The Great American Survey: A Slapdash Database of Historic Buildings

  Founding:  1850 (declared in 1840) Parent county:  Sanilac Namesake:  A neologism coined by Henry Schoolcraft Seat:  Vassar (1850–1865); Caro (1865–) Land area:  803 square miles Population (2020):  53,323 Population (historic):  4,886 (1860); 25,738 (1880); 25,890 (1900); 32,934 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1890; 1900s; 1930–1980; 1990s Subdivisions:  Two cities; nine villages; one CDP; 23 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  5,241 (21.4%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  58% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  7.4% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  6.6% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,380 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,411 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.6 rooms Number of farms (1920):  4,658 Average farm size (1920):  72 acres Sources of settlement:  Canada, New York, Ohio, Germany, Pennsylvani...

  Founding:  1835 (declared in 1822) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  The Saginaw River Seat:  Saginaw (1835–) Land area:  800 square miles Population (2020):  190,124 Population (historic):  892 (1840); 12,693 (1860); 59,095 (1880); 81,222 (1900); 120,717 (1930) Periods of population growth:  1840–1890; 1900–1980 Subdivisions:  Three cities; five villages; seven CDPs; 27 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  15,659 (17.9%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  48.8% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  20.5% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  13.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  7.1% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,663 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,588 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.4 rooms Number of farms (1920):  5,143 Average farm size (1920):  61.7 acres Sources of settlement:  Canada, New York, Germany, Ohio, and Ireland _______________...

Founding:  1836 (declared in 1831) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  James Kent, New York jurist Seat:  Grand Rapids (1836–) Land area:  847 square miles Population (2020):  657,974 Population (historic):  2,587 (1840); 30,716 (1860); 73,253 (1880); 129,714 (1900); 240,511 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1840–2020 Subdivisions:  Nine cities; five villages; five CDPs; 21 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  45,261 (17.4%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  57.8% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  14.3% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.5% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  4.3% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,804 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,780 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.7 rooms Number of farms (1920):  5,605 Average farm size (1920):  62.9 acres Sources of settlement:  New York, Holland, Canada, German...

Founding:  1857 Parent counties:  Arenac, Midland, and Saginaw Namesake:  Saginaw Bay Seat:  Bay City (1857–) Land area:  442 square miles Population (2020):  103,856 Population (historic):  3,164 (1860); 38,081 (1880); 62,378 (1900); 69,474 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1920; 1930–1980 Subdivisions:  Four cities; 14 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  11,615 (24%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  59.3% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.9% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  5.7% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,676 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,421 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.3 rooms Number of farms (1920):  3,216 Average farm size (1920):  52.2 acres Sources of settlement:  Canada, New York, Germany, Ireland, Ohio, and Poland _________________________________________________________________________________ Bay City ...

Founding:  1851 (declared in 1840) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  Uncertain—likely a word of Ojibwe origin Seat:  Newaygo (1851–1881); White Cloud (1881–) Land area:  813 square miles Population (2020):  49,978 Population (historic):  2,760 (1860); 14,688 (1880); 17,673 (1900); 17,029 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1890; 1900s; 1930–2020 Subdivisions:  Four cities; one village; 24 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  2,920 (11.5%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  52.4% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  5.4% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  18.8% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  11.5% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,144 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,044 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5.7 rooms Number of farms (1920):  2,836 Average farm size (1920):  59.1 acres Sources of settlement:  Michigan, New...

Founding:  1836 (declared in 1835) Parent counties:  Lapeer, Saginaw, and Shiawassee Namesake:  Genesee County, New York Seat:  Flint (1836–) Land area:  637 square miles Population (2020):  406,211 Population (historic):  4,268 (1840); 22,498 (1860); 39,220 (1880); 41,804 (1900); 211,641 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1840–1980; 1990s Subdivisions:  11 cities; five villages; three CDPs; 18 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  20,534 (10.6%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  37.7% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  11.9% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  7.5% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  4.7% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,855 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,768 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.1 rooms Number of farms (1920):  3,639 Average farm size (1920):  80.1 acres Sources of settlement:  New York, Canada, England,...

Founding:  1859 (declared in 1840) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  Mecosta, Potawatomi chief Seat:  Big Rapids (1859–) Land area:  555 square miles Population (2020):  39,714 Population (historic):  970 (1860); 13,973 (1880); 20,693 (1900); 15,738 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1900; 1930–2010 Subdivisions:  One city; four villages; one CDP; 16 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  2,414 (11.3%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  60.9% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  21.4% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  9% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,103 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,058 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.2 rooms Number of farms (1920):  2,676 Average farm size (1920):  61.8 acres Sources of settlement:  Michigan, New York, Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Germany ____________________________________________...

Founding:  1861 (declared in 1843) Parent county:  Mackinac Namesake:  A reference to the county's triangular shape Seat:  Escanaba (1861–) Land area:  1,171 square miles Population (2020):  36,903 Population (historic):  1,172 (1860); 6,812 (1880); 23,881 (1900); 32,280 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1940; 1950–1980; 1990s Subdivisions:  Two cities; one village; 14 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  5,327 (26.2%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  60.4% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  18.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.2% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,109 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $904 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,395 Average farm size (1920):  38 acres Sources of settlement:  Michigan, Wisconsin, Sweden, France, Canada, Germany, and New York ____________________________________...

Founding:  1837 (declared in 1831) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  The Ottawa people Seat:  Grand Haven (1837–) Land area:  563 square miles Population (2020):  296,200 Population (historic):  5,587 (1850); 26,651 (1870); 35,358 (1890); 45,301 (1910); 54,858 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1850–2020 Subdivisions:  Six cities; one village; three CDPs; 17 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  10,610 (9.6%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  60.8% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  9.4% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  3.9% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,837 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,556 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.4 rooms Number of farms (1920):  4,296 Average farm size (1920):  55.5 acres Sources of settlement:  Holland, New York, Canada, Germany, Ohio, and Irela...

Founding:  1853 (declared in 1840) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  Robert Emmet, Irish nationalist Seat:  St. James (1853–1857); Harbor Springs (1857–1902); Petoskey (1902–) Land area:  467 square miles Population (2020):  34,112 Population (historic):  1,149 (1860); 6,639 (1880); 15,931 (1900); 15,109 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1910; 1930–1950; 1960–2020 Subdivisions:  Two cities; three cities; nine CDPs; 16 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  3,309 (15.3%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  67.6% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  12.2% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  6.9% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,023 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $693 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5.5 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,298 Average farm size (1920):  47.4 acres Sources of settlement:  Michigan, Canada, New York, Ohio, G...

Founding:  1859 (declared in 1831) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  Queen Isabella I of Castile, Spanish monarch Seat:   Isabella Center (1859–1860); Mount Pleasant (1860–) Land area:  573 square miles Population (2020):  64,394 Population (historic):  1,443 (1860); 12,159 (1880); 22,784 (1900); 21,126 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1910; 1930–2010 Subdivisions:  One city; three villages; three CDPs; 16 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  3,094 (10.6%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  49.2% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  12.3% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  9.7% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,367 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,463 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6.3 rooms Number of farms (1920):  3,333 Average farm size (1920):  63.5 acres Sources of settlement:  Michigan, Canada, Ohio, New York, and Germa...

Founding:  1851 (declared in 1840) Parent county:  Unorganized territory Namesake:  Grand Traverse Bay Seat:  Traverse City (1851–) Land area:  464 square miles Population (2020):  95,238 Population (historic):  1,286 (1860); 8,422 (1880); 20,479 (1900); 20,011 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1860–1910; 1920–2020 Subdivisions:  One city; two villages; three CDPs; 13 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  5,253 (11.8%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  63.6% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  8.1% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  4% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $1,402 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,320 Average farmhouse size (1940):  6 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,725 Average farm size (1920):  66 acres Sources of settlement:  Michigan, New York, Canada, Ohio, Indiana, and Germany _______________________________________________________...

Founding:  1826 Parent county:  Mackinac Namesake:  The Chippewa people Seat:  Sault Ste. Marie (1826–) Land area:  1,558 square miles Population (2020):  36,785 Population (historic):  626 (1830); 898 (1850); 1,689 (1870); 12,019 (1890); 24,472 (1910); 25,047 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1830; 1840–1960; 1980–2000 Subdivisions:  One city; one village; 16 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  3,058 (14.3%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  49.3% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  9.6% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  12.9% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  15.5% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $898 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $1,081 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5.3 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,569 Average farm size (1920):  67.5 acres Sources of settlement:  Canada, Michigan, England, France, and New York _____________...

Founding:  1851 (declared in 1843) Parent counties:  Chippewa and Mackinac Namesake:  Jacques Marquette, Jesuit missionary Seat:  Marquette (1850s–) Land area:  1,808 square miles Population (2020):  66,017 Population (historic):  2,821 (1860); 25,394 (1880); 41,239 (1900); 44,076 (1930) Periods of population growth:  1850–1910; 1930–1980; 2000s Subdivisions:  Three cities; nine CDPs; 19 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  6,535 (18.7%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  68% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  7.8% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  7.2% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $901 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $944 Average farmhouse size (1940):  4.9 rooms Number of farms (1920):  846 Average farm size (1920):  33 acres Sources of settlement:  Canada, Sweden, Finland, France, New York, Germany, England, and Ireland _____________________________...

Founding:  1846 (declared in 1845) Parent county:  Marquette Namesake:  Douglass Houghton, Michigan geologist Seat:  Eagle River (1846–1861); Houghton (1861–) Land area:  1,009 square miles Population (2020):  37,361 Population (historic):  708 (1850); 13,879 (1870); 35,389 (1890); 88,098 (1910); 52,851 (1930) Periods of population growth:  pre-1850–1910; 1970s; 1990–2020 Subdivisions:  Two cities; five villages; two CDPs; 14 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated):  7,695 (41%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate:  64.5% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940):  1.9% Farm housing in disrepair (1950):  18.5% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950):  11% Average farmhouse value (1930):  $671 Average outbuilding value (1930):  $677 Average farmhouse size (1940):  5 rooms Number of farms (1920):  1,741 Average farm size (1920):  32.6 acres Sources of settlement:  Sweden, Fin...