Michigan Counties records differ extensively from county to county both in quality as well as quantity. Some happen to have been carefully conserved while others have been significantly abused and mistreated. Many Michigan records have simply vanished. For genealogists carrying out research in Michigan there is no valuable substitute to have an on-site search of county courthouse records. For Definitions of all court terms see the Genealogy Encyclopedia
Michigan Counties – There are 83 counties that exist in Michigan. Each one holds records that may include: Land, Estates, Taxes, Vital Records, Divorces, Naturalizations, Voter Registration, Court Records. Other records may also be included. However, other resources do need to be consulted. For example, land records can be found in the office of the register of deeds, while probate records can be found in the office of the probate judge. Vital records are generally held by the county clerk. Circuit court records are sometimes held at circuit court offices, but some counties file them with the county clerk as well.
The creation of counties generally occurred in two stages.
- First the boundaries of a county were declared and given a name. The county appeared on maps, even though this may have been the entire extent of a county’s tangible existence for several years. During this period, the as yet unorganized county was attached to another already organized county for administrative purposes. The legislature frequently changed the administrative attachment of these unorganized counties.
- Residents of such an attached county could petition the legislature for organization, which was the granting of full legal recognition to the county.
Researchers should check county websites, since some of them provide online search tools for vital records. See also a list of links to county and county seat government run websites.
List of Michigan Extinct Counties
Michigan seems to have counties that no longer exist. They were recognized by the state, provincial, or territorial government. A lot of these counties were established and disbanded in the 19th century; county borders have changed little since 1900 in the great most of states. These counties should be looked at when you are conducting genealogy research. Pay attention where the courthouse records went to if the county was eliminated or combined with a different county.
- Aischum County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Lake County in 8 March 1843
- Anamickee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 and renamed Alpena County in 8 March 1843
- Bleeker County: Formed in 1861 and renamed Menominee County in 19 March 1863
- Brown County: Formed in 26 Oct 1818 became part of the Wisconsin Terr. in December 7th 1836. Now in Wisconsin
- Charlevoix(old) County: Formed in 1840 as Keskkauko County and renamed Charlevoix County in 1843. Merged with Emmet Co in 1853
- Cheonoquet County: Formed in 1 April 1840 and renamed Montmorency County in 8 March 1843)
- Crawford(old) County: Formed in 1818 from unorganized land became part of the Wisconsin Terr in 1836. Now in Wisconsin
- Des Moines County: Formed in 1834 from unorganized land became part of the Wisconsin Terr in 1836. Now in Iowa
- Dubuque County: Formed in 1834 from unorganized land became part of the Wisconsin Terr in 1836. Now in Iowa
- Iowa County: Formed in 1830 from Crawford County became part of the Wisconsin Territory. in 1836. Now in Wisconsin
- Isle Royale County: Formed in 1875 from Keweenaw County and attached to Houghton Co in 1885 abolished in 1897 and became part of Keweenaw Co
- Kanotin County: Formed in 1 Feb 1840 from unorganized land and renamed Iosco County in 1843
- Kautawaubet County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Wexford County in 8 March 1843.
- Kayakee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County, Saginaw Co and unorganized land; renamed Clare County in 8 March 1843
- Kautawaubet County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Charlevoix County in 1843
- Isle Royale County: Formed in 1875 from Keweenaw County and attached to Houghton County in 1885; abolished in 1897and became part of Keweenaw County
- Negwegon County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and unorganized land; renamed Alcona County in 1843
- Notipekago County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and Ottawa County; renamed Mason County in 1843
- Meegisee County: Formed in 1840 and renamed Antrim County in 1843
- Mikenauk County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and Unorganized Land renamed Roscommon County in 8 March 1843.
- Manitou County: Formed in 13 Feb 1855 from Emmet and Leelanau Counties. In 1861 the county government was disorganized and Manitou was attached to Mackinac County. In 1865 it was attached to Leelanau County then again attached to Mackinac County in 1869. Finally in 1895 Manitou was abolished and was absorbed by Charlevoix and Leelanau Counties
- Meegisee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Antrim County in 8 March 1843
- Michilimackinac County: Formed in 26 Oct 1818 from Wayne County and renamed Mackinac County in 8 March 1843
- Milwaukee County: Formed in 1834 from Brown County and became part of the Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now in Wisconsin
- Negwegon County: aka Neewago; Formed in 1 April 1840 from Unorganized Land and renamed Alcona County in 8 March 1843
- Notipekago County: aka Nontipekago; Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Mason County in 8 March 1843
- Okkuddo County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Otsego County in 1843
- Omeena County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and abolished in 1853; became part of Grand Traverse County in 1843
- Okkuddo County: aka Okkudo; Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Otsego County in 8 March 1843
- Omeena County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and abolished in 1853; became part of Grand Traverse County in 1853
- Reshkauko County: Organized 1 April 1840 and renamed Charlevoix County 8 March 1843
- Shawono County: aka Shawano and Shawona; Formed in 26 oct 1818 from Mackinac County and renamed Crawford County in 8 March 1843
- Tonedagana County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Emmet County in 8 March 1843
- Unwattin County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Osceola County in 8 March 1843; Some records in Ottawa County
- Wabassee County: Formed in 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and renamed Kalkaska County in 8 March 1843
- Washington County: Formed in 1867 from Marquette County but declared unconstitutional
- Wyandiot County: Formed in 1840 from Mackinac County and abolished in 1853; became part of Cheboygan County in 1853
List of Michigan Counties with Burned Courthouses
- Montcalm County Courthouse – Courthouse was destroyed by Fire on February 16 1905 although the county records were saved. The present courthouse was built in 1910.
- Montmorency County Courthouse – County Courthouse burned in 1942 destroying the Prosecuting Attorney’s records. After the fire surviving records were moved to the Community Hall. One year later this building also burned and with it all county documents–the exceptions being Montmorency’s birth death and marriage statistics.
List of Michigan Counties
List of Michigan Counties
| County | Date Formed | Parent County | County Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona | 1840 (boundaries declared) 1869 (organised) | From unorganized territory (named Negwegon County until 1843) | Harrisville |
| Alger | 1885 | Schoolcraft County. | Munising |
| Allegan | 1831 (boundaries declared) 1835 (organised) | Barry County and unorganized territory. | Allegan |
| Alpena | 1840 (boundaries declared) 1857 (organized) | Mackinac and unorganized territory (named Anamickee Counties until 1843) | Alpena |
| Antrim | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Meegisee County until 1843) | Bellaire |
| Arenac | 1831 | From unorganized territory (Annexed to Bay County in 1857 and reinstated in 1883) | Standish |
| Baraga | 1875 | Houghton County. | L'Anse |
| Barry | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Hastings |
| Bay | 1857 | Arenac, Midland and Saginaw Counties. | Bay City |
| Benzie | 1863 | Leelenau County. | Beulah |
| Berrien | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | St. Joseph |
| Branch | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Coldwater |
| Calhoun | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Marshall |
| Cass | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Cassopolis |
| Charlevoix | 1869 | Antrim, Emmet and Otsego Counties. | Charlevoix |
| Cheboygan | 1840 | Mackinac County. | Cheboygan |
| Chippewa | 1827 | Mackinac County. | Sault Ste. Marie |
| Clare | 1840 | Mackinac and unorganized territory (named Kaykakee Counties until 1843 | Harrison |
| Clinton | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | St. Johns |
| Crawford | 1840 | Mackinac and unorganized territory (named Shawano Counties until 1843 | Grayling |
| Delta | 1843 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Escanaba |
| Dickinson | 1891 | Iron, Marquette and Menominee Counties. | Iron Mountain |
| Eaton | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Charlotte |
| Emmet | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Tonegadana County until 1843) | Petoskey |
| Genesee | 1835 | Lapeer, Saginaw and Shiawassee Counties. | Flint |
| Gladwin | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | Gladwin |
| Gogebic | 1887 | Ontonagon County. | Bessemer |
| Grand Traverse | 1851 | Omeena County. | Traverse City |
| Gratiot | 1831 | From unorganized territory. | Ithaca |
| Hillsdale | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Hillsdale |
| Houghton | 1845 | Marquette and Ontonagon Counties. | Houghton |
| Huron | 1840 | Sanilac County. | Bad Axe |
| Ingham | 1829 (boundaries declared) 1838 (organised) | Shiawassee and Washtenaw Counties and unorganized territory. | Mason |
| Ionia | 1831 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Ionia |
| Iosco | 1840 | From unorganized territory (named Kanotin County until 1843) | Tawas City |
| Iron | 1885 | Marquette and Menominee Counties. | Crystal Falls |
| Isabella | 1831 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Mt. Pleasant |
| Jackson | 1829 (boundaries declared) 1832 (organised) | Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. | Jackson |
| Kalamazoo | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Kalamazoo |
| Kalkaska | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Wabassee County until 1843) | Kalkaska |
| Kent | 1831 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Grand Rapids |
| Keweenaw | 1861 | Houghton County. | Eagle River |
| Lake | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Aischum County until 1843) | Baldwin |
| Lapeer | 1822 | Oakland and St. Clair Counties. | Lapeer |
| Leelenau | 1840 | Mackinac County. | Suttons Bay Township |
| Lenawee | 1822 | Monroe County. | Adrian |
| Livingston | 1833 (boundaries declared) 1836 (organised) | Shiawassee and Washtenaw Counties. | Howell |
| Luce | 1887 | Chippewa and Mackinac Counties. | Newberry |
| Mackinac | 1818 | Wayne County (named Michilimackinac County until 1837) | St. Ignace |
| Macomb | 1818 | Wayne County. | Mt. Clemens |
| Manistee | 1840 | Mackinac County. | Manistee |
| Marquette | 1843 | Chippewa and Mackinac Counties. | Marquette |
| Mason | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Notipekago County until 1843) | Ludington |
| Mecosta | 1840 | Mackinac and Oceana Counties. | Big Rapids |
| Menominee | 1861 | Delta County (named Bleeker County until 1863) | Menominee |
| Midland | 1831 | Saginaw County and unorganized territory. | Midland |
| Missaukee | 1840 | Mackinac County. | Lake City |
| Monroe | 1817 | Wayne County. | Monroe |
| Montcalm | 1831 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Stanton |
| Montmorency | 1840 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory (named Cheonoquet Counties until 1843) | Atlanta |
| Muskegon | 1859 | Oceana and Ottawa Counties. | Muskegon |
| Newaygo | 1840 | Mackinac and Oceana Counties. | White Cloud |
| Oakland | 1819 (boundaries declared) 1820 (organized) | Macomb County. | Pontiac |
| Oceana | 1831 | Mackinac County. | Hart |
| Ogemaw | 1840 | From unorganized territory (Annexed to Iosco County in 1867 and reinstated in 1873) | West Branch |
| Ontonagon | 1843 | Chippewa and Mackinac Counties. | Ontonagon |
| Osceola | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Unwattin County until 1843) | Reed City |
| Oscoda | 1840 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Mio |
| Otsego | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Okkudo County until 1843) | Gaylord |
| Ottawa | 1831 | Mackinac County and unorganized territory. | Grand Haven |
| Presque Isle | 1840 | Mackinac County. | Rogers City |
| Roscommon | 1840 | Mackinac and unorganized territory (named Mikenauk County until 1843) | Roscommon |
| Saginaw | 1822 | Oakland County. | Saginaw |
| St. Clair | 1820 | Macomb County. | Port Huron |
| St. Joseph | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Centreville |
| Sanilac | 1822 | St. Clair County. | Sandusky |
| Schoolcraft | 1843 | Chippewa and Mackinac Counties. | Manistique |
| Shiawassee | 1822 | Oakland and St. Clair Counties. | Corunna |
| Tuscola | 1840 | Sanilac County. | Caro |
| Van Buren | 1829 | From unorganized territory. | Paw Paw |
| Washtenaw | 1822 (boundaries declared) 1826 (organised) | Oakland and Wayne Counties | Ann Arbor |
| Wayne | 1815 | All lands within Michigan Territory that had been ceded by Native Americans through the 1807 Treaty of Detroit. | Detroit |
| Wexford | 1840 | Mackinac County (named Kautawaubet County until 1843) | Cadillac |