Iosco

Formed April 1, 1840 (47^th county)

Iosco County (25,230), Tawas City (1,830), East Tawas (2,665)

The Modern courthouse for Iosco County was built in 1955.  There was an 1867 version earlier in the county.  It is sited on Lake Street at Whittemore Street.  Lake Street is United States Highway 23 is the town.  Joseph C. Goddeyne provided the stone and concrete designs.  Iosco County was created on April 1, 1840 from Native American Territory as the 47^th county with Tawas City as the only county seat.  The county’s name is Native American for “water of light.”  The county seat is named for a Native American chief. 

Iosco County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Three Circuit Court Judges and Two District Court Judges serve Iosco, Alcona, Arenac, and Oscoda counties and One Probate Court Judge and court clerk serve Iosco County (judicial.) The county is on the eastern shore of the southern peninsula.  Lake Huron provides its east border.  The county center is 10 miles Northwest of Tawas City nearer East Tawas.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Alcona County and Canada and Huron, Arenac, Ogemaw, and Oscoda counties. 

The area of the county is 1891 square miles.  It is 12 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 56 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 13.3 persons per square mile making it 71 out of 83 in the state.  Iosco County has 19.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 23 travels north to south in the county from Alcona County to Arenac County.  The county looks like a small letter r.  Tawas City is on the central east coast of the county.  East Tawas is immediately to the east of Tawas City.  Tawas City is the county seat and East Tawas is the largest city.  Tawas City is 7.3% of the county population while East Tawas is 10.6% of the county population.  The county is pronounced IE-OS-KOE.