Wexford County is a county in Michigan, United States, in the northern Lower Peninsula between Grand Traverse Bay and the Manistee National Forest. It had a population of 33,673 at the 2020 census and covers 575.46 square miles (1,490.4 km2), of which 565.00 square miles is land, centred near 44°20′N 85°35′W.
Cadillac is the county seat, and its postal code is 49601. The county holds 2 cities, 3 villages, and 15 civil townships, plus several unincorporated communities. Wexford County is in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 26165.
Towns & Villages in Wexford County
Cadillac anchors the county’s population and commerce; the rest of the county is small villages, forest hamlets, and township centers spread through the Manistee National Forest.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac | City · seat | — | 10,371 | 49601 |
| Manton | City | — | — | 49663 |
| Buckley | Village | — | — | 49620 |
| Harrietta | Village | — | — | 49638 |
| Mesick | Village | — | — | 49668 |
| Haring | CDP | Haring Charter Township | — | 49601 |
| Boon | CDP | Boon Township | — | — |
| Caberfae | CDP | Colfax Township | — | — |
| Wedgewood | CDP | — | — | — |
| Axin | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bagnall | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Baxter | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Benson | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Garletts Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gilbert | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Glengary | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Harlan | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hobart | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hoxeyville | Unincorp. | — | — | 49641 |
| Meauwataka | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Millersville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Missaukee Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sherman | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wexford Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Yuma | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Antioch | — | Rural, forested |
| Boon | — | Boon |
| Cedar Creek | — | Rural |
| Cherry Grove | — | Rural |
| Clam Lake | — | Surrounds Cadillac |
| Colfax | — | Caberfae ski area |
| Greenwood | — | Rural |
| Hanover | — | Rural |
| Henderson | — | Rural |
| Liberty | — | Rural |
| Selma | — | Harrietta |
| Slagle | — | Rural |
| South Branch | — | Rural |
| Springville | — | Mesick area |
| Wexford | — | Rural, adjoins Cadillac |
ZIP Codes
- 49601 — Cadillac (also serves Haring)
- 49663 — Manton
- 49620 — Buckley
- 49638 — Harrietta
- 49668 — Mesick
- 49641 — Hoxeyville
The smaller unincorporated communities scattered through the townships use one of these post office ZIPs rather than a code of their own.
Geography
Wexford County sits in the northern Lower Peninsula, its surface a mix of glacial hills, lakes, and second-growth forest. Most of the county lies inside the Manistee National Forest, and Briar Hill, at 1,706 feet, is the highest point in the entire Lower Peninsula. Rivers in the north of the county drain generally west toward Lake Michigan.
Wexford County borders Grand Traverse County to the north, Kalkaska County to the northeast, Missaukee County to the east, Osceola County to the southeast, Lake County to the southwest, Manistee County to the west, and Benzie County to the northwest.
Demographics
Wexford County had 33,673 residents at the 2020 census. Cadillac and Manton are the two largest communities. Michigan’s 2023 ACS median household income is $69,183; Wexford County, a rural forest county without a major metro employer, typically runs below the state figure. Population density is light outside Cadillac, reflecting the county’s forest and lake-dominated land base.
Economy & Local Life
Forestry and forest-products manufacturing remain central to the county’s economy, a legacy of its 19th-century logging boom. Tourism is the other pillar: eight golf courses around Cadillac, the Caberfae Peaks ski area, and year-round hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and kayaking draw visitors from across the state. The Wexford Civic Center in Cadillac hosts agricultural shows and community expos through the year.
History
The county was set off in 1840 under the name Kautawaubet County, one of Michigan’s original Indian-named counties, and was renamed Wexford in 1843 after County Wexford, Ireland. It was organized as a functioning county government in 1869. Logging drove its early growth, and preserved equipment such as a Shay locomotive marks that heritage today; much of the cut-over land was later replanted and now forms part of the Manistee National Forest.
Getting There
US 131 runs north-south through the county as its main freeway, linking Cadillac to Grand Rapids and Traverse City, with M-37, M-42, M-55, and M-115 serving as secondary routes.
- Traverse City — 30 miles north
- Big Rapids — 40 miles south
- Manistee — 35 miles west
- Grand Rapids — 85 miles south
Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City is the nearest commercial airport; Amtrak does not serve Wexford County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wexford County, Michigan?
It is in the northern Lower Peninsula, centred near 44°20′N 85°35′W, between Grand Traverse Bay and the Manistee National Forest.
What is the Cadillac postcode?
Cadillac’s postal code is 49601.
What is the population of Wexford County?
Wexford County had a population of 33,673 at the 2020 census.
Cadillac is the county seat — what else is nearby?
Cadillac is the county seat and largest city; Manton is the county’s second city.
What is Wexford County named after?
It is named after County Wexford in Ireland, adopted in 1843 after the county was originally organized as Kautawaubet County in 1840.
How big is Wexford County?
It covers 575.46 square miles (1,490.4 km2), most of it forested.
What is the highest point in Wexford County?
Briar Hill, at 1,706 feet, is the highest point in Michigan’s entire Lower Peninsula.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Michigan.