Mecosta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 39,714. The county seat is Big Rapids. The county is named after Chief Mecosta, the leader of the Potawatomi Native American tribe who once traveled the local waterways in search of fish and game. Chief Mecosta was one of the signers the Treaty of Washington in 1836. The easily navigated waterways soon led to a boom in lumber industry growth. Workers settled the area in 1851, and the county was officially settled and the government officially organized in 1859. Mecosta County is home to over 100 lakes, rivers, and streams with the Muskegon River winding its way through the county seat and largest city Big Rapids. Mecosta County was set off on April 1, 1840, but remained attached for administrative purposes to Kent County until 1857, when it was attached to Newaygo County. The county government was organized on February 11, 1859, with the village of Leonard as its seat.

Founded: April 1, 1840, organized February 11, 1859
Named for: Mecosta
Seat: Big Rapids
Largest city: Big Rapids
Total: 571 sq mi (1,478.88 km²)
Land: 555 sq mi (1,437.44 km²)
Water: 16 sq mi (41.44 km²), 2.8%
Density: 77/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone: Eastern: UTC-5-4
Website: [mecostacounty.org]
Wikidata description: county in Michigan, United States
Wikidata id: Q74686
Wikidata label: Mecosta County
Wikidata aliases: Array
Source
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