Charlevoix county occupies a region that was originally called Keskauko, (KESS-KOW-KO) until 1843 when it was renamed Charlevoix, After Pierre François (FRAN-CWA) Xavier de Charlevoix, a French Jesuit missionary, who traveled through the Great Lakes region in 1721. Charlevoix did not become organized into a county until 1869.   Charlevoix County also has the distinction of having America 's first and only kingdom. It happened in 1848 when James Strang of the Mormon Church started receiving directives from God to bring his flock to Beaver Island . Strang formed a very successful religious community on the Island . So successful that not only did James Strang get elected king of the " Kingdom of St. James " in 1850, he also was elected to the state legislature.   Strang had many detractors and when attempts to oust him legally failed, two disgruntled followers assassinated him in 1856.   His people were then driven off the Island by an angry mob from Mackinac Island . It turns out the mob was instigated by speculators that wanted the land. The Mormons cleared and cultivated the ground, built roads and houses, and changed an Island from wilderness to a functioning economy, during their 8-year reign. But fate conspired to keep them from reaping the benefits of their toil. Today the county offers many opportunities for hunting and fishing and includes the very sizeable Lake Charlevoix .

Charlevoix County Websites and Locations of Interest

http://www.beaverisland.net/ - Information on Beaver Island