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Eaton County, Michigan

Coordinates: 42°35′N 84°51′W / 42.59°N 84.85°W / 42.59; -84.85
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Eaton County
County
Eaton County Courthouse
Eaton County Courthouse
Official seal of Eaton County
Seal
Map of Michigan highlighting Eaton County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°35′N 84°51′W / 42.59°N 84.85°W / 42.59; -84.85
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1837[1]
Named forJohn Eaton
SeatCharlotte
Largest cityCharlotte
Area
 • Total
579 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Land575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
109,175
 • Estimate 
(2023)
108,820 Decrease
 • Density190/sq mi (73/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 7th
Websitewww.eatoncounty.org

Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 109,175.[2] The county seat is Charlotte.[3] The county was organized in 1837 and was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties.[1] Eaton County is included in the Lansing-East Lansing, Metropolitan Statistical area in Central Michigan.

History

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Eaton County was organized in 1837 from open territory. It was named after John H. Eaton, an American Secretary of War.[4] The county is one of the so-called Cabinet counties because it was named after a member of the cabinet of US President Andrew Jackson.[5]

Eaton County was created by the Michigan Territorial Legislature on October 29, 1829: "That as much of the country as is included within the following limits, viz., north of the base line and south of the line between townships four and five north of the base line, and east of the line between ranges six and seven west of the meridian, and west of the line between ranges two and three west of the meridian, be and the same is set off into a separate county, and the name thereof shall be Eaton." The county was named in honor of Gen. John H. Eaton, secretary of war in the cabinet of President Andrew Jackson. The following week (November 4), the legislature added this directive: "That the county of Eaton shall be attached to and compose a part of the county of St. Joseph." On November 5, they also added an act to direct that the counties of Eaton, Branch and Calhoun, and all the country north attached to Eaton be set off into a township by the name of Eaton, and it was ordered that the first town meeting should be held at the house of Jabez Bronson, who lived on the site of the present village of Bronson in Branch county. This was no hardship, for there was not at that time a single white settler within the bounds of Eaton county.

The following summer (July 30, 1830), the Territorial Legislature changed Eaton's assignment, attaching it to Kalamazoo for administrative, revenue, and judicial purposes. Then on March 17, 1835, it directed: "That the county of Eaton shall be a township of Belleville,' and the first township meeting shall be held at such place as the sheriff of Calhoun county shall appoint in said county of Eaton, and shall be attached to the county of Eaton for all judicial purposes."

By 1837 the Territory had been admitted to the Union as a State. On December 29 of that year, the new state legislature created Eaton County as an independent entity: "That the county of Eaton be and the same is hereby organized, and the inhabitants thereof entitled to all the rights and privileges to which by law the inhabitants of other counties of this state are entitled."

While the name "Belleville" was given to the first organized township, including the whole county, it does not appear to have been used in any official documents. The second place where the name of the township is mentioned in a legislative enactment is on March 17 in the session laws of 1837, where it appears under the name of "Bellevue." Official business has always been transacted under the latter name, and yet there is no known law showing that the name has ever been legally changed from "Belleville."

The first division of the town of Bellevue occurred on March 11, 1837, when Eaton and Vermontville were organized. The four northwestern townships, now Vermontville, Chester, Roxand and Sunfield, were set off as a township and named Vermontville; while the four southeastern townships, now Eaton, Eaton Rapids, Hamlin, and Brookfield were organized as the township of Eaton.

This left the four northeastern towns, Benton, Oneida, Delta, and Windsor, and the four remaining towns, Bellevue, Kalamo, Carmel, and Walton, cornering at the geographical center of the county in a single organized township known as Bellevue. But on March 6, 1838, the northeast quarter of the county was detached from Bellevue and was formed as the town of Oneida.

In 1832, a surveyor, George W. Barnes, bought a homestead in central Eaton County; that area is now contained in Charlotte. On March 21, 1833, he applied to Territorial Governor George B. Porter for a commission to be appointed to locate the county seat: "That in the month of may last he put up in three public places in the county of Kalamazoo notices that application would be made to the governor of the territory of Michigan to appoint commissioners to locate a seat of justice for Eaton County, agreeably to the law in such cases made and provided." Accordingly, three locals (Charles C. Hascall, Stillman Blanchard, John W. Strong) were named on April 29. On June 5 they reported to the Governor that they met "at Prairie Ronde [Round] in the county of Kalamazoo on the 27th day of May, 1833, and on June 4, located the county seat on land which is owned by George W. Barnes. The point selected for the seat of justice in this county is on a beautiful prairie, about one mile square, near two and a half miles south of the center of the county, and about one mile north of the Battle creek, the nearest point to the center of the county where water can be obtained for hydraulic purposes."

Geography

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According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 575 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]

Rivers

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Lakes

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Adjacent counties

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Transportation

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Major highways

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Airports

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18402,379—
18507,058196.7%
186016,476133.4%
187025,17152.8%
188031,22524.1%
189032,0942.8%
190031,668−1.3%
191030,499−3.7%
192029,377−3.7%
193031,7288.0%
194034,1247.6%
195040,02317.3%
196049,68424.1%
197068,89238.7%
198088,33728.2%
199092,8795.1%
2000103,65511.6%
2010107,7594.0%
2020109,1751.3%
2023 (est.)108,820[8]−0.3%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 107,759 people living in the county. 87.8% were White, 6.3% Black or African American, 1.7% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 1.2% of some other race and 2.6% of two or more races. 4.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 24.2% were of English ancestry, 22.9% were of German ancestry and 9.3% were of Irish ancestry.[13]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[14] there were 103,655 people, 40,167 households, and 28,237 families in the county. The population density was 180 inhabitants per square mile (69/km2). There were 42,118 housing units at an average density of 73 per square mile (28/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.25% White, 5.29% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. 3.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 95.6% spoke only English, while 2.0% spoke Spanish.

There were 40,167 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.

The county population contained 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,588, and the median income for a family was $57,898. Males had a median income of $41,978 versus $29,638 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,411. About 4.10% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.80% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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An architectural rendering for the Eaton County Courthouse, designed by David W. Gibbs and Company in the 1880s. The drawing shows an exterior elevation of the side of the courthouse.
Architectural drawing for the Eaton County Courthouse, designed by David W. Gibbs and Company, 1880s

Eaton County has been reliably Republican for most of its history. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried the county vote in 81% of the elections (29 of 36 elections) for president. However, population growth in Lansing and the surrounding area has made the county more competitive in recent years. Barack Obama carried the county in both 2008 and 2012, as did Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, in her winning gubernatorial campaigns of 2002 and 2006. In 2014, Republican governor Rick Snyder narrowly lost the county while winning statewide. Donald Trump won by narrow margins in 2016 and 2020, and won a majority in 2024.

United States presidential election results for Eaton County, Michigan[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 33,102 50.76% 31,056 47.63% 1,050 1.61%
2020 31,798 49.43% 31,299 48.66% 1,230 1.91%
2016 27,609 48.80% 24,938 44.08% 4,028 7.12%
2012 26,197 47.82% 27,913 50.95% 678 1.24%
2008 25,900 44.95% 30,742 53.36% 974 1.69%
2004 29,781 53.41% 25,411 45.58% 563 1.01%
2000 24,803 50.34% 23,211 47.11% 1,258 2.55%
1996 20,092 44.98% 19,781 44.29% 4,793 10.73%
1992 18,669 38.99% 16,752 34.99% 12,462 26.03%
1988 24,193 60.78% 15,322 38.49% 291 0.73%
1984 27,720 72.57% 10,290 26.94% 189 0.49%
1980 22,927 57.35% 12,742 31.87% 4,308 10.78%
1976 22,120 63.65% 12,083 34.77% 547 1.57%
1972 20,413 68.47% 8,986 30.14% 412 1.38%
1968 14,184 57.13% 8,347 33.62% 2,295 9.24%
1964 8,919 41.38% 12,590 58.41% 46 0.21%
1960 14,163 66.97% 6,912 32.68% 74 0.35%
1956 13,762 69.33% 6,053 30.49% 35 0.18%
1952 13,723 72.16% 5,170 27.18% 125 0.66%
1948 8,637 64.84% 4,264 32.01% 419 3.15%
1944 9,975 65.89% 5,049 33.35% 116 0.77%
1940 9,864 63.26% 5,645 36.20% 85 0.55%
1936 6,649 47.39% 6,780 48.32% 602 4.29%
1932 5,840 44.34% 6,887 52.29% 445 3.38%
1928 8,493 78.38% 2,285 21.09% 58 0.54%
1924 8,232 73.66% 2,462 22.03% 481 4.30%
1920 7,343 70.99% 2,727 26.36% 274 2.65%
1916 3,802 50.82% 3,461 46.26% 218 2.91%
1912 2,333 32.02% 2,482 34.06% 2,472 33.92%
1908 4,364 55.92% 3,131 40.12% 309 3.96%
1904 5,553 69.39% 2,141 26.75% 309 3.86%
1900 4,809 53.78% 3,908 43.70% 225 2.52%
1896 4,270 46.97% 4,631 50.95% 189 2.08%
1892 3,788 48.24% 2,837 36.13% 1,228 15.64%
1888 4,624 52.11% 3,266 36.81% 983 11.08%
1884 4,106 49.37% 3,717 44.69% 494 5.94%

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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.

Elected officials

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County Board of Commissioners

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15 members, elected from districts (8 Republicans, 7 Democrats)

Education

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School districts located in Eaton County:

Some county residents attend out-of-county schools:

  • Village of Dimondale (Holt Public Schools, Holt, Ingham County)
  • Village of Sunfield (Lakewood Public Schools, Lake Odessa, Ionia County)
  • A small portion of northeast Delta Township (Lansing Public Schools, Lansing, Ingham County)
  • Ingham Intermediate School District (Waverly Community Schools, Village of Dimondale, portion of Delta Township)
  • Ionia Intermediate School District (Village of Sunfield)
  • Calhoun Intermediate School District (Bellevue Community Schools, Olivet Community Schools)

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Townships

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Eaton County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 113.
  5. ^ "About Us". Archived from the original on February 14, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  7. ^ Rapids Airway Airport (AirNav.com) - accessed 2 September 2018
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  13. ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website".
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
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42°35′N 84°51′W / 42.59°N 84.85°W / 42.59; -84.85

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