Demographics

Arenac County Economic Development Profile Data

  • Area – 363.2 square miles
  • Acres of forest – 113,600 acres
  • Miles of Great Lakes shoreline – 47
  • Miles of rivers and streams – 155
  • Population – 15,031 (2022 Estimate) 
  • Median household income - $53,487 (2022) US Census Bureau
  • Per capita income - $29,246 (2022) US Census Bureau
  • Retail Sales
    • Total retail sales – ($1,000) = $118,751 (2007) US Census Bureau
    • Per capita retail sales $7,144 (2007) US Census Bureau
  • Employment
    • Total labor force – 6,542
    • Employed – 6,073
    • Unemployed – 469
    • Percent unemployed – 7.2% 

Agriculture

Agriculture is an important segment of the Arenac County economy and accounts for 48% of the County's land use. According to the 2011 Arenac County Master Plan, 70,165 total acres are in prime farmland, 8,710 total acres are in additional farmland of local importance, and 1,468 total acres are in unique farmland, other than prime.

Financial Institutions

  • Chemical Bank
    220 S. Main St.
    Standish, MI 48658 989-846-9506
    www.chemicalbankmi.com

  • FirstMerit Bank
    120 N. Forest St.
    Standish, MI 48658 989-846-5207

  • Huron Community Bank
    3150 E. Huron Rd.
    Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-8068
    www.bankhcb.com

  • Independent Bank
    209 S. Main St.
    Standish, MI 48658 989-846-4595
    www.independentbank.com

  • North Central Area Credit Union
    212 Court St. S.
    Standish, MI 48658 989-846-9553
    www.ncacu.org

  • Sunrise Family Credit Union
    3887 S. Huron Rd.
    Standish, MI 48658 989-846-9750
    www.sunrisefamilycu.org

Major Employers

  • ATD Engineering & Machine atdemllc.com
    533 N. Court St., Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-7161
  • Auburn Bean and Grain Company auburnbeanandgrain.com
    4198 S. Huron Rd., Standish, MI 48658 989-846-9114
  • Bay City Shovels www.baycityshovel.com
    PO Box 169, 2497 US 23, Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-8121
  • Bessinger Pickle Co. Inc.
    537 N. Court St., Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-8008
  • Bopp-Busch Manuf. Co. www.boppbusch.com
    545 E. Huron Rd., PO Box 589, Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-71
  • Crew Products Co.
    205 N. Mackinaw Rd., Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-7924
  • Globe Fire Sprinkler Corp. www.globesprinkler.com
    407 Airpark Dr., Standish, MI 48658 989-846-4583
  • Magline www.magliner.com
    1205 W. Cedar St., Standish, MI 48658 989-512-1000
  • Maple Ridge Hardwoods www.mapleridgehardwoodsinc.com
    2270 North Dobler, Sterling, MI 48659 989-873-5305
  • Modern Craft Winery www.moderncraftwinery.com
    2760 E. Booth Rd., Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-0270
  • Vantage Plastics www.vantageplastics.com
    1415 W. Cedar St., Standish, MI 48658 989-846-1029 ;

Climate / Degrees F

  • January avg. low/hi – 11/28
  • July avg. low/hi – 56/82
  • Avg. annual snowfall – 45 inches
  • Avg. annual rainfall – 28 inches
  • Growing season – 126 days

Housing U.S. Census Bureau

  • Housing units – 9,504 (2020)
  • Households – 6,355 (2022)
  • Median rent - $665/month (2022)
  • Median value owner-occupied housing units - $118,200 (2022)
  • Homeownership rate – 85.1% (2022)

Business Establishments – 337 establishments

  • Natural Resource and Mining – 1.5%
  • Construction and Manufacturing – 20.8%
  • Trade, Transportation, and Utilities – 27.0%
  • Information, Financial, Professional and Business Services – 16.6%
  • Educational and Health Services – 9.2%
  • Leisure and Hospitality – 14.2%
  • Public Admin. and Other Services – 14.7%

County Seat – City of Standish

Miles from:

  • Chicago: 344
  • Cleveland: 310
  • Detroit: 149
  • Indianapolis: 383
  • Lansing: 130

Transportation Services

  • Air – MBS International Airport www.mbs.org
    8500 Garfield Rd, Freeland, MI 48626 989-695-5555
  • Rail – Lake State Railway www.lsrc.net/
    1002 Long Lake Rd., Alpena, MI 49707 989-354-6768
  • Highways I-75, M-13, M-33, M-61, M-65, M-70, M-76, US-23
  • Local Bus – Arenac County Transit Dial-a-Ride 989-846-7500

Public Schools Serving Arenac County

  • Arenac Eastern School District www.arenaceastern.org
    200 Smalley St., Twining, MI 48766 989-867-4234
  • Au Gres-Sims School District www.ags-schools.org
    140 S. Court St., Au Gres, MI 48703 989-876-7157
  • Standish-Sterling Community Schools www.standish-sterling.org
    3789 Wyatt Rd., Standish, MI 48658 989-846-3670
  • Tawas Area Schools www.tawas.net/
    245 W M 55, Tawas City, MI 48763 989-362-8408
  • Whittemore Prescott Area Schools www.wpas.net/
    8970 Prescott Rd., Whittemore, MI 48770 989-756-2500

Regional Higher Education Institutions

  • Delta College (two year community college)
    989-686-9000
    1961 Delta Rd., University Center, MI 48710
    Campus Centers in Bay City, Midland and Saginaw
    www.delta.edu/

  • Kirtland Community College (63 available degrees and certificates)
    989-275-5000
    Central campus in Roscommon
    Extensions in West Branch and Gaylord
    www.kirtland.edu/

  • Saginaw Valley State University (undergraduate and graduate programs)
    989-964-4000
    7400 Bay Rd., University Center, MI 48710
    www.svsu.edu/

Libraries

Hospitals/Health Centers/Nursing Facilities

  • St. Mary's of Michigan - Standish Community Hospital
    805 Cedar St., Standish, MI 48658
  • Sterling Area Health Center
    www.sterlinghealth.net
    725 E. State St., Sterling, MI 48659
    989-654-2491

Adult Day Care/Living Facilities

  • Horizon Senior Living
    218 Airpark Dr., Standish, MI 48658
    989-386-4900
  • Medilodge of Sterling, LLC
    www.medilodgeofsterling.com
    500 School Rd., Sterling, MI 48659
    989-654-2496
  • Pleasant Days Adult Day Care Center
    131 Clyde St., Omer, MI 48749
    989-370-7184

Historical Society

Chambers of Commerce

Downtown Development Authorities

  • City of AuGres
    www.cityofau-gres-mi.org
    124 W. Huron Rd.
    Au Gres, MI 48703
    989-876-8811
  • City of Standish
    www.cityofstandish.com
    399 E. Beaver St.
    Standish, MI 48658
    989-846-9588

Michigan Works

  • 4480 West M-61
    Standish, MI 48658
    989-846-2111