruffed grouse or
partridge.
In Latin the feather from a bird is called a “penna”.
The early Native People in Alpena were the Oupenego who lived
on Thunder Bay.
In Algonquin “binesi” meant thunder bird or eagle.
Alpena means the bird . . . a partridge and perhaps even eagle
. . . in a way.
In Chippewa/Ottawa "binessi" means bird or hen.
“Ptena” in Greek likewise means a hen.
Alpena means the bird that flies along the ridge.
Alpena means the land of the partridge.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1857.
County
Seat: Alpena.
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft creation
whose best interpretation is "partridge" or "bird".
Coals
that burn bright may be the meaning of the Irish word Antrim.
The Greek word
“anthros”—
means ember.
Antrim's county seat is the City of Bellaire,
Which means the place of the sky that is clear or fair.
The main attraction of Antrim County is Torch Lake.
At night Native People here once fished by torch
or jack light.
With a spear and torch many
fish they would take.
Native People came from everywhere came here to fish at night.
Antrim and Bellaire mean the air that
is beautiful
and
bright.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1863.
County Seat:
Bellaire.
This county was named for County Antrim, Ireland.
The grit and gravel place is the meaning of Arenac.
In Latin “arena" means the place that is composed of sand.
In Algonquin Arenac County was called “Negaw”.
Arenac County is just northwest of the Bay called Saginaw.
In French Arenac was called Au Gres.
Here the ground is sandy white
to light grey,
Arenac County's seat is the City of Standish.
In Chippewa/Ottawa "aki" or "ac" means land.
The water of Arenac County and Lake Huron are great places
in which to
fish.
Arenac means the land of gritty sand.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1883.
County Seat:
Standish.
This county name was a Schoolcraft creation using Latin and Native American
words.
Baraga means where there is a jam.
Baraga county was named for Bishop Frederick Baraga.
In Algonquin, “gbaakhigan” means a dam, gate, or lock.
In Baraga County, L’Anse Bay is an excellent place
in which to
dock.
In French, L’Anse means the nook or cove.
The Bay of L'Anse is obstructed by two grand bars
of sand.
It is Lake Superior's treasure trove—
The Bay of L'Anse is dammed by two bars of gritty land.
L’Anse and Baraga mean the cove with the grand bars of sand.
Formed
in 1875,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
L’Anse.
This county was named for missionary Bishop Frederick Baraga (1797-1868).
He worked with Native Americans and wrote a Chippewa grammar dictionary.
Barry is an Irish word that means "the spear thrower".
The Greek word "bar" means to strike
quickly.
In Irish, a javelin thrower was a "barry".
Barry County's seat is the City of Hastings.
"Hasta” and "sparus" are Latin words for
a pole with a point.
To act hastily is to act quickly and toward a point
The Thorn Apple
River passes through Hastings.
Place names in Barry County frequently have piquant meanings.
Barry and Hastings mean the place of the a spar or a pointed bar.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1839.
County
Seat: Hastings.
This county was named for William T. Barry (1785-1835) of Kentucky, Postmaster
General in the Cabinet of President Jackson.
Bay County was named after the Saginaw Bay.
It is a place for swimming and relaxing.
The word bay means alcove.
The Saginaw Bay is great place to bask.
This was once the land of Chief Nabobask.
His name was said to mean "soup that is warm".
Saginaw Bay is an inlet of Lake Huron and is both shallow and
warm
Saginaw Bay is a place of shelter from a Great Lakes
storm.
Bay means the place of the warm friendly cove.
Formed
in 1857,
It became
a county in 1857.
County
Seat: Bay.
This county received its name from the idea that it partly encircles the
Saginaw Bay.
Benzie County was named for its resident bird
the goose called the merganser.
It was also call the Saw Bill or in French the “Le Bec Scie”.
Benzie County was once the home of this submerging goose with
the serrated bill.
Lakes Crystal, Platte, and Benzie . . . geese of the
species would fill.
They would dip into the water to eat.
They would splash in the water with their webbed feet.
The City of Beulah is the seat of Benzie County.
It is a beautiful town or small city.
"Bulla" in Greek means to plunge like a duck or
goose.
Benzie and Beulah mean to dip in water foot
loose.
Formed
in 1863,
It became
a county in 1869.
County
Seat: Beulah.
This county name comes from the French phrase “au bec scies” meaning where
there are mergansers. The name was first
applied to the river and changed to Benzie.
Berrien seems to mean the river's turn or wend.
Berrien County includes St. Joseph River.
Berrien means looped, crooked, or curved.
The French name Berrien comes from barius or boirius
meaning bowed.
French "ber" means a rocking cradle.
Berrien Count's seat is the City of St. Joseph at the head
of the river's cradle.
Berrien County cities include Buchanan and Benton Harbor.
The name St. Joseph connects with Greek "kypho" meaning buckled, bent, or bowed.
The St. Joseph River is the great bending river.
It is the place where a great river forms a swerve.
Berrien and St. Joseph mean where there is a great waterway curve.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1831.
County
Seat: St. Joseph.
This county was named for John M. Berrien of Georgia, Attorney General under
President Jackson (1829-1831)
The beginning of a large river starts with a small
brook.
In German a river's source is called “brunnen”—a river's small upper branch.
In the upland hills chilly springs fill up and flow.
The coldest water comes from the melting of the winter's
snow.
The county seat of Branch County is the
City of Coldwater.
Large rivers start with small streams of cold water.
The Chippewa word “nbiikaag” means watery place—be lots of pools.
In Dutch a small stream is called a “beeck”.
Here small fish form into schools.
Branch and Coldwater mean where there is a cold water creek.
Formed in 1829,
It became a county in 1833.
County Seat: Coldwater.
This county was named for John Branch of North Carolina, Secretary of the
Navy under President Jackson (1829-11831).
The word Calhoun is associated with the word cavalry . . .
Calhoun means a person who works with animals that gallop
most certainly.
The Old Irish horseman was the "calhoun" the handler of geldings and stallions.
In Latin “equus” means an equine or horse.
In French “cheval” means a stallion or horse.
Calhoun County's seat is the City of Marschall.
A handler of mares and stallions was once called a marshal.
Calhoun and Marschall mean the equine handlers and keepers.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1833.
County Seat:
Marschall.
This county was named for the Vice President of the United States John C.
Calhoun (1824-1832) under President Jackson.
The word "cass" likely means the rocky place.
This was the place of the stony pass.
French "cailloux” means pebble or small stone.
Latin “saxon” also means stone as well.
A fortress made of rock or stone is called a castle.
Cass County's seat is the City of Cassopolis that is located on Stone Lake—
Nearby is another small body of water called Diamond Lake.
Chief Pokagon was an early local Chief of Cass County.
His name meant rib bone.
Cass means the place that is rocky.
Cass and Cassopolis mean the place of rocky small stone.
Organized
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1829.
County Seat:
Cassopolis.
This county was named for Lewis Cass (1782-1866), second Governor of the
Michigan Territory and Secretary of War under President Jackson (1831-1836).
The word Charlevoix may be connected with ferrymen.
The main road in Charlevoix County is Ferry Road.
The major city is Boyne City.
To buoy means to float.
In classical Latin times, the Charons
were the ferrymen.
In French, "voiles" means sailboat.
Charleviox seems to mean the place of the boater or voyager.
Charlevoix is the the place of the boatmen.
Organized
in 1869,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Charlevoix.
This county was named for Pierre F. X. de Charlevoix (1682-1761), a Jesuit
missionary explorer and historian who traveled the Great Lakes in 1721.
Cheboygan means they go straight through.
In the Chippewa/Ottawa word jiba" means through.
The Cheboygan River is an inland passageway.
Cheboygan means go straight and escape.
Across the northern tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula,
runs the Cheboygan River.
The Cheboygan is an inland water route
across a great point or cape.
Cheboygan means the passageway river.
Organized
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1853.
County Seat:
Cheboygan.
This county name is a Native American place name said to mean “he goes through’,
“needle”, or the “pipe”, which are the same meanings used for the County of Sheboygan,
Wisconsin.
The Chippewa are the people with the remarkable shoe.
"Chiffoner” in French means puckered.
The Native word Chippewa means "it buckles when roasted".
The Chippewa often finished their moccasin by heating it over a fire,
which crimped the shoe.
The county seat of Chippewa County is the City of Sault St. Marie—also
called The Soo.
In French, "Sault" means rapids or where the
river
somersaults.
It means where the water swells or vaults.
Chippewa and Sault St. Marie mean where there is a bump or
jump.
Organized
in 1826,
It became
a county in 1826.
County Seat:
Sault St. Marie.
This county was named for the Native American Tribe the Chippewa or Ojibwa.
The word Clare is Irish and means the place that is level.
It means the plain—the field, the champaign, or the open dell—
In Old Irish an open area was called a “chlair”.
Clare County's seat is the City of Harris.
Anciently people preferred to battle on a field that was level.
On this field, each other, they would harass or harry.
In Latin “haren” means to fight or clash.
The English Duke of Clare was in charge of the armory.
In German “heer” means the militia or army.
Mars in Latin was the God of War and his Greek counterpart was called Aries.
Clare and Harris mean one who fights on a level field or one who harries.
Organized
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County Seat:
Harris.
This county was named for County Clare in Ireland, which is in the western
part of Ireland.
Where the
creeks and
streams lead everywhere down is the meaning of Clinton.
The root of Clinton is clint, which means a cliff—or decline.
A clint was historically a slope that often formed, at its
base, a channel of sand.
Clinton County's seat is the City of St. John—
In Greek "ion”—means to go over, yonder, or on.
Clinton County has many small waterways
that are the at top of shallow decline.
Clinton County is at Lower Michigan's mid-point where streams
flow north, south, east and west.
Here it was once thought that canals would
serve the State of Michigan best.
Here water runs to both Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
Clinton and St. John mean the land with the wide decline.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1839.
County Seat:
St. John’s.
This county was named for New York Governor Dewitt Clinton (1769-1828) under
whose administration the Erie Canal was built.
Crawford means the place of the great river trout.
Michigan's best trout fishing is found in the County of
Crawford.
Rainbow, brook, and d brown trout and grayling are here . . . all
about.
Trout feed on primitive things that crawl—like nymphs and flies.
Once numerous in Crawford County, graying were the fish had
on their sides gray lines.
Crawfish-Ford is likely the meaning of
Crawford.
A craw is a crayfish.
Crawford County is one of the best laces in Michigan in
wihich to fish.
Crawford and Grayling mean the
fishing ford.
Organized
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1879.
County Seat:
Grayling.
This county was named for
Colonel William Crawford a Michigan settler.
Delta usually means the flat triangular area near the mouth of
a larger river.
The Greek word “deltos” means to be flat and triangular.
Delta County's shape was originally also triangular.
Delta County's seat is the City of Escanaba.
Escanaba was named for the Escanaba River, whose name means the flat stone or rock.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, the stone is flat is “assin-nabaga”—
Assin means stone while nabaga means it is flat.
Near the mouth of the Escanaba River lies a large level rock.
Delta and Escanaba mean the where the river flows out flat.
Organized in 1843,
It became a county in 1861.
County Seat: Escanaba.
This county was named from the Greek word “delta “, which was said to refer
to the triangular shape of the original county that included segments of Menominee,
Dickenson, Iron, and Marquette Counties.
Dickenson County's name means
it is hard like a brick.
Dickenson County's seat is the City of Iron Mountain.
In German “dicken” means hard, heavy, or thick.
The German word for iron is “eisen”.
Eisen also also means to freeze
hard into ice.
To be heavy or thick is to be like iron or ice.
Dickenson County also contains Bad Water Lake, which is rich in iron.
Dickenson and Iron Mountain mean land that is hard, heavy, and thick.
Formed
in 1891,
It became
a county in 1891.
County Seat:
Iron Mountain.
This county was named for Don M. Dickenson of Michigan, Postmaster General
under President Grover Cleveland.
Eaton County's name may be linked to the word charlatan.
Latin "edo" means to eat.
The City of Charlotte is Eaton County's seat.
The Old World charlatan—provided “esculenta or things eaten”—
They were a provider of cures.
In Latin,
the “aesculopius” was the God of Medicine.
Eaton and Charlotte mean medicines, remedies, cures.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Charlotte.
This county was named for John H. Eaton (1790-1856) of Tennessee, Secretary
of War under President Jackson (1829-1831).
Emmet County is Irish and seems to mean land that is
heavenly.
Latin "immensus" means boundless
or immeasurable.
Emmet comes from Emma, which means
whole or universal.
Emmet County's seat is the City of
Petosky.
Petosky—seems to come from Chippewa/Ottawa "bidaas-gisiss"
that means here comes the sun.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, "gijig" means sky or
heaven
"Gisiss" means sun.
Emmet and Petosky mean that which is universal and
heavenly.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1853.
County Seat:
Petosky.
This county was named for Irish Patriot Robert Emmet (1778-1803).
Genesee means the fair river.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, “gwanatch” means good looking or beautiful.
Genesee County's seat is the City of Flint.
Flint means small cutting stone or splint.
In Chippewa the flint stone was the "biwanag",
which was so useful.
The root of "gwannatch" and "biwanag"
seems to be "onijan" meaning to tailored.
Genesee and Flint mean it is trimmed.
Formed
in 1835,
It became
a county in 1836.
County Seat:
Flint.
This county was name for Genesee County, New York, from which many Flint
area settlers came.
Gladwin means the place of the shallow valley.
A glade often open from the hillside
woodlands and often naturally from marshlands.
Gladwin is near the center of Michigan and contains many
places of natural beauty.
Located here are Beaverton and Wooden Shoe Village--towns
of a by-gone age.
Everything is light-hearted and open especially in towns like All Bright Shore.
Everything is just right in the small wayside fen and filled with folk lore.
Gladwin means the place of the bright glade or glen.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
Gladwin
This county was named for Major Henry Gladwin, British Commander of Detroit.
He was commander of Fort Detroit during the Siege of Pontiac 1763-1764.
The root of the name Gogebic likely
is the rock.
In Algonquin, "gogi" means I slip, slide, or dive
while "ajibik”
means rock.
Gogebic's county seat is the City of Bessemer whose names
seems to come from German "besom".
A besom is a whisk or broom.
Gogebic and Bessemer both seems to mean to slip or slide away.
Formed
in 1887,
It became
a county in 1887.
County Seat:
Bessemer.
This county has an obscure name.
Most references interpret the root to be “rock” from the Native word “bik”.
Another interpretation is “diving rock”.
Michigan's county named Grand Traverse,
Means the way is long,
Whether one goes by land or sea, so goes the song.
Broken spans of water and land make for difficult
traveling.
In Grand Traverse Bay, there is a peninsula or jut of
land—
That one has to go around when sailing.
It takes considerable time to travel from Elk Rapids to Leland—
As you must go around two peninsulas as you're boating.
The name Grand Traverse,
Is French and means the great crossing.
No matter which way you go, the land is the hard to traverse—.
By land or sea, it is difficult going.
The names Traverse City and Grand Traverse,
Mean the long crossing is the song or verse.
Formed
in 1851,
It became
a county in 1851.
County Seat:
Traverse City.
Second Thought:
This county name is a French phrase “grand traverse”.
It was first given to the bay by the early French voyageurs.
Michigan's County of Gratiot,
Has a meaning that translates to treasury—
Storehouse, or apothecary.
In Greek, a treasury is called a "theka".
Gratiot County's county seat is the City of Ithaca.
Traditionally, the Greek City by this name was a house full
of baskets and crates—
A house full of things laid down from many estates.
Gratiot County has another noted city called Alma.
A gift and giving is called alms or a gratuity.
Giving is done best when done freely.
A gratuity is a courteous consideration,
Not paid for or provoked, a gift we joy and
congratulation.
The names Ithaca and Gratiot,
Mean the gratuity.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1855.
County Seat:
Ithaca.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Captain Charles Gratiot (1788-1855), who supervised
the building of Fort Gratiot at the modern site of Port Huron.
Hillsdale County means the high elevated hill that has a small dent or hollow.
Hillsdale County lies in Southern Michigan in a highland
dale.
Hillsdale contains many a small brook and a beautiful outlook.
Hillsdale County contains the Baw Besee Lake.
Hillsdale lies in a dingle or dent in the hillside—who
center is the lake.
“Shpaag bsa” in Algonquin means high hill
valley.
Hillsdale means the highland valley.
Organized
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1835.
County Seat:
Hillsdale.
Second Thought:
The rolling surface of the area served as the basis for this county name.
Houghton County may be translated to German as "hochtal”,
Hochtal means where there is a mountain vale.
It means the mountain dale.
Houghton County contains the Portage River Valley.
Houghton means the high valley.
Formed
in 1845,
It became
a county in 1848.
County Seat:
Houghton.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Michigan geological professor Douglass Houghton
(1809-1845).
Huron County means "a head of hair".
When seeing the Huron Indians, the French said "Quelles
Hures" meaning what heads.
Hures means wild animal heads
Huron County's seat is the City of Bad Axe—
Bad Axe was named for an early relic located at the site of the village—a broken hatchet or axe.
Huron and Bad Axe means fantastically cut hair.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1859.
County Seat:
Bad Axe.
Second Thought:
This county was named for a Native American tribe the Huron.
The name comes from the French word “hure” meaning peasant or big (ugly)
head. The tribe referred to itself
as “Wendat” (Wyandotte) meaning dwellers on a peninsula.
Ingham County means the narrow strip of land.
German "ham" means land that is hemmed,
certainly.
German "eng" also means a long, thin, piece of ground.
Early Native American’s called Ingham County “ak-mon-shee”.
Ak-mon-shee may have been "agass-aki" or small narrow ground.
Ingham County's seat is the City of Mason,
In Latin, to be long or thin is “maceo”,
Ingham County's City of Lansing—is the Capital of Michigan.
The Dutch word "landengte" means land that is narrow.
In Latin, "ango" means to be tight or narrow.
In Ingham County, there are many long green strips of land.
Ingham and Mason mean the narrow meadowland.
Form in
1829,
It became
a county in 1838.
County Seat:
Mason.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Samuel D. Ingham of Pennsylvania, Secretary of
the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson.
Ionia County means the portage land.
"Io" in Greek and Latin means the pass over or
the passageway.
Ionia County is situated near the watershed at the center
of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
Ionia County contains the City of Portland.
Early on, this area of Michigan was an efficient river portage way.
Ionia County was on the ancient inland water portage to the
Saginaw Bay.
Ionia means the water route to the way beyond or the passageway.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Ionia.
Second Thought:
This county was named for a province of Greece.
Iosco County is said to mean the place of the shining water.
In Chippewa, “waasko” means to shine bright.
This is what we know:
The Tittibawassee, Shiawassee, and
Cass or Wakishegan Rivers were, it seems, the waters of light.
Iosco County's seat
is Tawas City, which was named for Native Chief O-ta-was.
Little Trader was said to have been the meaning of Otawas.
However, the ending of his name may mean he glitters.
His name may reflect the meaning of Iosco or shimmering
waters.
Iosco and Tawas City seems to both mean shining white waters.
Organized
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1857.
County Seat:
Tawas City.
Second Thought:
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft invention.
His favorite name for Native American boys and men in writing, Iosco was
interpreted to mean “water of light”.
Iron County's seat the City of Crystal Falls.
The German word “eisen” means both iron and icy.
The Bewabi State Park lies west of the City of Crystal Falls
"Biiwabic" is the Chippewa and Ottawas word for
hard rock or iron.
Iron County's beautiful lakes include both Lakes Ice and Iron.
Iron and Crystal Falls mean it is hard and icy.
Organized
in 1885,
It became
a county in 1885.
County Seat:
Crystal Falls.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the many iron deposits and mines in the county.
Isabella County's main river is called the Chippewa.
Isabella means that which will enchant.
Isabella County's seat is the City of Mount Pleasant.
Mount Pleasant is on a hill that is beautiful.
Isabella and Mount Pleasant mean the place that is wonderful.
Organized
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1859.
County Seat:
Mount Pleasant.
Second Thought:
Henry Schoolcraft suggested naming this county for Queen Isabella (1451-1504)
of Spain under whose patronage Columbus undertook his voyages in 1492.
Jackson County means the hunter.
The German word "jagen" and the Dutch word "jachte" mean
the chaser or hunter.
To hunt by torchlight is to jack-light.
It means to hunt at night with a light.
Jackson County's name sake was President Andrew Jackson.
Jackson means the chaser or hunter.
Organized
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1832.
County Seat:
Jackson.
Second Thought:
This county was named for President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), 7th
President of the United States (1829-1837).
Kalamazoo County was named it seems for the local river.
It was originally spelled—“kik-ala-mazoo”.
It meant where the water boils like a kettle.
In Chippewa, “kik” means caldron or kettle—
"Onso” means the water is boiling.
Kalamazoo then seems to mean where the water is brewing.
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1830.
County Seat:
Kalamazoo.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place name with widely accepted translations
of “boiling water”, “beautiful water”, and “stones like an otter’s tail.”
Other versions are “reflecting river” and “it smokes”.
Kalkaska County traditionally was said to mean "it is gone by fire".
It's root may be Chippewa/Ottawa “tchagakisa”.
This word means to burn something with fire.
In Latin, to be inflamed “caleo” from which we get the word caldron
and kettle.
Kalkaska County contains centrally located called Kettle Lake.
Lake Skegomog is also
here to the northwest, whose name may mean Kettle Lake.
In Chippewa/Ottawa, “kik-gami”
means caldron lake.
Kalkaska seems to mean
to fire like a caldron or kettle.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County Seat:
Kalkaska
Second Thought:
This county name is a Henry Schoolcraft creation.
Kent County means where there is a rapids or falling water.
Kent likely comes from the Old Welsh word “cant”.
Cant means a cascade or tumbling water.
In Algonquin, "bkijiwang” means rapids.
It also means the water is falling or descending.
Kent County's is the City of Grand Rapids
Kent and Grand Rapids mean where the water is turbulent.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1836.
County Seat:
Kent.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Chancellor James Kent (1763-1817) the celebrated
New York jurist.
Michigan's county called Keweenaw,
Has a name that means in part the point of land,
Which for the Chippewa and Ottawa,
At the end of a word is "we".
I cross a point of land on foot is "kakiwe",
And, I go around a point of land in a canoe is "giwidewa"
I go back or return is "giwe".
Keweenaw County's county seat is the City of Eagle Harbor
In in Chippewa is called "Migisiwi-wikwed".
A cove, bay, or a corner of the earth is called a "wikwed",
And, indeed, it seems to have a root similar to Keweenaw,
As I understand.
The names Eagle Harbor and Keweenaw
are connected with a point of land.
Formed
in 1861,
It became
a county in 1861.
County Seat:
Eagle Harbor.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place name that means the portage or the
place where portage is made.
Michigan's County of Lake,
Has a name that means the home of the drake.
In Latin “lacona” means a lake.
“Balineum”—means a bathing place.
The lake the place in which swimming birds dive in.
Lake County's county seat is the City of Baldwin,
It also means the bathing place—.
The place where sea-birds plunge into the water with a tailspin,
The birds called bald are water fowl.
They include the cormorants, [loons], bitterns, and coots,
Near the edge of the lake perches the owl.
Who near the lake also puts down roots.
Near the lake is a good place to sunbathe.
The names Baldwin and Lake mean the place to bathe.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County Seat:
Lake.
Second Thought:
This county has many small lakes.
Michigan's County of Lapeer,
Has a name that means the highland,
That is made of grit, gravel, sand and flint.
The French word for stone is “la pierre”,
The main river of Lapeer County is called the Flint.
The river with the stony sparkle and glint.
Lapeer County's gentle glacial ridges are points from which
one may gaze.
Over the surrounding landscape--it is a highland.
The bring much praise.
The gentle ridges allow distant land to appear,
The landscape, here, is brilliant and crystal clear.
This is an area in Michigan's Thumb at is grand.
The name Lapeer,
Means the stony highland.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1835.
County Seat:
Lapeer.
Second Thought:
This county name is a derivation of the French word “la pierre” meaning the
stone or the flint.
Michigan's County of Leelanau,
Has a name that means the delight of life—a young girl.
In Algonquin, the words “ikwe” and "akwe",
Means a woman—squaw or girl;
It may seem that name Leelanau,
Uses the French word "la" for her or she.
Leelanau County's county seat is Leland—probably likewise meaning
her or she.
In Chippewa and Ottawas to be delightful or joyful is "minwas”.
The name Leelanau seems to be connected with minwas, which
may mean good sqauw.
Another Michigan county is called Lenawee.
This name means man and comes from the Algonquin word "inini".
The names Leland and Leelanau,
Mean the delight of life—or
the good squaw.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1863.
County Seat:
Leelanaw.
Second Thought:
This county name was a Henry Schoolcraft invention meaning “delight of life”.
Schoolcraft gave the name “Leelanau” to Native American women in his stories.
Michigan's County of Lenawee,
Has a name that means man—in English the original man was Adam.
The Algonquin word for man " inini".
The English name Adam seems to come from dame or dam.
Another word for master or man is dominee.
Lenawee County's county seat is the City of Adrian,
Which comes from Latin Hadrian.
These two words may be connected with
Greek "anthro" meaning man.
The English word man come from mind or
Latin "animus,
Other Latin words for mind are [memini],
"mens" an ingenius".
The root seems to be breath or spirit.
Chippewa "manito" means spirit.
The names Adrian and Lenawee,
Mean men are we.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1826.
County Seat:
Adrian.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American name that means “man”, generically, or
“people”.
Michigan's County of Livingston,
Was names for Edward Livingston,
Who was the Secretary of State under
President Jackson.
Means the dearly beloved mount or hill.
The Dutch word "liefde" means to love or have good will.
The county seat of Livingston,
Is the City of Howell.
Whose name means the hill or hive,
People where are successful and do well.
It is easy for people here to thrive.
The City of Howell is located
On a ridge that runs along Highland Road,
An important business area, the people are also well educated.
Livingston County has many a beautiful lake and abode.
The names Howell and Livingston,
Mean the beloved hill or dunn.
Formed
in 1833,
It became
a county in 1836.
County Seat:
Howell.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under President
Andrew Jackson.
Michigan's County of Luce,
Was named after the fish called the pike.
The Latin word “lupus” means wolf but also the voracious fish—the pike.
Luce County's county seat is the City of New Berry,
In Chippewa and Ottawa a pike is called a “gnoozhe”.
In Old Irish a spear or pike was called a “barry”.
The County of Luce is filled with Lakes,
With names like Muskellunge, Perch, and Pike Lakes.
It’s a beautiful place for your favorite fishing lure
The water here is pristine and pure.
If you're an inland fisherman, the County of Luce,
Will make you very happy.
The names New Berry and Luce,
Mean perch, pike, and musky.
Formed
in 1887,
It became
a county in 1887.
County Seat:
New Berry.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Governor Cyrus Luce (1887-1890).
Michigan's county named Mackinaw,
Was named after an ancient people.
The Mishinimakinago were the original populace of Mackinaw
The name was said to mean the great person who was wounded.
In Chippewa and Ottawa the words "inini makinana" mean the man
wounded.
The City of St. Ignace is the county seat of Mackinaw,
To ignite means to start a fire or blaze.
It is said the the name Mackinaw means the great turtle.
The Chippewa and Ottawa words "kitchi makinak" mean great
turtle.
I lame or wound him is "makinana" who
root seems to be ""biskane" meaning to blaze.
The county seat of Mackinaw is the City of St. Ignace.
The names St. Ignace and Mackinaw,
Mean the wounded man or
people who no one saw.
Formed
in 1818,
It became
a county in 1818.
County Seat:
St. Ignace.
Second Thought:
This county was named after the Native American tribe called the Michilimackinac
meaning “the big wounded man”. It was
also said to represent the “turtle”.
Michigan's county named Macomb,
Is Irish and means the sons of Sire Comb”.
It means the channel that combines two lakes.
At the head and tail of Macomb County's Lake St. Claire,
Are two large channels or rivers,
The Detroit and St. Claire Rivers.
Macomb in Old Irish is “cho-mare”,
Meaning the place where two bodies of water combine or pair.
The Old Celtic word “combe” means a channel or gully.
Where two large large freshwater sea combine is the meaning
of this county.
Macomb County's county seat is
the City of Mount Clements.
“Klemmen” is a
tight spot, a tight spot, or a narrowing in a scents.
Macomb County form a tight spot between
two large lakes.
The names Mount Clements
and Macomb mean the channel between two lakes.
Formed
in 1818,
It became
a county in 1818.
County Seat:
Mount Clements.
Second Thought:
This county was named for General Alexander Macomb (1782-1841) an officer
in the War of 1812.
Michigan's county named Manistee,
Essentially, means there is a wooded island in the river or stream.
It comes from the Chippewa and Ottawa phrase “mni ntig ziibi”.
Manistee is a spot that captures many a fisherman's dream.
The First Nation word Manistee,
May come from "inis" an Old Irish word for island.
We see this word in peninsula meaning almost an island.
The long clear Manistee River,
Once had at its mouth many large wooded islands,
And, also, up stream along the length of the river,
There are many tree fill islands.
So, the name Manistee has the theme,
That this is the place where there are wood islands
in the stream.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1855.
County Seat:
Manistee.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place name meaning “the island stream”
or “the island all wooded stream”.
Another name suggested is “crooked river”.
Michigan's county named Marquette,
Means the border or marginal land.
Marquette County was named for missionary Father Jacques Marquette,
Marquette County's major cities are Marquette, Ishpeming, and Negaunee,
The latter two names mean the City of On High and the Pioneer City.
The French word "marquis" means a field tent and also a
nobleman.
The land to which Father Marquette once explored was then
the frontier.
The main river of Marquette County is the Dead River.
The French word "marquer" means to mark or write down,
It also means to braze a tree, register, or note down.
The name Father Marquette is associated with recording
early history,
In the Old Northwest and Michigan's Upper Peninsula
country.
Marquette, essentially, means the story of the boundary
land,
The land at the edge, or the
marginal land.
Formed
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1846.
County Seat:
Marquette.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the Jesuit missionary and explorer, Father Jacques
Marquette.
Michigan's County of Mason,
Has a name that means the stone worker—
Or, the person who works with squared stone block,
Originally floor, wall, and pavement that would interlock.
Mason County was named for Michigan Governor Steven T. Mason.
Mason County's county seat is the City of Ludington,
The moniker Ludington,
Seems to means the cement used by a mason—
Which is lute, clay, or mud.
It with the stone block is a mason's lifeblood.
Mason County's major river,
Is the Pere Marquette River,
The County of Mason lies along the east beach of Lake
Michigan.
The names Ludington and Mason
Mean the stoneworker .
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1855.
County Seat:
Ludington.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Steven T. Mason (1811-1843), first Governor of
Michigan (1835-1840).
The Michigan county name Mecosta,
May mean the great falls or cascade.
Mecosta County was said to have been named for Chief Mecosta.
In Algonquin, “mitchi kakabika” means big rapids or big waterfall.
“Nissa-koshka”—means downward I fall off.
"Bokoshkan" means I break it off.
Cascade seems to be the root of the name Mecosta.
Is the Latin word "casus" means to fall,
Chief Mecosta's name was said to mean little bear.
The Chippewa word "makwons" means
little bear.
....
....
The name Big Rapids, the county seat, and Mecosta,
Mean the big falls or cascade in the lower peninsula.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1859.
County Seat:
Big Rapids.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the Potawatomi chief, Mecosta whose name was said
to represent “the bear club”.
The Michigan county name Menominee,
Means the place of the wild rice people.
The name comes from the Algonquin phrase “mnoomin nini”,
“Mnoomin” means wild rice or oats—while “nini” means people.
Menominee was a place
Where early inhabitants gather rice.
It was also the wetland space,
Of birds called bobolinks or ricebirds.
The name Menominee is related to the Algonquin word for good,
Algonquin “mno” means good—
“Miinkaan” means meal, or millet, and “miijin” means
to eat.
This is a place for a enjoyable retreat.
The name Menominee,
Means the wild rice people—or, good meals to eat.
Formed
in 1861,
It became
a county in 1861.
County Seat:
Menominee.
Second Thought:
This county was named after the Menominee River, which took its name from
the tribe that lived in the county.
The name Menominee meant “the rice people”.
The Michigan county name Midland,
Means the middle of the land,
But, a related phrase seems to be medicine
lodge,
Which in Algonquin is “mide-wigamig”, "wigamig"
means lodge
Midland is the home of chemical company called Dow,
Which is rooted in springs of bromide-salt.
Mental anguish or head-ache pain may be called dolor
or “dow”.
An early remedy for headaches was bromide seltzer
or salt.
The county name Midland seems to mean both middle
of the land
The county of Midland in located near the center
of Michigan's hand.
The word middle comes from to measure out, to moderate, or
to mete.
Midland seems to have been a early spa retreat.
The name Midland,
Means the middle of the land in Michigan's Hand.
Formed
in 1831,
It Became
a County in 1850.
County
Seat: Midland.
Second Thought:
This county name was said to come from the idea that the county is at the
geographical middle of the lower peninsula.
The Michigan county name Missaukee,
Means the big inland lake.
The Algonquin word for big is “mitchi”,
The Algonquin words for large inland lake,
Are “mitchi-sagaigan”.
Named for local Native Chief Me-sau-kee, it's a stunning region.
The county seat, here, is picturesque Lake City,
And, nearby are the large inland lakes called Higgins and Houghton.
Where winter and summer sports are enjoyed by everyone.
The Indian word "sagaigan" means instinctly,
Where the river has an opening—
A river's great widening.
The names Lake City and Missaukee,
Mean the mighty inland sea.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1850.
County Seat:
Lake City.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the prominent Ottawa who lived in the area.
He was known as Me-Sau-Kee.
The Michigan county name Monroe,
Means the wheel maker.
Monroe County was named after President James Monroe.
This county is next to Wayne County, which means the wagon
or cart maker.
The meaning of the name Monroe,
Is "The Mouth of the Red, or River of Fish Roe"
Other, say, it means the river of the wheel maker clan.
The local Native chief was Chief Macon, and in Algonquin, a
path or trail is a “miikan.
Wayne and Monroe Counties are the world’s car capital.
Monroe County contained
the early entrance roads to Michigan—
Which were established when
Detroit was the state capital.
Monroe County has always been the place of the trial, the path,
and the wagon.
The name Monroe,
Means the wheelwright—and roads that in and outward flow.
Formed
in 1817,
It became
a county in 1822.
County Seat:
Monroe.
Second Thought:
This county was named for President James Monroe (1758-1831).
He visited Detroit in 1817, and in anticipation of his visit the county was
named for him.
The Michigan
name Montcalm,
Means the
grand hill plateau.
The county
was named after French General Marquis Montcalm.
This highland
is level and flat and with points that are low.
Montcalm
is at a high point,
Between
Lakes Huron and Michigan.
Its name
is a statement set in counterpoint.
That it
is still so level and staunched and like a plain.
The county
seat is the City of Stanton,
And, the
major river, here, is the Flat River.
The land
is like a table with legs that it rests upon,
And, slowly
flow the many a brook and river.
The names
Stanton and Montcalm,
Mean the
staunched mount that is calm.
Formed
in 1831,
It became a county in 1850.
County Seat: Stanton.
Second Thought:
This county was named for French General Marquis de Mountcalm.
His defeat and death in 1759 marked the end of the French and Indian War
in North America.
The Michigan
county name Montmorency,
Means the
mountain that is swampy—
The mount
with the marsh or moor,
The large
hill whose top is wet, spongy, and fun to explore.
The county
seat of Montmorency,
Is the
City of Atlanta,
The ancient
City of Atlanta
Was, also,
swallow by the sea—
The major
attractions of this wet hill land in Michigan, ,
Are Thunder
Bay River,
And, the
City of Hillman—
Also, the
City of Lewiston near the Au Sable River.
The names
Atlanta and Montmorency,
Mean the
mountain moor inundated and swallowed by the sea.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1881.
County Seat:
Atlanta.
Second Thought:
It is not clear if this county was named for a historical person or place.
“The Great Marshland Of Michigan”
The Michigan
county name Muskegon,
Means land
that is wet and swamped.
Near the
mouth of the river, also, called Muskegon,
Lies a
large morass—ground that is somewhat submerged.
The Algonquin
word for wet land,
Is the
word “mashkig”,
Which means
"wet, grassy ground, mud, and sand".
Their word
for earth is “aki”.
The English
word musty,
Means a
place that is damp,
And, very
mossy.
Muskegon
was a place of the Algonquin “mik”, the beaver, its dam, and tail stamp.
The name
Muskegon,
Means the
great marshland of Michigan.
Formed
in 1859,
It became
a County in 1859.
County Seat:
Muskegon.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American place named that means swamp or marsh.
The Michigan
county name Newago,
Means a
fluff of air, a cloud—as the legend would go—
In Algonquin,
the word “anakwad” means cloud.
It sounds
quite like Newago when said quite loud.
The meaning
of the name Newago,
Was, also,
once said to be "my wing".
Which in
Native speak is “ningwigan”.
The puzzling
name Newago.
The name
Newago comes the French the word “nuage”,
Which,
indeed, means "a fluff of air", cloud, fog, or nebula.
The Latin
word "nebula" means mist, smoke, or cloud.
The county
seat of of Newago is White Cloud.
The City
of White Cloud and Newago,
Both names
mean a white cloud, nuance, or misty flow.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a County in 1851.
County Seat:
White Cloud.
Second Thought:
This county was named for an Ottawa band chief said to mean "wet water".
The Michigan county name Oakland,
Means the place of the acorn tree—
the tree with the nut or gland.
A nut, in general, in Algonquin is “paganak”.
The county seat of Oakland, is the City of Pontiac,
Which was named after local Native Chief Pontiac.
His name may, also, mean nut,
Bur oak, black walnut, hickory, or hazel nut.
In English and Greek acorns,
Are called “balanus”,
And, a tree with acorns,
Is called the “balanidae.
The names Pontiac and Oakland,
Mean, it seems, the nut tree land.
Formed
in 1819,
It became
a County in 1820
County Seat:
Pontiac.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the many oak openings in the county.
The Michigan county name Oceana,
Means the land by the great sands and sea.
The Greek word “okeano”,
Means the wide river that encompasses the earth
entirely.
The City of Hart is the county seat of Oceana,
In Latin, the word “haren” means the beach, which
is governed by the bird Aquila.
The Latin word “hara” means a corral, stall, pen,
or enclosure.
In Oceana, just, below the City of Hart is
the City of Pentwater.
The County of Oceana forms a point that projects
out into Lake Michigan.
Scenic sites here area Silver Lake,
And, and the much smaller Stony Lake.
The names Hart and Oceana,
Mean the great land enclosed by the sea and governed
by the seabird aquila.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a County in 1851.
County Seat:
Hart.
Second Thought:
This county derives it’s name because of its proximity to Lake Michigan—the
fresh water ocean.
The Michigan county name Ogemaw,
Is rooted in the great motions—the evening stars or vespers.
In Algonquin, the chiefs, or bosses, were called “ogima”.
They are the tribe's in investors.
The County Seat of Ogemaw is the City of West Branch.
In Algonquin, the wasp was called the "amo".
Who into the sky launch.
In Native speech, west was the place of the falling of the
heaven's sun “epan-gishi-mo”,
The wasp is also in English called the vespidae,
The entire circle of the heavens is called a day.
The root of all of these words is to move—
The Algonquin word or to go, is “madja" and a trail or road
is a "mo".
The names West Branch and Ogemaw,
Mean the great evening vespers—the chiefs ephemera.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
West Branch.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Native Chief Ogema-Kegato (1794-1840) a prominent
chief of the Saginaw Valley.
The Michigan county name Ontonagon,
Was said to mean “hunt for my bowl”,
The valley, or basin, called Ontonagon,
It's mouth and river valley is shaped like a bowl.
Legend says a little Native girl,
Put a deep dish, or bowl, in the river of the Ontonagon,
And, not paying attention, it flooded away, in a whirl.
As it floated and went on its way, she yelled, “Nanda onagan.
Nanda onagan”—
Which in English is "Search for my bowl.
Hunt for my bowl”.
In the local region, this legend is well told and very familiar.
The story is a simile as the Ontonagon valley looked much like
the little girl’s bowl,
So, the region took on the name Ontonagon—meaning to a bowl
it was similar.
The name Ontonagon,
Means hunt for my bowl, which is gone.
Formed
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1846.
County Seat:
Ontonagon.
Second Thought:
This county name has had various meanings such as “hunting river”, “lost
bowl”, and “fishing place”. The name
Nantounagon was on an early 1670 French map.
The Michigan county name Osceola,
Means the black medicine singer.
The county was named for Seminole Chief Osceola.
His name meant in essence the person who plays the reed or
chanter.
In Native Algonquin a fife or flute-reed is called a "pipigwewan-ashk".
While the word "wimb-ashk" and “assagaan-ashk”,
Means a hollow herb or reed specie.
The county seat of Osceola is Reed City.
In French, a reed is called a "roseau", which means rush is
the talk.
In Algonquin, "mashkossiw" means an herb, medicine, or stalk.
And, a "mashkikiwinini" is a herbalist, doctor, or medicine
man.
There is a link between the reed and herbs and the shaman.
The names Reed City and Osceola
Mean the medicine chanter who works with a reed or cannula.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Reed City.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Native American Chief Osceola (1803-1838).
The name comes from the Cree word “assiyahola” meaning the black drink singer.
“The
Stony Meadow Of The Lower Peninsula”
The Michigan county name Oscoda,
Means the stony clearing, mead, or meadow.
The name comes from Algonquin “assin mashkode”.
Which means the rocky grassland,
or prairie, that one would mow.
The county seat of Oscoda,
Is the quaint river and hillside City of Mio.
Its name seems to mean maize, grain, or simply milo.
Early people, most likely, collected grain in Oscoda.
The Algonquin word for meal is “miijin”—in Michigan,
And, grain is “miinkaan” ,
Oscoda was the stony grassland.
The prairie, or grazing land.
The names Mio and Oscoda,
Mean the stony meadow of the Lower Peninsula.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1881.
County Seat:
Mio.
Second Thought:
This county name was a Schoolcraft invention meaning stone prairie or meadow.
The City of Mio was said to be the corruption of the name Maria, or Mary.
The Michigan county name Otsego,
Means the rock or stone
And, comes from Iroquois “otsenaro”.
The Old Irish word "gallet" means a pillar of stone.
The county seat of Otsego is the City of Gaylord.
The land of pebbles, gravel, and rocky hills is Gaylord,
Which is nestled In the north between the Sturgeon, Black,
and Thunder Bay Rivers,
And, snuggled in the south by the Boyne and Au Sable Rivers.
Gaylord is a rocky passageway that forms a gap.
In Algonquin a river crossing,
Was called an “ajawa”—I am sure in the way I think,
And, a cliff or rock was called an “ajibik”.
The City of Gaylord is a place situated between rivers—a
low rocky crossing.
The names Gaylord and Otsego,
Mean the gap or passageway—the gape of rock or stone.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
Gaylord.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the county in New York called Otsego, which means
“place of the rock”. An Iroquoian word,
it was also said to mean “the meeting place”.
The county name Ottawa,
Means in Algonquin one who would trade.
A Native People by this name inhabited Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
Their native word "Atawe" meant to offer for sale and be paid.
In German a "tausche" is a person who would barter,
While in French, a “troquer” is a goods broker.
The county seat of Ottawa is the City of Grand Haven.
Which was a place early on that served as a storehouse and
inn.
The trader was often in early times, also, a harbor innkeeper,
The local goods seller and buyer.
Also, in Algonquin, "atass" meant to store something,
While "atawa" meant to bet something.
The names Grand Haven and Ottawa,
Mean the trade people of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
Formed
in 1831,
It became
a county in 1837.
County
Seat: Grand Haven.
Second Thought:
This county was name for the Native American tribe called the Ottawa, whose
name meant the trading people.
The name of the County of Presque Isle,
Is French and means "nearly an island".
The French, also, say—ile,
For an isolated piece or land surrounded by water or an island.
The French the word “presque”,
Means practically or nearly—
Another word for it is roughly,
In Algonquin, near or close is said to be “besh”.
The County Seat of Presque Isle,
Is called Rogers City, a town that is much quarried.
To have tuffs and hills with sunken edges is said to be rugged.
“A rocky hill isolated by water” is a good description of Presque
Isle.
The names Roger's City and Presque Isle
Means roughly
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1871.
County
Seat: Presque Isle.
Second Thought:
This county uses a French phrase “presque isle” meaning “almost an island
or peninsula”.
The name Roscommon,
Is Irish and means “Woods of St. Coman”, we see.
The Celtic name Roscommon,
Means woodland, or forest, community.
The Irish word “ros”,
Means a forest.
In German, wood from the forest,
Is called holz.
The two, large, sporting lakes
Of the County of Roscommon
Are Higgins and Houghton Lakes,
Where fishing and woodland adventures are common.
The name Roscommon,
Means the woodland polity
or common.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1875.
County Seat:
Roscommon.
Second Thought:
This county was named for County Roscommon, Ireland, which is in the central
part of Ireland.
Saginaw County means where the river flows
out.
Saginaw was once called Sankinon and then Saguinon.
The Chippewa-Ottawa word "sagiwan means
at the river's mouth.
To pour out a liquid in Chippewa/Ottawa is "siginan".
In German to pour is "schanken".
In the Huron language, river mouth was "areenti":
Saginaw Bay was once called "Tek-ariendi-ondi" and "Karegnondi.
Saginaw means at the river's mouth.
Formed
in 1822,
It became a county in 1831.
County Seat: Saginaw.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the Native American tribe the Sauks.
The ending “ong”, or “naw”, means place.
The Michigan county name St. Clair eans where the water is
radiant.
Clear is the meaning of the French word “claire”.
The county seat of St. Clair is the City
of Port
Huron,
Which is one of the largest harbors on Lake Huron.
St. Clair County also contains the Black River,
Whose color lies in contrast to the surrounding water that was brilliant.
Another river here is the Belle River,
Who also had the name white river.
The name St. Clair means where the water shines
or is bright.
Formed
in 1820,
It became a county in 1821.
County Seat:
Port Huron.
Second Thought:
This county was named for General Arthur St. Clair, the first governor of
the Northwest Territory, or it was named in 1679 when La Salle arrived here upon
Lake St. Clair on the first day of Saint Claire.
The name St. Joseph means to increase—wax—or crescendo.
In the Bible, St. Joseph was the one who bore the cradle
that swung to and fro.
To crescendo means to turn upward or to upward bend—
It means to form the top edge of a circle.
The St. Joseph River of Michigan forms part of a great circle,
And, two cities along the river's way are Benton Harbor and
South Bend.
The county seat of St. Joseph is the City of Centerville.
Which is located at the heart of the the major bend of the St.
Joseph River.
The Greek word "kyphos" means to curve, bend, or cycle around
a center.
The names Centerville and St. Joseph mean it forms a curve.
Formed
in 1820,
It became
a county in 1829.
County Seat:
Centerville.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the patron saint of New France.
Sanilac County was named for Wyandotte Chief Sannilac.
In the wars with the Iroquois, Sannilac was a
spirit warrior.
The county seat of Sanilac is the City of Sandusky.
In Onondaga, "ochneca" means water, and "ochneca-tschi" means watery.
The place name Sandusky is said to mean cold water.
“Ganiatare” once a name for Lake Huron in Onondaga means a lake, sea, or great water,
Sanilac and Sandusky both seem to be forms of
the same word that means water.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1848.
County Seat:
Sandusky.
Second Thought:
This county was named for the spirit warrior in Henry Whiting’s poem Sannilac,
which may have been obtained from General Cass’ manuscripts. In the poem,
Sannilac was a spirit warrior.
Schoolcraft County was named for the Native American agent Henry Schoolcraft.
His name meant essentially the guide who is a scholar.
Henry Schoocraft was a person who was very
knowledge and schooled in philosophy and technology.
It means being a skilled and clever craftsman.
The county seat of Schoolcraft is the City of Manistique,
In Native language, "manito" means spirit
or mystic.
The name Schoolcraft means the mystic—and
shaman.
Formed
in 1843,
It became
a county in 1846.
County
Seat: Manistique.
Second Thought:
This county was named for Henry R. Schoolcraft, Michigan Native American
Agent.
Shiawassee means the right river with a gleam.
In Algonquin, the name was, likely, originally,
“gwaiak-wasshkong-ziibi”.
Meaning the the straight shining river.
The name Shiawassee is similar to the name Tittabawasee meaning
the turning sparkling river.
The county seat of Shiawassee is the City of Coruna.
A shining crown that rests one's head . . . is
called a corona.
Another city in Shiawassee County is the City of
Owasso.
It was naamed for Chief Owasso.
His name meant he is brilliant or bright.
Into the Saginaw River empty three rivers:
the twisting sparking river or the Tittabawassee,
The Cass once known as the [Sparkling or] Wakishegan, and, the
straight sparkling river or Shiawassee.
These rivers were Michigan's "water of light".
Shiawassee and Coruna mean it shines bright.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Coruna.
Second Thought:
This county name was said to mean the rolling river, the traight
river, and sparkling water.
Tuscola means the level land.
The local Native Chief of Tuscola was Chief Otusson, whose
name meant bench or platform.
The Chippewa and Ottawa word "tessaban"
means platform..
"Tessinagan" means a plate, which is flat.
The French called the Thumb of Michigan Le Pays
Plat.
Le Pays Plat means the
flat country.
Tuscola was originally called in Chippewa and Ottawa the flat
land or "tusci".
The Latin word
"cola", the ending to Tuscola, means farmland.
The county seat of
Tuscola is the City of Caro.
To harrow is the
meaning of the Egyptian City of Cairo.
Cairo was named for
the God of War and Agriculture Mars or Aries.
Tuscola and Caro mean he who harrows or harries.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1850.
County Seat:
Caro.
Second Thought:
This county name was said to be a Henry Schoolcraft invention meaning either
warrior prairie or level lands.
Van Buren means from the arboreal shelter or the
woodland den.
It means from the bower.
The county seat of Van Buren County is the City of Paw Paw.
In Algonquin the "nbaad" is the bed,
warren, or a sleeping
place.
The tree called papaya is also called the the paw paw,
The paw paw is used as an arbor—a shady woodland harbor.
Van Buren and Paw Paw mean the woodland den
Formed
in 1829,
It became
a county in 1837.
County Seat:
Paw Paw.
Second Thought:
This county was named for President Van Buren, who was inaugurated in 1837.
Washtenaw is an Algonquin word that means where one goes
beyond.
Where one goes yonder to the far country is the
meaning of Washtenaw.
The county seat of Washtenaw is the City of Ann Arbor.
The German word “an” means to go further or over.
The word Ann comes form
the Latin and French word “a”, which means to go “toward or to”.
It likewise also means to go "through".
The names Washtenaw and Ann Arbor means to go
farther.
Formed
in 1822,
It became
a county in 1829.
County Seat:
Ann Arbor.
Second Thought:
This county has a Native American name, which was said to mean “on the river”
or “the land beyond”.
The county name Wayne means cart or wagon maker.
Wayne County was named for Revolutionary War General Anthony
Wayne.
The Count Seat of Wayne, today, is Detroit.
The Old French word "detroit" means "narrow
or strait" passageway.
"Wawiiatan" meaning it is
round was the Chippewa word for Detroit.
The eastern part of the strait called Detroit—
Detriot and Wayne County are at
the center of a great inland
waterway.
Many overland trails also
lead to Detroit.
Wayne County is the place
of the wagon-makers.
Wayne County and Detroit are
Michigan's and the World's major auto makers.
Formed
in 1796,
It became
a county in 1815.
County Seat:
Detroit.
Second Thought:
This county was named for General Anthony Wayne (1745-1796), who was famous
in the Revolutionary War.
The County of Wexford
has a Irish name, which means the high ridge.
Wexford is home to a high rolling esker, which
is near a ford.
Wexford is where the land falls from a high glacial
bridge.
The county seat of Wexford is the City of Cadillac
whose names means the great cadence.
The western Wexford hills steeply fall toward the City of
Cadillac . . . by chance.
The Latin word "cado" means to fall.
Fin French, "lac" means lake.
Wexford is a place of the
great prominence and hills that have a precipitous brake.
In Greek "kata" also means to go down or fall.
The names Wexford and Cadillac mean the great cadence by the lake.
Formed
in 1840,
It became
a county in 1869.
County Seat:
Cadillac.
Second Thought:
This county was named for County Wexford, Ireland, which is in the southeastern
part of Ireland.
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