Michigan drew the boundaries for Charlevoix County in 1840. At that
time the county was called Keskauko County. Settlers began to arrive
and the name was changed to Charlevoix after the famed Jesuit missionary
Pierre F. de Charlevoix in 1843.
In 1847 James Strang, an early elder of the Mormon Church formed one of
Michigan's most successful religious communities on Beaver Island.
Strang was elected king of the Kingdom of St. James in 1850 where he
ruled as a dictator. The group elected Strang to the state legislature
but after his assassination in 1856 the colony disbanded.
The county enjoys beautiful harbors, fine beaches, quaint resort towns,
and the very sizable Lake Charlevoix. The action in Charlevoix County
includes hunting, fishing, mushroom picking, an apple festival and some
of Michigan's finest downhill skiing.
COUNTY STATISTICS
County Seat: Charlevoix
Size: 414 Square Miles
Elevation: 600-1400 Feet
Physiography: Hill-lands
Growing Season: 80-140 days
Annual Precipitation: 30-32 inches
Average Snowfall: 80-120 inches
Forest Type: Maple-Beech-Birch-Hemlock
Fall Colors: Late September - Early October
CITIES WITHIN
Advance - Barnard - Bay Shore (49711) - Beaver Island
Birch Hills - Boyne City (49712) - Boyne Falls (49713)
Burgess - Charlevoix (49720) - Clarion - East Jordan (49727)
Horton Bay - Ironton - Norwood - Phelps - Saint James
Springvale - Walloon Lake (49796) - Wildwood
