Happy 200th Birthday Oakland County!
We've never turned 200 before so we're planning festivities, activities and events to last the entire year and appeal broadly to our 1.2 million residents. Now who doesn't love a party?
Oakland County Executive David Coulter, the Board of Commissioners and the county's Bicentennial Committee are coordinating activities, celebrations and interactive online presentations with communities, historical societies, educators and educational institutions, service organizations and new collaborations to showcase the county's rich and colorful history and make it relevant – and interesting – to you, your family, your friend and your life. We're even passing out 20,000 oak tree seedlings and every community will get an oak tree to plant to commemorate our 200th birthday.
Did you know that:
- Oakland County was first organized by Territorial Gov. Lewis Cass on March 28, 1820 – 17 years before Michigan became a state – and Pontiac was named as the county seat?
- Oakland County was once part of Macomb County, but was subdivided by Gov. Cass because Macomb was becoming too large?
- Oakland County's population in 1820 was 330 people and ballooned to 4,911 by 1830?
The celebrations begin with bang in January – literally – with one of Michigan's premier free winter events – and fireworks – with the Fire & Ice Festival in downtown Rochester in January. Familiar events will take on a Bicentennial flavor:
- Southfield's Rhythm & Rhymes concert held
- Trailblazers Walking series with free admission to an Oakland County Park
- Oakland County birthday party on March 28
- The McLaren Brooksie Way Half Marathon
- The Oakland County Fair
This site will grow to include information for events and festivities taking place throughout the County's 200th anniversary year.
If history is your thing and no deep dive is too deep, we've got you covered. Oakland University History Department and public history graduate students, partnering with Oakland County historical museums and societies, is creating a digital, interactive display to give you Oakland County's history as you've never seen it before.
We're excited about our birthday and we hope you are too so let's get celebrating. Our 200th birthday only comes around once. Don't miss it.