County: Cheboygan (16)


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Boundary finalized: 

Population: 1900 = 15,596 | 2000 = 25,579


Cheboygan County, Michigan was originally the homeland of Native Americans. The French explored the area in the early 1600s and established a fur business and missions. 
 
 In 1844, Jacob Sammons, a cooper from Fort Mackinac, built his cabin on the old native camping ground, Shabwegan. He recruited other settlers and a post office named "Duncan" was established in 1846. Duncan became the county seat in 1853. 
 
Cheboygan County was created on April 1, 1840 from Michilimackinac County. The county remained unorganized and attached for administrative purposes until January 29, 1853. The first county seat was Duncan (1853-1857) then Cheboygan (1857-present). 
 
Cheboygan is an Indian name meaning "Through Passage". It refers to the Indians "passing through" during their fur trading days using the Inland Route to Mackinaw Island. 
 
Cheboygan became a boom town due to the nation's insatiable appetite for lumber. Lumber barons like Thompson Smith and Millard D. Olds made millions of dollars shipping their lumber across the Great Lakes. [GGAI]

Bibliography

The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:

  • [AAB| = All Aboard!, by Willis Dunbar, Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids ©1969.
  • [AAN] = Alpena Argus newspaper.
  • [AARQJ] = American Association of Railroads Quiz Jr. pamphlet. © 1956
  • [AATHA] = Ann Arbor Railroad Technical and Historical Association newsletter "The Double A"
  • [AB] = Information provided at Michigan History Conference from Andrew Bailey, Port Huron, MI

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