RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 83 SHOWN OF 83

Most sparsely populated, Michigan counties · 1990

Michigan counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 83 counties in Michigan that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most densely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Keweenaw County, MIMI2,1863−26%

02Luce County, MIMI6,3396−18%

03Ontonagon County, MIMI5,8237+13%

04Schoolcraft County, MIMI8,1877−7%

05Baraga County, MIMI8,1699−9%

06Alger County, MIMI8,64110−9%

07Mackinac County, MIMI11,23610−11%

08Iron County, MIMI11,75711+0%

09Oscoda County, MIMI8,72314−17%

10Alcona County, MIMI10,55615−13%

11Lake County, MIMI13,18215−24%

12Montmorency County, MIMI9,84216−13%

13Gogebic County, MIMI14,28516+4%

14Presque Isle County, MIMI13,12821−5%

15Missaukee County, MIMI15,27422−16%

16Crawford County, MIMI13,72222−14%

17Chippewa County, MIMI36,08122−10%

18Menominee County, MIMI22,94124−2%

19Kalkaska County, MIMI18,69324−19%

20Cheboygan County, MIMI25,79330−19%

21Delta County, MIMI36,58232−2%

22Ogemaw County, MIMI21,12133−14%

23Otsego County, MIMI26,08035−23%

24Houghton County, MIMI37,84235−2%

25Dickinson County, MIMI25,82735−2%

26Osceola County, MIMI23,51636−13%

27Roscommon County, MIMI23,91438−22%

28Benzie County, MIMI18,56838−24%

29Antrim County, MIMI24,69838−21%

30Marquette County, MIMI68,06439+10%

31Manistee County, MIMI25,65639−13%

32Arenac County, MIMI15,06841−14%

33Sanilac County, MIMI40,08341−10%

34Oceana County, MIMI27,17742−16%

35Huron County, MIMI30,53042−3%

36Gladwin County, MIMI26,07744−16%

37Clare County, MIMI31,54344−20%

38Newaygo County, MIMI51,62246−20%

39Wexford County, MIMI34,44547−14%

40Leelanau County, MIMI22,98248−22%

41Charlevoix County, MIMI26,03652−18%

42Mason County, MIMI29,04052−10%

43Alpena County, MIMI28,85354−2%

44Emmet County, MIMI33,77554−20%

45Iosco County, MIMI25,26655+10%

46Mecosta County, MIMI42,32067−8%

47Gratiot County, MIMI41,19069−8%

48Tuscola County, MIMI52,68069−5%

49Hillsdale County, MIMI45,73873−7%

50Montcalm County, MIMI69,40675−13%

51Branch County, MIMI45,99382−9%

52Barry County, MIMI63,99191−12%

53Isabella County, MIMI64,69195−14%

54Ionia County, MIMI66,557100−7%

55Cass County, MIMI51,677101−3%

56Clinton County, MIMI80,432102−11%

57Allegan County, MIMI123,188110−14%

58Van Buren County, MIMI76,071115−8%

59Lapeer County, MIMI89,516116−15%

60St. Joseph County, MIMI60,968118−6%

61Lenawee County, MIMI97,779122−7%

62Shiawassee County, MIMI67,681131−3%

63Grand Traverse County, MIMI96,729138−17%

64Midland County, MIMI83,754146−9%

65Eaton County, MIMI109,581161−10%

66Calhoun County, MIMI133,408193−1%

67St. Clair County, MIMI160,486202−11%

68Livingston County, MIMI197,315205−26%

69Jackson County, MIMI159,552213−5%

70Monroe County, MIMI156,004243−8%

71Bay County, MIMI102,123253+1%

72Saginaw County, MIMI187,688265+1%

73Berrien County, MIMI152,444284−1%

74Muskegon County, MIMI177,901315−7%

75Ottawa County, MIMI308,459333−21%

76Kalamazoo County, MIMI263,795398−6%

77Washtenaw County, MIMI370,214401−12%

78Ingham County, MIMI289,709507+1%

79Kent County, MIMI675,232590−13%

80Genesee County, MIMI401,093676−1%

81Oakland County, MIMI1,288,3371,249−9%

82Macomb County, MIMI886,2211,497−9%

83Wayne County, MIMI1,769,0383,451+2%

SHOWING 1–83 OF 83

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES