Arenac County has experience four boundary changes, once even being eliminated.

– 1831 Mar 2 Arenac Co created by Michigan Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to Oakland Co.
– 1836 Mar 2 Areneac Co is attached to Saginaw Co “for judicial purposes.” The judicial attachment was confirmed 1 Apr 1840.
– 1857 Apr 20 Arenac Co was completely eliminated, being merged into Bay Co when Bay Co was created
– 1883 Apr 21 Arenac Co is re-created from Bay Co, with boundaries somewhat different from (though nearly the same as) the Territorial borders of 1831.

In 1883, Omer (close to the center of the county) was designated as the county seat. The courthouse burned in 1889. Although a second courthouse was quickly rebuilt, the populace voted two years latr to make Standish the county seat, probably because the town had become the crossroads of transportation. The first courthouse, locally referred to as the “red brick courthouse” was replaced in the late 1960s with the courthouse building of today.

The counties bordering Arenac are Ogemaw (NW), Iosco (N), Gladwin (W) and Bay (S). Since Arenac was part of Bay County from 1857 to 1883, some records during those years may be found in Bay County. Judicial records prior to 1857 may be found in Saginaw County.test