Huron

Formed April 1, 1840 (46^th county)

Huron County (31,408), Bad Axe (3,025)

A Modern tan brick structure was constructed in 1967 on Huron Street between Helsterman and Hanselman streets.  Michigan State Highway 53 passes two blocks west of the building.  Ralph S. Gerganoff and Stephen T. Gerganoff were the architects.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  A nicer courthouse preceded this one from 1875.  Huron County was created on April 1, 1840 from Sanilac County as the 46^th county.  Harbor Beach and Port Austin preceded Bad Axe as county seat.  The county is named for Lake Huron which gets its name for the French “what heads.”  The county seat’s name was provided by explorers upon finding an axe at the campsite that became the town.  Huron County was the birthplace of 1 Michigan Governor, W. Francis Murphy. 

Huron County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge, Two District Court Judges, Two Probate Court Judges and court clerk serve Huron County (judicial.) The county is on the northern “thumb” of the southern peninsula.  Lake Huron surrounds it on three sides.  The county center is 9.8 miles Northeast of Bad Axe nearer Kinde.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Canada and Sanilac, Tuscola, Bay, Arenac, and Iosco counties. 

The area of the county is 2136 square miles.  It is 8 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 47 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 14.7 persons per square mile making it 68 out of 83 in the state.  Huron County has 36.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county looks like a pile of leaves.  Bad Axe is in the southern third of the county.  Bad Axe is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 9.6% of the county population.