Alger, Russell Alexander

Alger, Russell Alexander, 1836-1907, U.S. secretary of war (1897-99), b. near Medina, Ohio. After moving to Michigan he engaged in the lumber business, in which he made a fortune. During the Civil War he rose from the ranks to be a brevet major general. Alger was (1885-86) a popular governor of Michigan and was prominent in Republican national affairs. He was made secretary of war by President McKinley, but the inefficiency of his department, which was highly disorganized when he took charge, and his appointment of William R. Shafter as leader of the Cuban expedition were bitterly criticized, and he resigned. He was later (1902-7) U.S. senator from Michigan.

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Alger County, Michigan

Alger County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 9,862. Its county seat is Munising. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located within the county.

History

Alger County was detached from Schoolcraft County, set off and organized in 1885. The county was named for lumber baron Russell Alexander Alger who was a Michigan Governor, U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of War during the William McKinley Presidential administration. See also, List of Michigan county name etymologies, List of Michigan counties, and List of abolished U.S. counties.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,049 square miles (13,077 km²), of which, 918 square miles (2,377 km²) of it is land and 4,131 square miles (10,700 km²) of it (81.82%) is water.

Major highways

US Highways

US 41

Michigan State Trunklines

Alger County Intercounty Highways

H-01
H-03
H-05
H-11
H-13, also designated Federal Forest Highway 13.
H-15
H-44
H-52
H-58, passes through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Federal Forest Highways

Federal Forest Highway 13 (FFH-13)

Adjacent counties

Luce County (east)
Schoolcraft County (southeast)
Delta County (south)
Marquette County (west)

National protected area

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 9,862 people, 3,785 households, and 2,585 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 5,964 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.81% White, 6.11% Black or African American, 3.30% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 2.03% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.9% were of Finnish, 11.7% German, 9.5% French, 7.5% Polish, 6.5% American, 6.1% English, 5.9% Irish, 5.7% French Canadian and 5.1% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.5% spoke English, 2.1% Finnish and 1.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 3,785 households out of which 27.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.50% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 116.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,892, and the median income for a family was $42,017. Males had a median income of $37,681 versus $24,492 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,210. About 7.20% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.