Lake County, Michigan

Lake County, Michigan
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	information needed
Seat	Baldwin
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	574.60 sq mi (1,488 km²) 567.44 sq mi (1,470 km²) 7.17 sq mi (19 km²), 1.25%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	11,333 21/sq mi (8/km²)

Lake County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 11,333. The county seat is Baldwin.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 574.60 square miles (1,488.2 km²), of which 567.44 square miles (1,469.7 km²) (or 98.75%) is land and 7.17 square miles (18.6 km²) (or 1.25%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

• Manistee County (northwest)
• Wexford County (northeast)
• Osceola County (east)
• Newaygo County (south)
• Mason County (west)

Highways

• US 10
• M-37

National protected area

• Manistee National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,333 people, 4,704 households, and 3,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.66% White, 11.17% Black or African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 1.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.0% were of German, 12.6% American, 8.4% Irish, 8.2% English and 6.1% Dutch ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.5% spoke English and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 4,704 households out of which 23.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 27.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 109.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,622, and the median income for a family was $32,086. Males had a median income of $30,124 versus $21,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,457. About 14.70% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.30% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.

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.

Lake County elected officials

• Chief Trial Court Judge: Mark S. Wickens
• Prosecuting Attorney: Michael Riley
• Sheriff: Robert Hilts
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Shelly Meyers
• County Treasurer: Brenda Kutchinski
• County Surveyor: Robert Wetherell

(information as of September 2005)

Cities, villages, and townships

Baldwin, village Chase Township Cherry Valley Township Dover Township Eden Township

Elk Township Ellsworth Township Idlewild, Michigan, unincorporated community Lake Township Luther, village

Newkirk Township Peacock Township Pinora Township Pleasant Plains Township

Sauble Township Sweetwater Township Webber Township Yates Township

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, Michigan

External links

• Lake County Road Commission Website
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Lake County