Extensive manuscript plat book of Mackinac County, Michigan and neighboring Islands, with maps drawn in the 1880s and early 1890s.
Platted by townships and including cadastral information and acreage, the entire county is covered, with dozens of early land owners noted, as well as school lands.
The maps include manuscript entries in at least 3 different colors, suggesting that the book was compiled and maintained over a period of years, likely by different owners.
Mackinac County, originally named Michilimackinac County, was established on October 26, 1818, by territorial governor Lewis Cass. It was one of the earliest territories in Michigan, covering not just the Lower Peninsula north of Macomb County but also nearly all of what is known today as the Upper Peninsula.
This expansive territory began to be subdivided as more people settled in the area. On April 1, 1840, thirty new counties were created from areas that had formerly been part of Michilimackinac County in the Lower Peninsula. By 1841, Michilimackinac County had been reduced to include only the Upper Peninsula and nearby islands, bordering Chippewa and Menominee counties.
Further reorganization occurred on March 9, 1843, when the Upper Peninsula was divided into six counties. This reorganization resulted in Michilimackinac County taking on a shape closer to its current form, which is now predominantly located in the area surrounding the Straits of Mackinac and several islands.
The original county seat was on Michilimackinac Island, which is now known as Mackinac Island. This location was a significant center for fur trading, particularly before the 1830s when the fur trade began to wane due to declining European demand. In 1849, the county was officially organized as Mackinac County. The county seat was then moved to St. Ignace in 1882, a community that was originally established as a French Jesuit mission village during the colonial period.