Benzie County, Michigan

Benzie County (/bɛnziː/ BEN-zee) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 17,970.[2] The county seat is Beulah.[3] The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869.[1][4] At 321 square miles (830 km2), Benzie County is the smallest of the 83 counties in Michigan in terms of land area.

Benzie County
County
Old Benzie County Courthouse in Beulah
Old Benzie County Courthouse in Beulah
Map of Michigan highlighting Benzie County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°38′N 86°15′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1863 (created)
1869 (organized)[1]
Named forBetsie River
SeatBeulah
Largest cityFrankfort
Area
 • Total860 sq mi (2,200 km2)
 • Land320 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Water540 sq mi (1,400 km2)  63%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,970
 • Density55/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.benzieco.net

Benzie County is part of the Traverse City micropolitan area. Part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located within the county. It is also home to Crystal Mountain, one of Michigan's top-rated ski resorts.[5]

Frankfort Light
Point Betsie Light
Frankfort Harbor; the mouth of the Betsie River at Lake Michigan

History

Today's Benzie County was originally part of Leelanau County. Leelanau County was separated from Michilimackinac County in 1840, and was attached to Grand Traverse County.[6] In 1863, The northern section of Leelanau County was organized, and the southern section, now named Benzie County, was left attached to Grand Traverse County.[7] Benzie County was organized in its own right in 1869.[1][4]

Etymology

The name "Benzie" is derived from the French la rivière aux Bec-scies, "the river of sawbills", bec-scie ("bill-saw") being a type of ducks. Americans altered the pronunciation of the river's name, which became known as the "Betsie River". A similar alteration in pronunciation produced "Benzie".[1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 860 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 320 square miles (830 km2) is land and 540 square miles (1,400 km2) (63%) is water.[8] It is the smallest county in Michigan by land area.

Benzie County is located in the northwest of the Lower Peninsula, in the "little finger" position of the mitten-shaped peninsula and is considered to be part of the Northern Michigan region. Lake Michigan is to the west, Leelanau County and the Leelanau Peninsula are to the north. Grand Traverse County and Traverse City are to the east. Wexford County is to the southeast and Manistee County to the south. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore extends into the northwest portion of the county. Crystal Lake is a prominent physical feature of the area. The Platte River rises out of a lake district around Lake Ann in the northeast of the county and flows southwest and the northwest into Big Platte Lake before emptying into Lake Michigan at Platte River Point. The Betsie River rises in neighboring Grand Traverse County, flowing southwest across the southeast corner of the county into Manistee County, where it bends northwest until just south of Benzonia where it receives the outflow of Crystal Lake and then flows mostly west through Elberta and Frankfort and into Lake Michigan.

Portions of the Pere Marquette State Forest lie within the county and offer several trails including a 10-mile (16 km) route along the Betsie River and a 5.8-mile (9.3 km) trail near Lake Ann. There are state forest campgrounds at Platte River and Lake Ann. The Betsie River State Game Area is located just east of Elberta. 50 miles (80 km) of the Betsie River is a state-designated Natural River from Grass Lake, just west of the Grand Traverse County line, to its inlet into Lake Betsie just east of Elberta. The natural and scenic richness of the area has made it a host to a variety of conservation, education, and recreation programs, including Crystalaire, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and others.

Major highways
  • US 31 enters the county from the south, passes through Benzonia and Beulah on the south end of Crystal Lake before turning to exit the county to the east.
  • M-22 traverses the western edge of the county, providing a scenic drive along the shore of Lake Michigan.
  • M-115 enters the county from the south, angling northwest, and merges with US 31 for a couple of miles until Benzonia where M-115 continues west to end in Frankfort.

Previously, an additional highway, M-168, ran in the village of Elberta, serving the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks. The route was handed back to local control in 2012.[9]

Adjacent counties

By land

By water

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18702,184—
18803,43357.2%
18905,23752.5%
19009,68584.9%
191010,6389.8%
19206,947−34.7%
19306,587−5.2%
19407,80018.4%
19508,3066.5%
19607,834−5.7%
19708,5939.7%
198011,20530.4%
199012,2008.9%
200015,99831.1%
201017,5259.5%
202017,9702.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 inhabitants 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, 0.28% Black or African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.0% were of German, 13.5% Polish, 9.2% Irish, 7.6% American, 6.0% British and 5.0% French ancestry. 96.8% spoke English and 1.9% Spanish 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 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 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.

Religion

Government

For most of its history, Benzie County has primarily supported Republican presidential candidates, with the only times they failed to carry to the county prior to 1992 being in 1912 & 1964. Starting with the 1992 election, the county has become more of a swing county, with 2012 and 2020 being the only two presidential elections it did not vote for the national winner from 1980 on as of 2020.

United States presidential election results for Benzie County, Michigan[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,601 53.83% 5,480 44.69% 181 1.48%
2016 5,539 54.16% 4,108 40.16% 581 5.68%
2012 5,075 51.26% 4,685 47.32% 141 1.42%
2008 4,687 45.47% 5,451 52.88% 171 1.66%
2004 5,284 54.04% 4,383 44.83% 111 1.14%
2000 4,172 51.68% 3,546 43.93% 354 4.39%
1996 2,856 42.09% 3,081 45.41% 848 12.50%
1992 2,438 35.58% 2,715 39.62% 1,699 24.80%
1988 3,240 56.52% 2,437 42.52% 55 0.96%
1984 3,590 65.25% 1,866 33.91% 46 0.84%
1980 3,054 55.55% 1,842 33.50% 602 10.95%
1976 3,085 61.23% 1,891 37.53% 62 1.23%
1972 2,686 66.26% 1,310 32.31% 58 1.43%
1968 2,138 60.91% 1,147 32.68% 225 6.41%
1964 1,674 45.71% 1,983 54.15% 5 0.14%
1960 2,484 65.45% 1,306 34.41% 5 0.13%
1956 2,620 71.18% 1,046 28.42% 15 0.41%
1952 2,752 73.04% 980 26.01% 36 0.96%
1948 2,013 65.17% 964 31.21% 112 3.63%
1944 2,026 64.48% 1,084 34.50% 32 1.02%
1940 2,320 61.62% 1,429 37.95% 16 0.42%
1936 1,742 47.62% 1,686 46.09% 230 6.29%
1932 1,595 50.22% 1,432 45.09% 149 4.69%
1928 1,849 84.28% 321 14.63% 24 1.09%
1924 1,922 73.84% 198 7.61% 483 18.56%
1920 1,520 72.00% 422 19.99% 169 8.01%
1916 900 47.19% 770 40.38% 237 12.43%
1912 568 29.69% 326 17.04% 1,019 53.27%
1908 1,437 62.97% 551 24.15% 294 12.88%
1904 1,582 74.06% 295 13.81% 259 12.13%
1900 1,472 66.28% 626 28.19% 123 5.54%
1896 1,366 60.39% 803 35.50% 93 4.11%
1892 774 52.47% 498 33.76% 203 13.76%
1888 710 57.58% 412 33.41% 111 9.00%
1884 556 54.89% 380 37.51% 77 7.60%

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 regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The county board of commissioners 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.

Elected officials

[17]

(information as of September 2005)

Historic locations

There are eight historical markers in the county:[18]

  • Benzonia College
  • Benzonia Congregational Church
  • Bruce Catton
  • Car Ferries on Lake Michigan
  • Joyfield Cemetery
  • Marquette's Death
  • Mills Community House
  • Pacific Salmon

Communities
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Benzie County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

City

Villages

Census-designated places

Townships

Indian reservations

Ghost towns
  • Allyn Station (Pratts)
  • Almira
  • Aral
  • Cedar Run
  • Edgewater
  • Gilmore
  • Grant House (Homestead)
  • Homestead
  • Inland
  • Joyfield
  • Kentville
  • Melva
  • Osborn
  • Oviat
  • Platte
  • Playtte River (Melva)
  • Pratts
  • Stormer
  • Success (Ransom Creek)
  • Wallin
  • Weldon

Source:[19]

USS Benzie County LST-266

Education

The Northwest Educational Services, based in Traverse City, services the students in the county along with those of Antrim, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau. The intermediate school district offers regional special education services, early education and English learner programs, and technical career pathways for students of its districts.[20]

Benzie County is served by the following regular public school districts:[21]

Benzie County has one private schools, the New Covenant Christian Academy (Christian).[22]

See also

References
  1. "Bibliography on Benzie County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. County place names Archived July 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Comprehensive Guide to Ski Resorts in Michigan". Pure Michigan | Official Travel & Tourism Website for Michigan. December 4, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  6. "Bibliography on Leelanau County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  7. "Benzie County, Michigan History". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  9. Staff (April 24, 2012). "Contract Number 2012-0366". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  14. Statistical profile of Benzie County, Michigan Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau, Census 2000
  15. "The Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan : A Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church - Diocese of Gaylord". dioceseofgaylord.org.
  16. Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections
  17. Welcome to Benzie County, Michigan
  18. "Michigan Historical Markers". michmarkers.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  19. Dodge, Roy L., Michigan Ghost Towns of the Lower Peninsula ISBN 0-932212-64-6 ISBN 978-0-932212-64-1
  20. "About us". Northwest Educational Services. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  21. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Benzie County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  22. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Private Schools - Benzie County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 17, 2023.

Further reading

44.63°N 86.25°W / 44.63; -86.25

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