Michigan County Area & Size Rankings

Understanding Michigan’s county areas

The land-area range runs from Benzie County at 319.7 mi² to Marquette County at 1,809.1 mi². The largest has 5.7 times the land area of the smallest and accounts for 3.2% of the combined county land in Michigan. Compare with every state’s largest county.

The median county-equivalent land area is 567.8 mi², below the national median of 604.5 mi². The median describes the middle of the county size distribution; it does not describe how people or development are distributed. A state with a few very large counties can have a much smaller median than its largest entry suggests.

Where water changes the picture

Keweenaw County has the most assigned water area, at 5,426.2 mi². It also has the highest water share, with water making up 90.9% of its total area. Water area and water percentage answer different questions: the first measures an amount, while the second measures the mix of land and water.

Across all 83 entries, water accounts for 41.5% of the combined total area. This is calculated from the summed land and water measurements, rather than averaging county percentages, which would give each small and large county equal weight.

Where people live

An estimated 10,127,884 people lived in Michigan on July 1, 2025 (+0.5% since 2020), or 2.9% of the national total in this dataset. Wayne County is the most populous county equivalent, with 1,769,038 residents — 17.5% of the state. The largest by land, Marquette County, has 68,064.

Across the state there are 179 people per square mile of land. County densities range from 2,891 in Wayne County to 4 in Keweenaw County; the median county equivalent has 62. Switch the map above to density to see where the state’s population concentrates.

Compare the largest and smallest county equivalents in Michigan to see land, water, and total area on the same scale.

These calculations use the 2026 Census county records listed below. County-equivalent boundaries vary between states; area alone does not measure population, density, or usable land. See coverage and calculation rules.

#	County / equivalent	Land	Water	Water share	Population	Per mi²
1	Marquette CountyGEOID 26103	1,809.1 mi²	1,615.9 mi²	47.2%	68,064	38
2	Chippewa CountyGEOID 26033	1,558.5 mi²	1,140 mi²	42.2%	36,081	23
3	Ontonagon CountyGEOID 26131	1,311 mi²	2,429.5 mi²	65%	5,823	4.4
4	Schoolcraft CountyGEOID 26153	1,171.9 mi²	712.1 mi²	37.8%	8,187	7
5	Delta CountyGEOID 26041	1,171.1 mi²	820.2 mi²	41.2%	36,582	31
6	Iron CountyGEOID 26071	1,166.1 mi²	45.1 mi²	3.7%	11,757	10
7	Gogebic CountyGEOID 26053	1,102.1 mi²	374.6 mi²	25.4%	14,285	13
8	Menominee CountyGEOID 26109	1,044 mi²	294.1 mi²	22%	22,941	22
9	Mackinac CountyGEOID 26097	1,021.9 mi²	1,078.7 mi²	51.4%	11,236	11
10	Houghton CountyGEOID 26061	1,009.1 mi²	492.4 mi²	32.8%	37,842	38
11	Sanilac CountyGEOID 26151	962.6 mi²	627.4 mi²	39.5%	40,083	42
12	Alger CountyGEOID 26003	915 mi²	4,132.6 mi²	81.9%	8,641	9.4
13	Luce CountyGEOID 26095	899.1 mi²	1,013.4 mi²	53%	6,339	7.1
14	Baraga CountyGEOID 26013	898.4 mi²	170.5 mi²	16%	8,169	9.1
15	Oakland CountyGEOID 26125	867.4 mi²	39.8 mi²	4.4%	1,288,337	1,485
16	Kent CountyGEOID 26081	849.5 mi²	22.4 mi²	2.6%	675,232	795
17	Newaygo CountyGEOID 26123	838.9 mi²	22.8 mi²	2.6%	51,622	62
18	Huron CountyGEOID 26063	835.9 mi²	1,300.9 mi²	60.9%	30,530	37
19	Allegan CountyGEOID 26005	825.4 mi²	1,007.9 mi²	55%	123,188	149
20	Tuscola CountyGEOID 26157	804.9 mi²	109 mi²	11.9%	52,680	65
21	Saginaw CountyGEOID 26145	800.8 mi²	15.2 mi²	1.9%	187,688	234
22	Dickinson CountyGEOID 26043	761 mi²	15.6 mi²	2%	25,827	34
23	Lenawee CountyGEOID 26091	749.7 mi²	11.7 mi²	1.5%	97,779	130
24	St. Clair CountyGEOID 26147	721.5 mi²	115 mi²	13.7%	160,486	222
25	Cheboygan CountyGEOID 26031	715.3 mi²	170.1 mi²	19.2%	25,793	36
26	Calhoun CountyGEOID 26025	706.3 mi²	12.1 mi²	1.7%	133,408	189
27	Washtenaw CountyGEOID 26161	706 mi²	16.4 mi²	2.3%	370,214	524
28	Montcalm CountyGEOID 26117	705.3 mi²	15.4 mi²	2.1%	69,406	98
29	Jackson CountyGEOID 26075	701.9 mi²	21.6 mi²	3%	159,552	227
30	Alcona CountyGEOID 26001	674.7 mi²	1,116 mi²	62.3%	10,556	16
31	Presque Isle CountyGEOID 26141	658.7 mi²	1,914 mi²	74.4%	13,128	20
32	Lapeer CountyGEOID 26087	647.5 mi²	15.4 mi²	2.3%	89,516	138
33	Genesee CountyGEOID 26049	636.9 mi²	12.6 mi²	1.9%	401,093	630
34	Wayne CountyGEOID 26163	611.8 mi²	60.5 mi²	9%	1,769,038	2,891
35	Van Buren CountyGEOID 26159	607.8 mi²	482.1 mi²	44.2%	76,071	125
36	Hillsdale CountyGEOID 26059	598.2 mi²	8.8 mi²	1.5%	45,738	76
37	Eaton CountyGEOID 26045	575.2 mi²	4.2 mi²	0.7%	109,581	191
38	Isabella CountyGEOID 26073	572.7 mi²	5 mi²	0.9%	64,691	113
39	Alpena CountyGEOID 26007	571.9 mi²	1,123 mi²	66.3%	28,853	50
40	Ionia CountyGEOID 26067	571.3 mi²	8.7 mi²	1.5%	66,557	116
41	Gratiot CountyGEOID 26057	568.4 mi²	3.2 mi²	0.6%	41,190	72
42	Berrien CountyGEOID 26021	567.8 mi²	1,013.6 mi²	64.1%	152,444	268
43	Lake CountyGEOID 26085	567.6 mi²	6.7 mi²	1.2%	13,182	23
44	Clinton CountyGEOID 26037	567.3 mi²	7.2 mi²	1.3%	80,432	142
45	Osceola CountyGEOID 26133	566.3 mi²	6.7 mi²	1.2%	23,516	42
46	Oscoda CountyGEOID 26135	565.7 mi²	5.8 mi²	1%	8,723	15
47	Livingston CountyGEOID 26093	565.3 mi²	20.1 mi²	3.4%	197,315	349
48	Wexford CountyGEOID 26165	564.9 mi²	10.5 mi²	1.8%	34,445	61
49	Missaukee CountyGEOID 26113	564.8 mi²	9.1 mi²	1.6%	15,274	27
50	Clare CountyGEOID 26035	564.4 mi²	11 mi²	1.9%	31,543	56
51	Ottawa CountyGEOID 26139	563.5 mi²	1,067.9 mi²	65.5%	308,459	547
52	Ogemaw CountyGEOID 26129	563.5 mi²	11.4 mi²	2%	21,121	37
53	Kalamazoo CountyGEOID 26077	562 mi²	18.3 mi²	3.2%	263,795	469
54	Kalkaska CountyGEOID 26079	559.7 mi²	10.8 mi²	1.9%	18,693	33
55	Crawford CountyGEOID 26039	556.4 mi²	6.9 mi²	1.2%	13,722	25
56	Ingham CountyGEOID 26065	556.1 mi²	4.6 mi²	0.8%	289,709	521
57	Mecosta CountyGEOID 26107	555.2 mi²	16.1 mi²	2.8%	42,320	76
58	Barry CountyGEOID 26015	553.1 mi²	23.9 mi²	4.1%	63,991	116
59	Iosco CountyGEOID 26069	549.5 mi²	1,340.6 mi²	70.9%	25,266	46
60	Monroe CountyGEOID 26115	549.4 mi²	130.6 mi²	19.2%	156,004	284
61	Montmorency CountyGEOID 26119	546.7 mi²	16 mi²	2.8%	9,842	18
62	Manistee CountyGEOID 26101	542.3 mi²	738.4 mi²	57.7%	25,656	47
63	Keweenaw CountyGEOID 26083	540.1 mi²	5,426.2 mi²	90.9%	2,186	4
64	Oceana CountyGEOID 26127	538.1 mi²	767.8 mi²	58.8%	27,177	51
65	Shiawassee CountyGEOID 26155	531.1 mi²	9.8 mi²	1.8%	67,681	127
66	Roscommon CountyGEOID 26143	519.9 mi²	60.1 mi²	10.4%	23,914	46
67	Midland CountyGEOID 26111	518.4 mi²	9.6 mi²	1.8%	83,754	162
68	Otsego CountyGEOID 26137	515 mi²	11.2 mi²	2.1%	26,080	51
69	Branch CountyGEOID 26023	506.4 mi²	13.3 mi²	2.6%	45,993	91
70	Muskegon CountyGEOID 26121	503.9 mi²	956.1 mi²	65.5%	177,901	353
71	Gladwin CountyGEOID 26051	501.8 mi²	14.2 mi²	2.7%	26,077	52
72	St. Joseph CountyGEOID 26149	500.6 mi²	20.4 mi²	3.9%	60,968	122
73	Mason CountyGEOID 26105	495 mi²	747.3 mi²	60.2%	29,040	59
74	Cass CountyGEOID 26027	490.1 mi²	18.2 mi²	3.6%	51,677	105
75	Macomb CountyGEOID 26099	479.4 mi²	91.6 mi²	16%	886,221	1,849
76	Antrim CountyGEOID 26009	475.7 mi²	126.1 mi²	20.9%	24,698	52
77	Emmet CountyGEOID 26047	467.5 mi²	414.5 mi²	47%	33,775	72
78	Grand Traverse CountyGEOID 26055	464.3 mi²	137 mi²	22.8%	96,729	208
79	Bay CountyGEOID 26017	442.4 mi²	188.3 mi²	29.9%	102,123	231
80	Charlevoix CountyGEOID 26029	416.3 mi²	974.1 mi²	70.1%	26,036	63
81	Arenac CountyGEOID 26011	363.2 mi²	317.5 mi²	46.6%	15,068	41
82	Leelanau CountyGEOID 26089	347.2 mi²	2,185 mi²	86.3%	22,982	66
83	Benzie CountyGEOID 26019	319.7 mi²	539.9 mi²	62.8%	18,568	58

County / equivalent

Land

Water

Water share

Population

Per mi²

Marquette CountyGEOID 26103

1,809.1 mi²

1,615.9 mi²

47.2%

68,064

Chippewa CountyGEOID 26033

1,558.5 mi²

1,140 mi²

42.2%

36,081

Ontonagon CountyGEOID 26131

1,311 mi²

2,429.5 mi²

65%

5,823

4.4

Schoolcraft CountyGEOID 26153

1,171.9 mi²

712.1 mi²

37.8%

8,187

Delta CountyGEOID 26041

1,171.1 mi²

820.2 mi²

41.2%

36,582

Iron CountyGEOID 26071

1,166.1 mi²

45.1 mi²

3.7%

11,757

Gogebic CountyGEOID 26053

1,102.1 mi²

374.6 mi²

25.4%

14,285

Menominee CountyGEOID 26109

1,044 mi²

294.1 mi²

22%

22,941

Mackinac CountyGEOID 26097

1,021.9 mi²

1,078.7 mi²

51.4%

11,236

Houghton CountyGEOID 26061

1,009.1 mi²

492.4 mi²

32.8%

37,842

Sanilac CountyGEOID 26151

962.6 mi²

627.4 mi²

39.5%

40,083

Alger CountyGEOID 26003

915 mi²

4,132.6 mi²

81.9%

8,641

9.4

Luce CountyGEOID 26095

899.1 mi²

1,013.4 mi²

53%

6,339

7.1

Baraga CountyGEOID 26013

898.4 mi²

170.5 mi²

16%

8,169

9.1

Oakland CountyGEOID 26125

867.4 mi²

39.8 mi²

4.4%

1,288,337

1,485

Kent CountyGEOID 26081

849.5 mi²

22.4 mi²

2.6%

675,232

795

Newaygo CountyGEOID 26123

838.9 mi²

22.8 mi²

2.6%

51,622

Huron CountyGEOID 26063

835.9 mi²

1,300.9 mi²

60.9%

30,530

Allegan CountyGEOID 26005

825.4 mi²

1,007.9 mi²

55%

123,188

149

Tuscola CountyGEOID 26157

804.9 mi²

109 mi²

11.9%

52,680

Saginaw CountyGEOID 26145

800.8 mi²

15.2 mi²

1.9%

187,688

234

Dickinson CountyGEOID 26043

761 mi²

15.6 mi²

25,827

Lenawee CountyGEOID 26091

749.7 mi²

11.7 mi²

1.5%

97,779

130

St. Clair CountyGEOID 26147

721.5 mi²

115 mi²

13.7%

160,486

222

Cheboygan CountyGEOID 26031

715.3 mi²

170.1 mi²

19.2%

25,793

Calhoun CountyGEOID 26025

706.3 mi²

12.1 mi²

1.7%

133,408

189

Washtenaw CountyGEOID 26161

706 mi²

16.4 mi²

2.3%

370,214

524

Montcalm CountyGEOID 26117

705.3 mi²

15.4 mi²

2.1%

69,406

Jackson CountyGEOID 26075

701.9 mi²

21.6 mi²

159,552

227

Alcona CountyGEOID 26001

674.7 mi²

1,116 mi²

62.3%

10,556

Presque Isle CountyGEOID 26141

658.7 mi²

1,914 mi²

74.4%

13,128

Lapeer CountyGEOID 26087

647.5 mi²

15.4 mi²

2.3%

89,516

138

Genesee CountyGEOID 26049

636.9 mi²

12.6 mi²

1.9%

401,093

630

Wayne CountyGEOID 26163

611.8 mi²

60.5 mi²

1,769,038

2,891

Van Buren CountyGEOID 26159

607.8 mi²

482.1 mi²

44.2%

76,071

125

Hillsdale CountyGEOID 26059

598.2 mi²

8.8 mi²

1.5%

45,738

Eaton CountyGEOID 26045

575.2 mi²

4.2 mi²

0.7%

109,581

191

Isabella CountyGEOID 26073

572.7 mi²

5 mi²

0.9%

64,691

113

Alpena CountyGEOID 26007

571.9 mi²

1,123 mi²

66.3%

28,853

Ionia CountyGEOID 26067

571.3 mi²

8.7 mi²

1.5%

66,557

116

Gratiot CountyGEOID 26057

568.4 mi²

3.2 mi²

0.6%

41,190

Berrien CountyGEOID 26021

567.8 mi²

1,013.6 mi²

64.1%

152,444

268

Lake CountyGEOID 26085

567.6 mi²

6.7 mi²

1.2%

13,182

Clinton CountyGEOID 26037

567.3 mi²

7.2 mi²

1.3%

80,432

142

Osceola CountyGEOID 26133

566.3 mi²

6.7 mi²

1.2%

23,516

Oscoda CountyGEOID 26135

565.7 mi²

5.8 mi²

8,723

Livingston CountyGEOID 26093

565.3 mi²

20.1 mi²

3.4%

197,315

349

Wexford CountyGEOID 26165

564.9 mi²

10.5 mi²

1.8%

34,445

Missaukee CountyGEOID 26113

564.8 mi²

9.1 mi²

1.6%

15,274

Clare CountyGEOID 26035

564.4 mi²

11 mi²

1.9%

31,543

Ottawa CountyGEOID 26139

563.5 mi²

1,067.9 mi²

65.5%

308,459

547

Ogemaw CountyGEOID 26129

563.5 mi²

11.4 mi²

21,121

Kalamazoo CountyGEOID 26077

562 mi²

18.3 mi²

3.2%

263,795

469

Kalkaska CountyGEOID 26079

559.7 mi²

10.8 mi²

1.9%

18,693

Crawford CountyGEOID 26039

556.4 mi²

6.9 mi²

1.2%

13,722

Ingham CountyGEOID 26065

556.1 mi²

4.6 mi²

0.8%

289,709

521

Mecosta CountyGEOID 26107

555.2 mi²

16.1 mi²

2.8%

42,320

Barry CountyGEOID 26015

553.1 mi²

23.9 mi²

4.1%

63,991

116

Iosco CountyGEOID 26069

549.5 mi²

1,340.6 mi²

70.9%

25,266

Monroe CountyGEOID 26115

549.4 mi²

130.6 mi²

19.2%

156,004

284

Montmorency CountyGEOID 26119

546.7 mi²

16 mi²

2.8%

9,842

Manistee CountyGEOID 26101

542.3 mi²

738.4 mi²

57.7%

25,656

Keweenaw CountyGEOID 26083

540.1 mi²

5,426.2 mi²

90.9%

2,186

Oceana CountyGEOID 26127

538.1 mi²

767.8 mi²

58.8%

27,177

Shiawassee CountyGEOID 26155

531.1 mi²

9.8 mi²

1.8%

67,681

127

Roscommon CountyGEOID 26143

519.9 mi²

60.1 mi²

10.4%

23,914

Midland CountyGEOID 26111

518.4 mi²

9.6 mi²

1.8%

83,754

162

Otsego CountyGEOID 26137

515 mi²

11.2 mi²

2.1%

26,080

Branch CountyGEOID 26023

506.4 mi²

13.3 mi²

2.6%

45,993

Muskegon CountyGEOID 26121

503.9 mi²

956.1 mi²

65.5%

177,901

353

Gladwin CountyGEOID 26051

501.8 mi²

14.2 mi²

2.7%

26,077

St. Joseph CountyGEOID 26149

500.6 mi²

20.4 mi²

3.9%

60,968

122

Mason CountyGEOID 26105

495 mi²

747.3 mi²

60.2%

29,040

Cass CountyGEOID 26027

490.1 mi²

18.2 mi²

3.6%

51,677

105

Macomb CountyGEOID 26099

479.4 mi²

91.6 mi²

16%

886,221

1,849

Antrim CountyGEOID 26009

475.7 mi²

126.1 mi²

20.9%

24,698

Emmet CountyGEOID 26047

467.5 mi²

414.5 mi²

47%

33,775

Grand Traverse CountyGEOID 26055

464.3 mi²

137 mi²

22.8%

96,729

208

Bay CountyGEOID 26017

442.4 mi²

188.3 mi²

29.9%

102,123

231

Charlevoix CountyGEOID 26029

416.3 mi²

974.1 mi²

70.1%

26,036

Arenac CountyGEOID 26011

363.2 mi²

317.5 mi²

46.6%

15,068

Leelanau CountyGEOID 26089

347.2 mi²

2,185 mi²

86.3%

22,982

Benzie CountyGEOID 26019

319.7 mi²

539.9 mi²

62.8%

18,568

Michigan counties by area

Understanding Michigan’s county areas

Where water changes the picture

Where people live

Complete area table