Mackinac County, Michigan Genealogy
Guide to Mackinac County, Michigan ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Mackinac (pronounced 'Mackinaw') County is situated in southeastern portion upper peninsula of Michigan. The Straits of Mackinac are also named for this area and are between the two peninsulas that make up Michigan. The county is located in the north area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Mackinac County Courthouse
100 S Marley Street
St. Ignace, MI 49781
Phone: 906-643-7300
Mackinac County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1873, marriage records from 1867, divorce and court records from 1808. [3]
Mackinac County, Michigan Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1873 | 1867 | 1873 | 1808 | 1785 | 1851 | 1820 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| American Indian Communities | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 877 | — |
| 1840 | 923 | 5.2% |
| 1850 | 3,598 | 289.8% |
| 1860 | 1,938 | −46.1% |
| 1870 | 1,716 | −11.5% |
| 1880 | 2,902 | 69.1% |
| 1890 | 7,830 | 169.8% |
| 1900 | 7,703 | −1.6% |
| 1910 | 9,249 | 20.1% |
| 1920 | 8,026 | −13.2% |
| 1930 | 8,783 | 9.4% |
| 1940 | 9,438 | 7.5% |
| 1950 | 9,287 | −1.6% |
| 1960 | 10,853 | 16.9% |
| 1970 | 9,660 | −11.0% |
| 1980 | 10,178 | 5.4% |
| 1990 | 10,674 | 4.9% |
| 2000 | 11,943 | 11.9% |
| 2010 | 11,113 | −6.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Federal Census
- 1820 1820 Federal Census transcription
- 1850 1850 Census transcription; Index to Federal Census 1850 Michilimackinac County, MI at FamilySearch Digital Library; United States Census, 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1860 United States Census, 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1870 United States Census, 1870 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1880 United States Census, 1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900 United States Census, 1900 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1910 United States Census, 1910 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1920 United States Census, 1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1930 United States Census, 1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1940 United States Census, 1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Mackinac County, Michigan
State Census
- 1850-1880 Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Michigan denominations, view the Michigan Church Records wiki page.
- 1819-1991 Michigan, Church Records, 1819-1991 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1725-1821 - Collections - State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Volume 18, p. 469. The Mackinac Register: Register of marriages in the parish of Michilimackinac FamilySearch Digital Library
- Catholic Church Directory
- Episcopal Church Directory Mackinac County Michigan Church Directory
- Early History of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish
- Ste. Anne's Catholic Church
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- 1805-1841 Miscellaneous Records, 1805-1841(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories
- 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust Digital Library — images
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
- 1929-1966 Michigan, Crew Lists for various ports, 1929-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Native Americans
- mainlyMichigan Indian Land Allotments Patents and Trusts in Mackinac County
- Native American and French Settlement Patterns at St. Ignace, Michigan, 1670-1715
- waymarks.com Huron Indians at St. Ignace - St. Ignace, MI - Signs of History on Waymarking
- FamilySearch Digital Library Chief Okemos Michigan History Magazine, Volume 6
- Nokomis Learning Center
5153 Marsh Road
Okemos, MI 48864
Phone: 517-349-5777
Website Facebook
African-American
- Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society
c/o Burton Historical Collection, DPL
5201 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202-4007
Website
- Publication is Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society News published twice a year. Located in Wayne County. MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council.
- Lansing Area African American Genealogical Society
PO Box 22203
Lansing, MI 48909-2203
Website
- Publication is Newsletter published quarterly. Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Cornish
- Keweenaw Houghton Cornish Society of the Copper Country
Cornish Connection Of Lower Michigan
8494 Wesley Drive
Flushing, MI 48433
Website
Dutch
- Joint Archives of Holland, Hope College
PO Box 9000
Holland, MI 49422-9000
Phone: 616-395-7000
Website
Finnish
- Finnish American Heritage Center
435 Quincy Street
Hancock, MI 49930
Phone: 906-487-7549
Website
Flemish
French-Canadian (includes Acadian, Cajun and Metis)
- Publication is Michigan's Habitat Heritage published quarterly. Located in Oakland County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
- Publication is Michigan's Habitat Heritage published quarterly. Located in Oakland County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Irish
- Irish Genealogical Society of Michigan
c/o Gaelic League/Irish American Club
2068 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216-1303
Website Facebook
- Publication is Irish Tree published nine times a year. Located in Wayne County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
- Publication is Irish Tree published nine times a year. Located in Wayne County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
- Wayne County Irish Society
31975 Cowan
Westland, MI 48185
website
Italian
- Americans Of Italian Origin Society
18336 Lister East
Detroit, MI 48021
Website
Jewish
- Publication is Generations published quarterly. Located in Oakland County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
- Publication is Generations published quarterly. Located in Oakland County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Polish
- Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan
c/o Burton Collection
5201 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202-4007
Website Facebook
- Publication is The Polish Eaglet published three times a year. Located in Wayne County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
- Publication is The Polish Eaglet published three times a year. Located in Wayne County, MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
- Polish Heritage Society
PO Box 1844
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
Website
Scottish
- The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit
2360 Rochester Ct
Troy, Mi 48083
Phone: 248-526-1849
Fax: 248-528-1477
Email: kilgour@detroitscots.com
Website
Funeral Homes
- Galer Dodson Funeral Home in St. Ignace.
Genealogies
- Early Families of the Upper Great Lakes
- St. Ignace Names, Geneanet
- Aiabens
- Ance/Anse
- Bourassa
- Bussineau
- Caffey
- Cown
- Davenport
- Davenport
- Fagnant
- Grondin
- Hammond
- Johnston
- LaLonde
- Langlade
- Martin
- Paquin
- Pond
- Trotochaud
- Valliere
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Michigan Land and Property for additional information about early Michigan land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the Mackinac County courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Mackinac County Original Land Claims by MIGenWeb
- General Land Office Records Bureau of Land Management
- Barns of Mackinac County by Michigan State Education
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Mackinac County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Michigan Local Histories.
- Mackinac and Lake Stories - Google Books
- Mackinac, formerly Michilimackinac - Google Books
- Annals of Fort Mackinac - FamilySearch Digital Library
- Early Mackinac: "the Fairy Island" : a Sketch - Google Books
- Names of Places of Interest on Mackinac Island, Michigan - Google Books
- Nicolet day on Mackinac Island - Google Books
- Island of Mackinac: giving a description of all the objects of interest... - Google Books
- Historic Mackinac: The Historical, Picturesque and Legendary, Volume 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library
- Historic Mackinac: The Historical, Picturesque and Legendary, Volume 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library
- Lewis Cass Day on Mackinac Island, August 28, 1915 - Google Books
- Early Mackinac: an historical and descriptive sketch - Google Books
- History of Chegongan and Mackinac Counties - Google Books
- The Old Mission Church of Mackinac Island: An Historical Discourse - Google Books
- Two Missionary Priests at Mackinac: A Lecture Delivered at the Village... - Google Books
- Father Marquette at Mackinaw and Chicago: A Paper, Read Before the Chicago ... - Google Books
- Old Mackinaw, Or, the Fortress of the Lakes and Its Surroundings - Google Books
- Mackinaw in History: A Critique on Dr. John R. Bailey's Brochure Entitled ... - Google Books
- Index to Volumes I-XX of the Wisconsin Historical Collections - Hathitrust
- A Brief History of Les Cheneaux Islands - Internet Archive
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
- 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
- Mackinac Island, 1915
- St. Ignace
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
War of 1812
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Record of Service of the Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 at Michiganology — images, multiple volumes organized alphabetically by surname
- 1876-1945 Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1876-1945 at FamilySearch - [Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
- 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- Veterans' Names by County
- Michigan, Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, Committee on Civil War Grave Registration, Burial Records at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Spanish American War
World War I
- 1917-1919 Michigan, Census of World War I Veterans with Card Index, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1837-1993 Michigan, Eastern and Western Districts, Naturalization Records, 1837-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Newspapers
- Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University
- Mackinac Island Town Crier
- Newspaper Codes and Surname Index to the Cheboygan and Mackinac County Newspapers by MIGenWeb
- The St. Ignace News Archive
- 1800s-Current Michigan, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
- 1820-2006 Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1850-Onward Michigan Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Michigan, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate packets, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1784-1980 Michigan, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com ($) — index & images
- 1797-1973 Michigan Probate Records 1797-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Michigan tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the Wiki page, Michigan Taxation.
Vital Records
- Birth Records and Death Records from 1867 can be obtained from the Michigan Department of Community Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
- Marriage Records from 1867 and Divorce Records from 1897 can be obtained from the County Clerk.
- State vital records started in 1867, however marriage records started at the county level earlier. Check both.
Birth
- 1867-1917 Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1902 Michigan Births, 1867-1902 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Early Michigan Births Mackinac County Michigan Family History Network
Marriage
- 1585-1945 Michigan, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- From 1725 Mackinac County Marriages Michigan Family History Network
- 1800-1804 Mackinac Marriage Records Access Genealogy
- 1820-1937 Michigan, County Marriages Index, 1820-1937 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1820-1940 Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1828-Onward Michigan Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1868-1925 Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Death
- 1850-1880 Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1897 Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1867-1952 Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1897-1952 Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index & images, organized by county and then last name.
- Michigan Deaths, Mackinac County Michigan Family History Network
Divorce
- 1897-1952 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Mackinac County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Michigan Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Gaylord Michigan FamilySearch Center
- Kalkaska Michigan FamilySearch Center
- Petoskey Michigan FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Mackinac County. For state-wide library facilities, see Michigan Archives and Libraries.
Library of Michigan
702 W Kalamazoo St
Lansing, MI 48915
Phone: 517-335-1477
Email: librarian@michigan.gov
Website
Facebook
St. Ignace Public Library
110 W Spruce St
St. Ignace, MI 49781
Phone: 906-643-8318
Website
Facebook
Museums
Fort de Buade Museum
Strait Cultural Center
334 N State St
St. Ignace, MI 49781
Phone: 906-643-6627
Email: fortdebuademuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Mackinac County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Michigan Societies.
Luce-Mackinac County Genealogical Society
PO Box 113
Engadine, MI 49827-0113
Website
Michilimackinac Historical Society
334 N State St
St. Ignace, MI 49781
Phone: 906-984-2234
Email: historyliveshere.mhs@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Websites
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- Mackinac County, Michigan Wikipedia
- USGenWeb project. Has maps, name indexes, marriages, military history, biographies, history, church records, or other historical information for this county.
- Michigan Family History Network
- Genealogy Trails History Group
- Mackinac County Local History Web Page
- Mackinac County Linkpendium
- Mackinac County Genealogy ldsgenealogy.com
- Mackinack County Familypedia
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mackinac County, Michigan" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, [1]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mackinac County, Michigan," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 24 October 2019.