Benzie County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 50 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 10,312 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.39% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.28% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.59% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.16% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 24.0% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 13.5% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, 9.2% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 7.6% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 6.0% British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
and 5.0% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.8% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 1.9% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as a first language.
There were 6,500 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,350, and the median income for a family was $42,716. Males had a median income of $30,218 versus $21,730 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,524. About 4.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Population in 1990: 12,200
Historic locations
There are eight historical markers in the County:- Benzonia College
- Benzonia Congregational Church
- Bruce Catton
- Car Ferries on Lake Michigan
- Joyfield Cemetery
- Marquette's Death
- Mills Community House
- Pacific Salmon
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts,keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and
participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In
Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street
maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.
Benzie County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: J.B. Daugherty - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Rory Heckman - County Clerk: Dawn Olney
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Linda M. Wilson - Register of Deeds: Amy Bissell
- Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: Terry Money - County SurveyorCounty surveyor1. A county surveyor is a public official in many counties of the USA. At the bottom of this page are working "External Links" as at 4 November 2011 to websites of a selection of such County Surveyor's departments. Most of these officials are elected on the partisan ballot to four-year terms...
: John Smendzuik
Other affiliations
- It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of GaylordRoman Catholic Diocese of GaylordThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Northern Michigan region of the United States. It comprises the twenty-one most northern counties of the lower peninsula of the state, and includes the cities of Traverse City,...
.
(information as of September 2005)
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities- FrankfortFrankfort, MichiganFrankfort is a city in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,513 at the 2000 census. The elevation of Frankfort is above sea level. The city is situated with Lake Michigan to the west, Lake Betsie, formed by the Betsie River before flowing into Lake Michigan, on the...
Villages
- BenzoniaBenzonia, MichiganBenzonia is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 519 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Benzonia Township at the southeast end of Crystal Lake on U.S...
- BeulahBeulah, MichiganBeulah is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Benzie County. The population was 363 at the 2000 census. It is located in Benzonia Township at the southeast end of Crystal Lake, about one mile north of Benzonia on U.S. Route 31...
- ElbertaElberta, MichiganElberta is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. The village located in the east of Gilmore Township, on the south side of Lake Betsie, which is formed by the Betsie River before flowing into Lake Michigan. The village is on M-22 just...
- HonorHonor, MichiganHonor is a village in Benzie County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 299. The village is located within Homestead Township on U.S...
- Lake AnnLake Ann, MichiganLake Ann is a village in Benzie County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 276. The village is located within Almira Township.-Geography:...
- ThompsonvilleThompsonville, MichiganThompsonville is a village in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. The village is located in the south of the county on the boundary between Weldon Township and Colfax Township.-Geography:...
Unincorporated
- Bendon
Townships
- Almira TownshipAlmira Township, MichiganAlmira Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,811.The village of Lake Ann is within the township, which is in the northeast corner of the county.-Geography:...
- Benzonia TownshipBenzonia Township, MichiganBenzonia Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,839...
- Blaine TownshipBlaine Township, MichiganBlaine Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 491. It is located in the southwest portion of the county. There are no significant population centers in the township; the nearest towns are Arcadia to the south,...
- Colfax TownshipColfax Township, Benzie County, MichiganColfax Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 585 at the 2000 census. One half of the village of Thompsonville is located within the township, which is situated in the southeast corner of the county....
- Crystal Lake TownshipCrystal Lake Township, MichiganCrystal Lake Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 960 at the 2000 census. The township has an irregular shape running along Lake Michigan north of city of Frankfort to Crystal Lake, running southeast through the lake to Benzonia Township,...
- Gilmore TownshipGilmore Township, Benzie County, MichiganGilmore Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the US state of Michigan. The population was 850 at the 2000 census. The township is "L"-shaped, with...
- Homestead TownshipHomestead Township, MichiganHomestead Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,078 at the 2000 census. The township is situated in the center of the county. The village of Honor is located within the township on U.S...
- Inland TownshipInland Township, MichiganInland Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,587 at the 2000 census. The township is located in the east central portion of the county...
- Joyfield TownshipJoyfield Township, MichiganJoyfield Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 777 at the 2000 census. the township is located in the south central portion of the county...
- Lake TownshipLake Township, Benzie County, MichiganLake Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 635 at the 2000 census. The township is irregularly shaped, following the shore of Lake Michigan from Crystal Lake north to Leelanau County...
- Platte TownshipPlatte Township, MichiganPlatte Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 342 at the 2000 census. It is located in the north central portion of the county.-Geography:...
- Weldon TownshipWeldon Township, MichiganWeldon Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 530 at the 2000 census. The township is in the south central portion of the county...
Ghost towns
Benzie County contains a number of ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
s:
- Almira
- Allyn Station (Pratts)
- Aral
- Bendon (Kentville)
- Cedar Run
- Edgewater
- Gilmore
- Grant House (Homestead)
- Homestead
- Inland
- Joyfield
- Kentville
- Melva
- Osborn
- Oviat
- Platte River (Melva)
- Platte
- Pratts
- South Frankfort
- Stormer
- Success
- Wallin
- Weldon
See also
- USS Benzie County (LST-266)USS Benzie County (LST-266)USS Benzie County was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Benzie County, Michigan, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name....
- List of Registered Historic Places in Benzie County, Michigan
External links
- Benzie Area Visitors Bureau
- Benzie County Chamber of Commerce
- Benzie County entry on MIGenWeb
- Benzie County Sport Fishing Association
- Snavemiij.com - Photos, art, and articles relating to Lake Michigan, Benzie County, Frankfort, and Arcadia
- List of links, sources concerning Benzie County and its residents
- Benzie County Area Web Site Directory
- Benzie County, Michigan: Flickr Photo Group