COUNTY HISTORY

 The County of Ingham was designated and named after Samuel D. Ingham by an act of Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan on the 29th of October in 1829. Samuel D. Ingham was Secretary of the Treasurer under President Andrew Jackson.  Samuel Ingham never saw the county which was named after him.

Nine Counties in Michigan were set off and named by the Legislative Act of 1829 for the President and his Cabinet. They were known as the "Cabinet Counties." These counties were: Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson and Van Buren.                                                                                     

Ingham County is comprised of sixteen townships: Alaiedon, Aurelius, Bunker Hill, Delhi, Ingham, Lansing, Leroy, Leslie, Locke, Meridian, Onondaga, Stockbridge, Vevay, Wheatfield, White Oak and Williamstown.

 

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT DRAWING
  OF THE INGHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Competition developed between Mason and Jefferson City for the location of the County Seat. The Village of Mason, located three and one half miles south of Jefferson City won and became the County Seat in March of 1840. In April of that same year, the Village of Mason conveyed to the County Board of Supervisors twenty-five acres on top of a large bluff-like hill. A log building which cost $331.00 was constructed for County offices and became the County's first building.