Wexford County is largely covered by the Manistee National Forest, and thus is heavily wooded. The Manistee River flows from east to west in the north of the county. Briar Hill, the highest point in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, is located in northwestern Wexford County, at 1,706 feet (520 m).
The county is the location of the first known sighting of the Michigan Dogman, in 1887.[5]
The county was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Kautawaubet County,[6][7] after a Potawatomi phrase meaning "broken tooth," and the name of a local Potawatomi chief. In 1843, legislators renamed the county Wexford,[6] after County Wexford in Ireland.
In 1851, Wexford County was attached to Grand Traverse County for administrative purposes.[8] It was then attached to Manistee County in 1855, before being organized on its own in 1869.[1]
County seat battle
The Wexford County seat of government, originally located in Sherman, was moved to Manton in 1881, as the result of a compromise between the feuding residents of Cadillac and Sherman. Cadillac partisans, however, won the county seat by a county-wide vote in April 1882.[9] The day following the election, a sheriff's posse left the city for Manton by special train to seize the county records. After they arrived and collected a portion of the materials, however, an angry crowd confronted the Cadillac men and drove them out of town.[10]
When the sheriff returned to Cadillac, he encountered a force consisting of several hundred armed men; this group reportedly included a brass band. The Sheriff's force, some of whom may have been intoxicated, traveled back to Manton to seize the remaining records. Although Manton residents confronted the Cadillac men and barricaded the courthouse, the posse successfully seized the documents. They returned to Cadillac in dubious glory.[10]
Geography
The Manistee River flows westward through the upper part of Wexford County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, largely tree-covered.[11] The terrain slopes to the west,[12] with its highest point, Briar Hill in Manistee National Forest[13] at 1,706 feet (520 m).
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575.46 sqmi (1,490 km2), of which 565.00 sqmi (1,463 km2) is land and 10.46 sqmi (27.1 km2) (1.8%) is water.[14]
US 131 is a north–south highway that runs in the east of the county. Much of the highway within Wexford County is a freeway, including bypasses of Cadillac and Manton. South of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Reed City, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. North of Wexford County, the highway, as a two-lane road, can be used to access Kalkaska and Petoskey.
Bus. US 131 is a business route serving downtown Cadillac. The route was created in 2001 with the completion of the US 131 freeway on the east side of Cadillac.
Bus. US 131 is a business route serving downtown Manton. The route was created in 2003 with the completion of the US 131 freeway on the east side of Manton.
M-37 is a north–south route in the west of the county. The highway runs through the villages of Mesick and Buckley. South of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Baldwin, White Cloud, and Newaygo. North of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Traverse City.
M-42 is an east–west highway in the northeast of the county. The route begins in Manton, and continues east into Missaukee County, where it can be used to access Lake City. Prior to 2007, the highway continued west from Manton to M-37 near Mesick.
M-55 is an east–west route that runs in the south of the county. The highway passes to the south and east of Cadillac, concurrent at points with US 131 and M-115. West of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Manistee. East of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Lake City and Houghton Lake.
M-115 is a diagonal northwest–southeast highway. The highway passes through the village of Mesick and passes southwest of Cadillac. Northwest of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Copemish and Frankfort. Southeast of Wexford County, the highway can be used to access Clare.
Communities
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Wexford County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only 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.
Wexford County is one of the few counties to have given majorities to both the first Republican candidate, John C. Frémont,[21] and to John McCain in his 2008 presidential campaign.[22] The county also twice favored Democrat Bill Clinton.[23]
Wexford County is divided between Michigan's 1st and 2nd congressional districts, both represented by Republicans Jack Bergman and John Moolenaar, respectively.
United States presidential election results for Wexford County, Michigan[24]
There are many attractions and hot spots in Wexford County. The Manistee National Forest is one recreation site. The Manistee River is used by fishermen, kayakers, and canoers. There are many lakes; the largest are Cadillac and Mitchell. Two hundred miles of snowmobile trails are maintained by the Cadillac Winter Promotions volunteer group. There are at least eight golf courses near Cadillac. There are several museums near Cadillac. The Wexford Civic Center is a 4,000 capacity arena, 300 capacity hockey facility, 300 capacity grand stand, and several buildings for agricultural shows and expos.
Chapter XVII Wexford County in A history of northern Michigan and its people by Perry F. Powers; assisted by H.G. Cutler. Powers, Perry Francis, 1857–1945. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. p. 404
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