Cheboygan was originally an Ojibwe settlement. In 1844, Jacob Sammons, a cooper from Fort Mackinac, chose the old native camping ground, known as Shabwegan, as the site for his cabin. He recruited other settlers, and a post office named "Duncan" was established in 1846. It was made the county seat in 1853.
Duncan or Duncan City was given a post office in 1850 as a result of the building of sawmills in this area. Duncan was made the county seat in 1853 and the location of the federal land office in 1855. The county seat shifted to Cheboygan in about 1870. Later Duncan was included within the expanded boundaries of Cheboygan.[8]
The area became known as Cheboygan in 1870. It was incorporated as a village in 1871.[8] Rail maps in 1876 show planned rail service for Cheboygan, but due to various setbacks, rail did not arrive there until 1881.[9] There was a theater built in town in 1877.
In 1944, Cheboygan became the home port of the former U.S. Coast Guard cutter and icebreaker Mackinaw, serving from 1944 to 2006. Beginning in 2006, the port continued this role as the home dock of the new Mackinaw, a successor cutter.[11][12][13]
Etymology
The name of the city shares the name of the county and probably has its origin from the Cheboygan River, although the precise meaning is no longer known. It may have come from an Ojibwe word zhaabonigan meaning "sewing needle". Alternatively, the origin may have been "Chabwegan," meaning "a place of ore."[14][15]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.00 square miles (18.13 km2), of which 6.80 square miles (17.61 km2) is land and 0.20 square miles (0.52 km2) is water.[16]
The Cheboygan County Historical Museum Complex, originally built as the Cheboygan County Sheriff Residence with attached jail cells (1882) and the New Jail addition (1912-14).Carnegie Free Library building; the first building constructed in Cheboygan to serve specifically as a library. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie donated $15,000 for the building in 1908. It was completed in 1913, and served as the city library until 1966.[21]
2010 census
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 4,867 people, 2,025 households, and 1,164 families residing in the city. The population density was 715.7 inhabitants per square mile (276.3/km2). There were 2,415 housing units at an average density of 355.1 per square mile (137.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 1.0% African American, 4.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 2,025 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.5% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.84.
The median age in the city was 40.8 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 5,295 people, 2,146 households, and 1,349 families residing in the city. The population density was 779.5 inhabitants per square mile (301.0/km2). There were 2,365 housing units at an average density of 348.2 per square mile (134.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.80% White, 0.51% African American, 4.12% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 2.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 2,146 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,033, and the median income for a family was $32,692. Males had a median income of $28,417 versus $19,559 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,318. About 15.8% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
The city and county are served by a daily newspaper, the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. A television station, WTOM-TV, is licensed to Cheboygan and maintains broadcast facilities along US Highway 23 south of the city, but this station operates as a satellite, with programming originating from parent station WPBN-TV in Traverse City.
Transportation
State trunklines
US 23 parallels the Lake Huron shore, running primarily east–west in Cheboygan, and can be used to access Rogers City and Alpena, both southeast of Cheboygan.
M-27 is the primary north–south thoroughfare in Cheboygan, and can be used to access Interstate 75 and M-33, both south of Cheboygan.
^ abcRomig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 165. ISBN0-8143-1838-X.
^Matthew J. Friday (2010). The Inland Water Route. Arcatia Publishing. p. 14. ISBN978-0-7385-7734-0. The railroad arrived in Cheboygan in 1881... prior to this, seasonal navigation provided the only real link to places further south.
^It was a 900 pd (408 kg) vehicle which cost US$450. Clymer, p.166.[full citation needed]
^"Station: Cheboygan, MI". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
