RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 83 SHOWN OF 83

Most sparsely populated, Michigan counties · 2010

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, MIMI2,1864−6%

02Ontonagon County, MIMI5,8235−13%

03Schoolcraft County, MIMI8,1877−5%

04Luce County, MIMI6,3397−6%

05Baraga County, MIMI8,16910+1%

06Iron County, MIMI11,75710−10%

07Alger County, MIMI8,64110−3%

08Mackinac County, MIMI11,23611−7%

09Gogebic County, MIMI14,28515−5%

10Oscoda County, MIMI8,72315−8%

11Alcona County, MIMI10,55616−7%

12Montmorency County, MIMI9,84218−5%

13Presque Isle County, MIMI13,12820−7%

14Lake County, MIMI13,18220+2%

15Menominee County, MIMI22,94123−5%

16Chippewa County, MIMI36,08125−0%

17Crawford County, MIMI13,72225−1%

18Missaukee County, MIMI15,27426+3%

19Kalkaska County, MIMI18,69331+4%

20Delta County, MIMI36,58232−4%

21Dickinson County, MIMI25,82734−5%

22Houghton County, MIMI37,84236+2%

23Cheboygan County, MIMI25,79337−1%

24Marquette County, MIMI68,06437+4%

25Ogemaw County, MIMI21,12139+0%

26Huron County, MIMI30,53040−8%

27Osceola County, MIMI23,51642+1%

28Arenac County, MIMI15,06844−8%

29Sanilac County, MIMI40,08345−3%

30Manistee County, MIMI25,65646+1%

31Otsego County, MIMI26,08047+4%

32Roscommon County, MIMI23,91447−4%

33Iosco County, MIMI25,26647−5%

34Oceana County, MIMI27,17749−1%

35Antrim County, MIMI24,69850+2%

36Gladwin County, MIMI26,07751−1%

37Alpena County, MIMI28,85352−5%

38Clare County, MIMI31,54355−1%

39Benzie County, MIMI18,56855+10%

40Newaygo County, MIMI51,62258+1%

41Wexford County, MIMI34,44558+7%

42Mason County, MIMI29,04058+2%

43Charlevoix County, MIMI26,03662−1%

44Leelanau County, MIMI22,98263+3%

45Tuscola County, MIMI52,68069−4%

46Emmet County, MIMI33,77570+4%

47Gratiot County, MIMI41,19075+0%

48Mecosta County, MIMI42,32077+6%

49Hillsdale County, MIMI45,73878+0%

50Branch County, MIMI45,99389−1%

51Montcalm County, MIMI69,40690+3%

52Cass County, MIMI51,677107+2%

53Barry County, MIMI63,991107+4%

54Ionia County, MIMI66,557112+4%

55St. Joseph County, MIMI60,968122−2%

56Isabella County, MIMI64,691123+11%

57Van Buren County, MIMI76,071125−0%

58Clinton County, MIMI80,432133+16%

59Shiawassee County, MIMI67,681133−1%

60Lenawee County, MIMI97,779133+1%

61Allegan County, MIMI123,188135+5%

62Lapeer County, MIMI89,516137+0%

63Midland County, MIMI83,754161+1%

64Grand Traverse County, MIMI96,729187+12%

65Eaton County, MIMI109,581187+4%

66Calhoun County, MIMI133,408193−1%

67St. Clair County, MIMI160,486226−1%

68Jackson County, MIMI159,552228+1%

69Bay County, MIMI102,123244−2%

70Saginaw County, MIMI187,688250−5%

71Berrien County, MIMI152,444276−3%

72Monroe County, MIMI156,004277+4%

73Livingston County, MIMI197,315320+15%

74Muskegon County, MIMI177,901342+1%

75Kalamazoo County, MIMI263,795445+5%

76Ottawa County, MIMI308,459468+11%

77Washtenaw County, MIMI370,214488+7%

78Ingham County, MIMI289,709505+1%

79Genesee County, MIMI401,093668−2%

80Kent County, MIMI675,232710+5%

81Oakland County, MIMI1,288,3371,386+1%

82Macomb County, MIMI886,2211,754+7%

83Wayne County, MIMI1,769,0382,976−12%

SHOWING 1–83 OF 83

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