Benzie County, Michigan

Benzie County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1863
Seat	Beulah
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	859.64 sq mi (2,226 km²) 321.31 sq mi (832 km²) 538.32 sq mi (1,394 km²), 62.62%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	15,998 49/sq mi (19/km²)
Website	www.benzieco.net

Benzie County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Traverse City, Michigan, Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,998. The county seat is Beulah. The name "Benzie" is derived from the French Riviere Aux-Bec Scies or "river of sawbill ducks" (bec-scie). Americans altered the pronunciation of the river's name, which became known as the "Betsie River". A similar alteration in pronunciation produced "Benzie". The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869. At 321 mi² (831 km²), Benzie County is the smallest of the 83 counties in Michigan.

Geography

Benzie County, Michigan's smallest in terms of land area, 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 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 offers 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.

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 859.64 square miles (2,226.5 km²), of which 321.31 square miles (832.2 km²) (or 37.38%) is land and 538.32 square miles (1,394.2 km²) (or 62.62%) is water.

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 mile until Benzonia where M-115 continues west to end in Frankfort.
• M-168 is one of the shortest state highways in Michigan, extending 0.95 miles (1.53 km) from a junction with M-22 in downtown Elberta northwest to the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks.

Adjacent counties

• Leelanau County - north
• Grand Traverse County - east
• Manistee County - south
• Kewaunee County, Wisconsin - southwest
• Door County, Wisconsin - northwest

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density 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, 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 according to Census 2000. 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.

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 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.

Benzie County elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: J.B. Daugherty
• Sheriff: Rory Heckman
• County Clerk: Dawn Olney
• County Treasurer: Linda M. Wilson
• Register of Deeds: Amy Bissell
• Drain Commissioner: Terry Money
• County Surveyor: John Smendzuik

Other affiliations

• It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord.

(information as of September 2005)

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities Frankfort

Villages Benzonia Beulah Elberta

Honor Lake Ann Thompsonville

Unincorporated Bendon

Townships

Almira Township Benzonia Township Blaine Township

Colfax Township Crystal Lake Township Gilmore Township

Homestead Township Inland Township Joyfield Township

Lake Township Platte Township Weldon Township

Ghost towns Benzie County contains a number of ghost towns:

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)
• 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

Further reading

• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography for Benzie County
• A history of Herring Lake: with an introductory legend, The bride of mystery