Clare County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 30,856. The county seat is Harrison.

History

thumb|A detail from [[:File:1842 A new map of Michigan with its canals roads distances by H.S. Tanner.jpg|A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Clare County as Kaykakee, the county's name from 1840 to 1843; after a Sauk Indian Chief, and renamed Clare County in 1843 after County Clare in Ireland. The county was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties prior to the organization of county government in 1871. Farwell was the first county seat; in 1877 the county seat was moved to Harrison.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.9%) is water. It is considered to be part of both Northern Michigan and Central Michigan.

Features

  • Au Sable State Forest

Major highways

  • runs east–west through the bottom of the county. It enters west county line at north of SW corner of county. It runs easterly to intersection with US127 at north of Clare.
  • runs through Clare with Bus. US 127 until they meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 runs eastward to US 10.
  • runs north–south through eastern middle of county, passing Harrison and Clare.
  • runs through Clare with Bus. US 10 until the two meet M-115, where Bus. US 10 turns eastward while Bus. US 127 continues southward to US 127.
  • runs from US 127 and goes through Harrison. Bus. US 127 intersects M-61, and the two have a concurrency with each other until they both intersect US 127, where Bus. US 127 ends with M-61 continues eastward to Gladwin.
  • runs along east line of county, from the northeast corner for , then turns east into Gladwin County.
  • runs east–west through middle of county, entering the west line from Osceola County and running east to intersection with US 127 at Harrison.
  • runs southeast and east across bottom of county. It enters the west line from Osceola County at above the southwest corner of county and goes to an intersection with Bus. US 127/Bus. US 10 at Clare.

Adjacent counties

  • Missaukee County – northwest
  • Roscommon County – northeast
  • Gladwin County – east
  • Midland County – southeast
  • Isabella County – south
  • Mecosta County – southwest
  • Osceola County – west

Demographics