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History:
Oakland County began as a settlement where the Saginaw Trail crossed the Clinton River in 1818. One year later on January 12, 1819, Oakland County was officially organized and was named for its beautiful oak trees even though it was not heavily wooded enough to attract many lumbermen, and settlement was slow at first.
Oakland County's agriculture was productive, however, and when roads and railroads to the north were built, the county was able to trade with the lumber areas.
Today the excellent agriculture of Oakland County has been overshadowed by its industrial and residential growth. The result is a mixture of big city, suburban, and rural lifestyles. There remain many beautiful farms and horse estates on large acreage parcels in north Oakland County. A superior system of parks includes 6 state recreation areas, 3 state parks, and 2 metroparks providing Michigan's second largest population with an abundance of leisure opportunity. The county capital is centrally located in Pontiac.
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Per Capita Ranking:
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Oakland County ranks very high as one of the richest counties in the country. Based on the 2000 census, Oakland County's ranking is 26th in the nation as highest per capita income, and 20th personal per capita income. That is due to all the industry, manufacturing, and education that Oakland County has to offer.
Education:
Education is a top priority in Oakland County. More than 500 public and private schools and academies offer high-quality curriculum. Oakland County is the place for learning.
With numerous schools for higher education, an award-winning public school system (that helps sets standards for the state of Michigan!), and research facilities for everything from automotive to high-tech solutions.
More than 200,000 students are enrolled countywide within 28 school districts. Oakland County high-school students have averaged higher composite scores on the ACT (American College Test) than high-school students in the state of Michigan and in the nation.
Thirteen institutions of higher learning located in Oakland County prepare students for the competitive job market. Two-year, four-year and Ph.D. degree programs offer students numerous career options. University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus is located less than an hour from Oakland County, and within Oakland County is Oakland University, the third largest university in the state of Michigan. With a rapidly growing enrollment, OU consistently develops curriculum and degrees to meet real-world needs -- such as its School of Business Administration's new Executive MBA for Health Care Management program (the only program of its kind in Michigan).
And our Fortune 100 corporations are largely involved when it comes to educating our communities. Partnerships between business and education take the lead in Oakland County.
Whether it's public, private, continuing/adult, workshops and classes from the County -- there's an an enormous assortment of education opportunities for everyone. The best and brightest minds come together in Oakland County.
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