wayne county was one of the first counties formed when the northwest territory was created. it was named for the american general "mad anthony" wayne. when it was created, the entire area of the lower peninsula of michigan and small sections that are now part of northern ohio, indiana and illinois were part of wayne county. on august 15, 1796, the boundaries of wayne county were set to begin at the mouth of the cuyahoga river then west to fort wayne, then to the southernmost point of lake michigan and along the western shore north to the territorial boundary in lake superior and then along the territorial boundary through lake huron, lake st. clair, and lake erie back to the starting point.