Lenawee County, Michigan

The county owes its formation to the 1807 Treaty of Detroit, which ceded the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot and Potawatomi nations' claim to today's southeast Michigan land to the United States.[5] However, this treaty was seen as quite coercive and benefited the United States over Indigenous nations, resulting in opposition from indigenous nations. This became part of the War of 1812 between the United States and indigenous nations. During this time, the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Battle of Lake Erie, and the Battle of Thames took place.[6] The United States won the Battle of the Thames, defeating the indigenous confederacy led by Chief Tecumseh, after which the city of the same name in Lenawee County is named. This battle results in the peace treaty, the Treaty of Ghent, which ends the war and solidifies ownership of the land demarcated in the Treaty of Detroit of the future state of Michigan, housing Lenawee County, to the United States.[6] Later in 1830, the Indian Removal Act signed by President Andrew Jackson, forcibly removed Indigenous peoples in Michigan from their homes and moved them to federal territory west of Mississippi, benefitting residents of Lenawee County to this day, at the expense of the Indigenous population in America.[7][8]

Towers of the Irish Hills near Hayes State Park

The county was organized in 1826, after being authorized and described by the Michigan legislature in 1822. It was taken from Monroe County, Michigan.[1] The county's name was a neologism created by Henry Schoolcraft, a "US Indian agent" in this region and proponent of forced Indigenous assimilation, responsible for the naming of several newly created counties in the area.[9] 'Lenawee' is thought to be derived from and an misappropriation of an Indigenous word, with some debate as to whether its origins lie in the Delaware leno or lenno, meaning "male," or the Shawnee lenawai.[1][10]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 761 square miles (1,970 km²), of which 750 square miles (1,900 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (1.6%) is water.[11] Lenawee County is considered to be part of Southeastern Michigan.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile (51/km²). There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.51% White, 2.12% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.01% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. 6.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Residents identified as being 30.4% of German, 11.6% English, 10.2% American and 9.9% Irish ancestry. Some 94.7% spoke English and 4.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 35,930 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,739, and the median income for a family was $53,661. Males had a median income of $38,458 versus $25,510 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,186. About 4.40% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

Lenawee County has been reliably Republican in national elections. Since 1884, its voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 85% (29 of 34) of the national elections through 2016.

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.

Adrian College and Siena Heights University are located within the county.

Lenawee County has supported candidates from both political parties in statewide elections, making it a swing county. Tecumseh and Adrian have tended to lean Democrat, while Dover, Madison, and Riga Townships have tended to lean Republican. The rural areas of the county are bastions of populism and libertarianism which helped the Tea Party Movement gain considerable support. During the 2010 midterm elections, the county favored Republican Gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder, Congressional candidate Tim Walberg, State Senate candidate Bruce Caswell, and State Representative candidates Nancy Jenkins and Mike Shirkey.

Lenawee County is located in Michigan's 7th congressional district, which is represented by Tim Walberg, who is a resident of the county. Walberg previously served as Lenawee's state representative. Backed by the Tea Party, Walberg won the district, which includes all of Lenawee County, Jackson County, Hillsdale County, Branch County, and Eaton County, as well as parts of Calhoun County and Washtenaw County. He defeated incumbent Democrat Mark Schauer. Schauer had defeated Walberg in the 2008 congressional election, after Walberg's first stint in Congress.

Most of Lenawee County is represented by Republican Bronna Kahle in the Michigan House of Representatives. Kahle represents the 57th District, previously represented by Republican Nancy Jenkins. She was preceded successively by brothers Doug and Dudley Spade, both Democrats.

Cambridge Township, which includes Onsted, is part of the 65th District, which covers much of the Irish Hills and is represented by Republican Mike Shirkey. Adrian is part of the 17th Senate District, represented by Dale Zorn of Ida, Michigan. Until the 2014 state senate election, Lenawee County was part of the 16th State Senate District, represented by Republican Bruce Caswell. The district contained all of Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Branch Counties.

Lenawee County Courthouse, Adrian

• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Lenawee County, Michigan
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lenawee County, Michigan

• Lenawee County Conference & Visitors Bureau
• Lenawee County Drain Commissioner
• Lenawee County Government Site
• Lenawee County Road Commission
• Complete text of History of Lenawee County published in 1909 by the Western Historical Society
• "Bibliography on Lenawee County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
• Lenawee County Directory Site