File:Nisbett-Fairman_Residences.JPG · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Mecosta County
Sign in to saveAlso known as Mecosta County, Michigan, Mecosta County, MI
county in Michigan, United States
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- Michigan
- Founded
- April 1, 1840; organized February 11, 1859
- Named after
- Mecosta
- Seat
- Big Rapids
- Largest city
- Big Rapids
- Total
- 571 sq mi (1,480 km )
- Land
- 555 sq mi (1,440 km )
- Water
- 16 sq mi (41 km ) 2.8%
- Estimate 2025
- 42,320
- Density
- 75.6/sq mi (29.2/km )
- Time zone
- UTC−5 ( Eastern )
- Summer dst
- UTC−4 ( EDT )
- Congressional district
- 2nd
- Website
- mecostacounty .org
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Population
- 39714
- Area
- 1479
- Official website
- www.mecostacounty.org
- Image
- Nisbett-Fairman Residences.JPG
- Households
- 16276
Show 5 more facts
- Commons category
- Mecosta County, Michigan
- water as percent of area
- 2.8
- native label
- Mecosta County
- inception
- 1840-00-00
- per capita income
- 23748
Sources (9)
via Wikidata · CC0
~18 min read
Article
Mecosta County (/məˈkɒstə/ mə-KOSS-tə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 39,714. The county seat is Big Rapids.
The county is named after Chief Mecosta, the leader of the Potawatomi Native American tribe who once traveled the local waterways in search of fish and game. Chief Mecosta was one of the signers the Treaty of Washington in 1836. The easily navigated waterways soon led to a boom in lumber industry growth. Workers settled the area in 1851, and the county was officially settled and the government officially organized in 1859. Mecosta County is home to over 100 lakes, rivers, and streams with the Muskegon River winding its way through the county seat and largest city Big Rapids (originally named Leonard).