MACKINAC COUNTY, MI HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Mackinac County, Michigan: A Genealogical Overview

Situated at the confluence of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, Mackinac County is a place of immense strategic and historical importance in the Great Lakes region. Encompassing the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinac Island, and the eastern portion of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the county has been a center of Native American culture, a linchpin of the European fur trade, and a site of military contests for centuries. Its history is a layered story involving the Anishinaabe people, French explorers, British soldiers, and American entrepreneurs, making it a rich and complex area for genealogical research.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Mackinac County’s origin as the massive, territorial “Michilimackinac County” is fundamental for tracing ancestors across a vast portion of northern Michigan.

  • 1818: County Formed: The county was first established by proclamation of the territorial governor on October 26, 1818, as “Michilimackinac County.” This original county was enormous, covering much of what is now the eastern Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
  • Parent County: It was created from unorganized territory within the Michigan Territory. Before the establishment of Michilimackinac, the area was technically part of the original, sprawling Wayne County. For the earliest American records, researchers may need to consult Wayne County’s territorial archives.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Michilimackinac County is a classic “mother county.” As the region was settled, its vast territory was repeatedly partitioned to form numerous other counties, including Chippewa, Emmet, Cheboygan, and many others. Research for ancestors in northern Michigan prior to the 1840s-1850s should almost always begin in the records of old Michilimackinac. The county was officially organized with its modern, smaller boundaries as “Mackinac County” in 1849.
  • Name Origin: The name is a shortened version of “Michilimackinac,” which is derived from the Ojibwe language. It is often interpreted as “Place of the Great Turtle,” likely referring to the shape of Mackinac Island.
  • County Seat History: The original county seat was the borough of Michilimackinac on Mackinac Island. In 1882, the county seat was moved to the mainland city of St. Ignace, where it remains today.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region is the ancestral homeland of the Anishinaabe, particularly the Ojibwe (Chippewa) and Odawa (Ottawa) peoples, who have lived there for centuries. Mackinac Island (Mishinimakinago) is considered a sacred and central place in their traditions.
  • European Settlement and Economy: The area’s strategic location made it a focal point of European activity for two centuries. French missionary Father Jacques Marquette established a mission at present-day St. Ignace in 1671. The French, then British, and finally Americans controlled the area, with the economy revolving almost entirely around the fur trade until the 1830s. Forts were established at St. Ignace, present-day Mackinaw City, and finally on Mackinac Island (Fort Mackinac). After the decline of the fur trade (dominated by John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company), the economy shifted to commercial fishing, lumber, and, most enduringly, tourism, with Mackinac Island becoming a world-renowned summer resort.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Mackinac County.

  • Courthouse: Mackinac County Clerk’s Office: Located at 100 S. Marley Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781. This office is the primary repository for county records including probate (wills and estates), civil and criminal court cases, and land records (deeds) from the county’s modern organization.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth, Death, and Marriage Records: Statewide registration in Michigan began in 1867. Records from 1867 to the present are held by the Mackinac County Clerk. Copies are also available from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). For records prior to 1867, researchers must rely on church records (especially the early Catholic mission records at St. Ignace), census records, and fort records.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Mackinac State Historic Parks Archives: This is a crucial and unique resource for the region. Collections include records from Fort Mackinac, records of the American Fur Company, and early church and family papers. This should be a primary stop for anyone with deep roots in the area.
    • St. Ignace Public Library and Mackinac Island Public Library have local history and genealogy collections.
    • The Library of Michigan: Located in Lansing, this is the state’s primary library for genealogical research, holding extensive collections of Michigan newspapers, vital records indexes, and county histories on microfilm.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Chippewa County, MI
    • Luce County, MI
    • Schoolcraft County, MI
    • Emmet County, MI (across the Straits of Mackinac)
    • Cheboygan County, MI (across the Straits of Mackinac)

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