Mecosta County, Michigan
| Mecosta County, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Location in the U.S. state of Michigan |
|
 Michigan's location in the U.S. |
|
| Founded | April 1, 1840; organized February 11, 1859 |
| Named for | Mecosta |
| Seat | Big Rapids |
| Largest city | Big Rapids |
| Area | |
| • Total | 571 sq mi (1,479 km2) |
| • Land | 555 sq mi (1,437 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (41 km2), 2.8% |
| Population | |
| • (2010) | 42,798 |
| • Density | 77/sq mi (30/km²) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| Website | www |
Mecosta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,798. The county seat is Big Rapids.
The county is named after Chief Mecosta, the leader of the Potawatomi Native American tribe who once traveled the local waterways in search of fish and game. Chief Mecosta was one of the signers the Treaty of Washington in 1836. The easily navigated waterways soon led to a boom in lumber industry growth. Workers settled the area in 1851, and the county was officially settled and the government officially organized in 1859. Mecosta County is home to over 100 lakes, rivers, and streams with the Muskegon River winding its way through the county seat and largest city Big Rapids (originally named Leonard).
Mecosta County was set off on April 1, 1840, but remained attached for administrative purposes to Kent County until 1857, when it was attached to Newaygo County. The county government was organized on February 11, 1859.
Mecosta County comprises the Big Rapids, MI, Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Muskegon, MI, Combined Statistical Area.
The surveyor general approved the United States survey of Mecosta County on February 22, 1839, and the state legislature established the county boundaries on April 1, 1840.
In 1852, John Davis purchased 160 acres (0.65 km2) in Mecosta Township and John Parish purchased 57 acres (230,000 m2) in Big Rapids. They were the first two permanent county residents. On July 20, 1852, the first family to reside in the county, William and Margaret Brockway and their two children, moved into a logging shanty on Mitchell Creek. On February 12, 1853, Alice Victoria Brockway was born to the couple. Alice was the first white child born in the county. In the spring of 1853, the Brockways moved to a 200-acre (0.81 km2) farm in Aetna Township.
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