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In 1618, the first European, a Frenchmen named Étienne Brulé, came to what is now Michigan. At that time, there were several Native American tribes in the area. Soon, Sieur de la Salle, Jacques Marquette Louis Joliet and other French explorers came to Michigan as well. Sault Ste. Marie became home to the first permanent settlement in the area in 1668.

There was a strong French presence in the region until 1763, when Great Britain took control of the area after the French and Indian Wars ended. Although the United States acquired most of what is now Michigan after the Revolutionary War, conflicts continued between the U.S. and Great Britain, as well as various Indian tribes. Those conflicts didn’t begin to wind down until after the War of 1812 ended.

Michigan Counties – The Michigan Territory was created on Jan. 11 1805. The State of Michigan was founded as the 26th state on Jan. 26 1837. It has 83 Counties. The capital is Lansing and the official state website is michigan.gov/. States bordering Michigan are Wisconsin in the west, Ohio and Indiana in the south, Minnesota across Lake Superior.

Select a Michigan county to view information & records pertaining to each County

Alger ∣ Alcona ∣ Allegan ∣ Alpena ∣ Antrim ∣ Arenac ∣ Bay ∣ Baraga ∣ Benzie ∣ Berrien ∣ Baraga ∣ Branch ∣ Barry ∣ Calhoun ∣ Cass ∣ Cheboygan ∣ Charlevoix ∣ Chippewa ∣ Clare ∣ Clinton ∣ Crawford ∣ Delta ∣ Dickinson ∣ Eaton ∣ Emmet ∣ Genesee ∣ Gladwin ∣ Gogebic ∣ Grand Traverse ∣ Gratiot ∣ Hillsdale ∣ Houghton ∣ Huron ∣ Ingham ∣ Ionia ∣ Iosco ∣ Iron ∣ Isabella ∣ Jackson ∣ Kent ∣ Keweenaw ∣ Kalkaska ∣ Kalamazoo ∣ Lake ∣ Lapeer ∣ Leelenau ∣ Lenawee ∣ Livingston ∣ Luce ∣ Marquette ∣ Mason ∣ Macomb ∣ Montcalm ∣ Montmorency ∣ Mecosta ∣ Menominee ∣ Midland ∣ Missaukee ∣ Mackinac ∣ Monroe ∣ Manistee ∣ Muskegon ∣ Newaygo ∣ Oakland ∣ Oceana ∣ Ogemaw ∣ Osceola ∣ Ontonagon ∣ Oscoda ∣ Otsego ∣ Ottawa ∣ Presque Isle ∣ Roscommon ∣ Saginaw ∣ Sanilac ∣ Schoolcraft ∣ St. Clair ∣ Shiawassee ∣ St. Joseph ∣ Tuscola ∣ Van Buren ∣ Washtenaw ∣ Wayne ∣ Wexford

Michigan Genealogy Record Guides

Michigan Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies
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Michigan Archives & Societies
Michigan Atlases & Maps
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Michigan Atlases & Maps
Michigan Census Records