Located in the Southeastern quadrant of the State, Wayne County is the largest in Michigan. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,061,162. In July 2007, its population was estimated to have reached 1,985,101, making it the 13th most-populous county in the United States. The county seat is Detroit, the largest city in Michigan.

The county has a total area of 672 square miles,614 square miles of it is land and 58 square miles of it is water (including parts of the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair). Wayne County borders on Oakland County and Macomb County to the north, Washtenaw County to the west, and Monroe County to the south.

The eastern (and sometimes southern) boundary is a water boundary in the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair with Essex County, Ontario, Canada. Automotive traffic crosses this boundary at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge. Due to the change in direction of the river, this portion of Ontario actually lies south of Wayne County. Due to the direction ambiguity, the southern communities of the county are usually referred to as "Downriver". Grosse Ile is the largest island in Wayne County and is connected to the mainland by the Wayne County Bridge and the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge.

Wayne County contains 4 seperate Congressional Districts:  11th, represented by CongressmanThaddeus McCotter (R), is shared with Oakland County; 13th, represented by Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick (D); 14th, Represented by Congressman John Conyers, Jr (D); and the 15th (shared with Monroe County), represented by Congressman John Dingell (D).

US Senators include Senator Carl Levin (D), and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D).

Wayne County Elected officials:

* County Executive: Robert A. Ficano (Democrat)

* Prosecuting Attorney: Kym L. Worthy (Democrat)

* Sheriff: Warren C. Evans (Democrat)

* County Clerk: Cathy M. Garrett (Democrat)

* County Treasurer: Raymond J. Wojtowicz (Democrat)

* Register of Deeds: Bernard J. Youngblood (Democrat)

* County Board of Commissioners: Jewel C. Ware, Chairwoman (Democrat) 15 members, elected from districts (14 Dem, 1 Rep)

* Circuit Court (3rd Circuit encompasses Wayne County): 66 judges (non-partisan)

* Probate Court: 8 judges (non-partisan)