Saginaw County, Michigan

Saginaw County Education, Geography, and History

Saginaw County, officially the County of Saginaw, is a county located in the state of Michigan. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 200,169. The county seat is Saginaw. The county was created by September 10, 1822, and was fully organized on February 9, 1835. The etymology of the county's name is uncertain. It may be derived from Sace-nong or Sak-e-nong (English: Sauk land), as the Sauk (French: Sac) tribe once lived there. Another possibility is that it comes from Chippewa words meaning "place of the outlet" -sag (English: an opening) and ong (English: place of).

Saginaw County comprises the Saginaw, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City, MI Combined Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Saginaw County Name

Saginaw County is a Native American term, perhaps having reference to the Sauk tribe who lived at the mouth of the river. Another source opines that: "There are two possible derivations: from 'Sace-nong' or 'Sak-e-nong' (Sauk Town) because the Sauk (Sac) once lived there, or from Chippewa words meaning 'place of the outlet' from 'sag' (an opening) and 'ong' (place of)."

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Saginaw County History

What is today Saginaw County was inhabited by the Ojibwe before they were driven out by Euro-Americans. The Ojibwe were still the dominant force in the area in the 1820s and in 1827 they were attacked by a two groups of Winnebago people coming from Wisconsin. The Ojibwe prevailed in this fight with the aid of local Euro-American settlers.

In 1853 the Ojibwe and Ottawa both established large hunting camps along the Saginaw River, although Euro-American settlers were beginning saw mills and farms in the area by that point.

Saginaw County is a Native American term, perhaps having reference to the Sauk tribe who lived at the mouth of the river. Another source opines that: "There are two possible derivations: from 'Sace-nong' or 'Sak-e-nong' (Sauk Town) because the Sauk (Sac) once lived there, or from Chippewa words meaning 'place of the outlet' from 'sag' (an opening) and 'ong' (place of)."

Set Off: 1822

Organized: 1835

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 816 square miles (2,110 km²), of which 800 square miles (2,100 km²) is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) (1.9%) is water. It is part of the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Mid-Michigan. The median elevation in Saginaw County, Michigan is 620 feet (190 m) above sea level.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Bay County (northeast)
• Midland County (northwest)
• Tuscola County (east)
• Gratiot County (west)
• Genesee County (southeast)
• Shiawassee County (south)
• Clinton County (southwest)
  

Education

Most of Saginaw County is served by the Saginaw Intermediate School District (SISD), which coordinates the efforts of local boards of education, but has no operating authority over schools. Local school boards in Michigan retain great autonomy over day-to-day operations.

Higher education

Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) is a four-year state university located in eastern Kochville Township.
Delta College is a two-year community college that serves Saginaw County, but is located in neighboring Bay County, a few miles to the north of the SVSU campus.

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