Shiawassee County is a county in Michigan, United States, part of the Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area. It had a population of 68,094 at the 2020 census and covers 541 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 531 square miles (1,380 km2) is land, centred near 42°57′N 84°08′W.
Corunna is the county seat, and its postal code is 48817. The county has 5 cities, 6 villages, 3 census-designated places and dozens of unincorporated communities spread across 14 civil townships and 2 charter townships. Shiawassee County runs on Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Shiawassee County
Owosso is the largest city; Corunna is the smallest of the five cities but holds the county seat. The table below covers every incorporated city and village, the three census-designated places (CDP), and the unincorporated communities carried forward from GNIS/postal records. “Unincorp.” marks a place with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corunna | City · seat | — | — | 48817 |
| Owosso | City | — | — | 48867 |
| Durand | City | — | — | 48429 |
| Laingsburg | City | — | — | 48848 |
| Perry | City | — | — | 48872 |
| Bancroft | Village | — | — | 48414 |
| Byron | Village | — | — | 48418 |
| Lennon | Village | — | — | — |
| Morrice | Village | — | — | 48857 |
| New Lothrop | Village | — | — | 48460 |
| Vernon | Village | Vernon | — | 48476 |
| Henderson | CDP | Burns | — | 48841 |
| Middletown | CDP | — | — | — |
| Shaftsburg | CDP | — | — | 48882 |
| Antrim Center | Unincorp. | Antrim | — | — |
| Bennington | Unincorp. | Bennington | — | — |
| Burton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Candlewick Court MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Carland | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Country Manor MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Countryside Village MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Easton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Five Points | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Five Points North | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Forest Green Estates | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hoovers Corners | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Juddville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kerby | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lakeview Estates MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| New Haven | Unincorp. | New Haven | — | — |
| Newburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nicholson | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Northwood Estates MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Olney Corners | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Owosso Trailer Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pittsburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Quiet Cove MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shiawasseetown | Unincorp. | Shiawassee | — | — |
| Smith Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Union Plains | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wolf Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
Shiawassee County has 14 general-law townships plus two charter townships, Caledonia and Owosso. Township-level 2020 population figures were not available from the sources checked for this profile, so the table is ordered alphabetically rather than by population.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Antrim Township | — | Antrim Center |
| Bennington Township | — | Bennington |
| Burns Township | — | Henderson |
| Caledonia Charter Township | — | — |
| Fairfield Township | — | — |
| Hazelton Township | — | — |
| Middlebury Township | — | — |
| New Haven Township | — | New Haven |
| Owosso Charter Township | — | — |
| Perry Township | — | — |
| Rush Township | — | — |
| Sciota Township | — | — |
| Shiawassee Township | — | Shiawasseetown |
| Venice Township | — | — |
| Vernon Township | — | Vernon |
| Woodhull Township | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 48817 — Corunna
- 48867 — Owosso
- 48429 — Durand
- 48848 — Laingsburg
- 48872 — Perry
- 48414 — Bancroft
- 48418 — Byron
- 48857 — Morrice
- 48460 — New Lothrop
- 48476 — Vernon
- 48841 — Henderson
- 48882 — Shaftsburg
Lennon and Middletown have no ZIP code of their own; residents there use a neighboring post office town.
Geography
Shiawassee County sits on the flat till plains of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, roughly in the state’s south-central section. The Shiawassee River enters from Genesee County in the southeast, runs through Corunna and Owosso in the middle of the county, and continues north into Saginaw County. The Looking Glass River drains the county’s southwestern townships.
The county is bordered by Saginaw County to the north, Genesee County to the east, Livingston County to the southeast, Ingham County to the southwest, Clinton County (townsvillages.com/us/clinton-county-michigan) to the west, and Gratiot County (townsvillages.com/us/gratiot-county) to the northwest. Ingham County (townsvillages.com/us/ingham-county) and Saginaw County (townsvillages.com/us/saginaw-county) also have live pages on this site.
Demographics
Shiawassee County had 68,094 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 128 people per square mile. Owosso is the largest city and Corunna is the county seat; together the two anchor the county’s population along the Shiawassee River corridor. Median household income in the county runs below the Michigan median of $69,183, reflecting the county’s manufacturing and agricultural employment base.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture anchor the county’s economy. Owosso is home to Corunna-area manufacturers and to Baker College’s Owosso campus, and Memorial Healthcare serves the county from Owosso. Farming remains widespread across the townships, with corn, soybeans and dairy the leading products. Durand’s restored Union Station hosts an annual railroad-heritage festival tied to the town’s history as a rail junction.
History
Shiawassee County was set off from portions of Oakland and St. Clair counties on September 10, 1822, and formally organized after Michigan’s 1837 statehood. It takes its name from the Shiawassee River, whose Ojibwe-derived name is often translated as “the river that twists about.” Owosso, founded in the 1830s, grew as a lumber and rail town and is the birthplace of 1948 presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey. Durand developed around its Grand Trunk Western rail junction; its 1903 Union Station is now a museum and Amtrak stop.
Getting There
Interstate 69 crosses the county, linking Durand and Owosso to Flint and Lansing. Durand Union Station offers Amtrak’s Blue Water service between Chicago and Port Huron.
- Lansing — about 25 miles southwest
- Flint — about 25 miles east
- Saginaw — about 30 miles north
- Ann Arbor — about 55 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Bishop International Airport in Flint; general aviation is served locally by Owosso Community Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Shiawassee County, Michigan?
It lies in the south-central Lower Peninsula, part of the Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area, between Flint and Lansing.
What is the population of Shiawassee County?
68,094 at the 2020 census.
How big is Shiawassee County?
541 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 531 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Shiawassee County?
Corunna.
How many towns and villages are in Shiawassee County?
Five cities and six villages, plus three census-designated places and numerous unincorporated communities across 16 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Shiawassee County?
Twelve ZIP codes serve the county, led by 48867 (Owosso) and 48817 (Corunna); see the ZIP Codes section above.
Where does the name Shiawassee come from?
From the Shiawassee River, an Ojibwe name commonly translated as “the river that twists about.”
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Michigan.