Ionia County, Michigan

Ionia County
	Ionia County, Michigan
	; Seal
	; Seal
	; Location in the state of Michigan
	; Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 2, 1831
Seat	Ionia
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 580.23 sq mi (1,503 km²); 573.21 sq mi (1,485 km²); 7.02 sq mi (18 km²), 1.21%
Population; - (2010); - Density	; 63,905; 111/sq mi (43/km²)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.ioniacounty.org

Ionia County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,905. The county seat is Ionia^[1]. The Ionia County Courthouse was built by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect.

[edit] Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 580.23 square miles (1,502.8 km²), of which 573.21 square miles (1,484.6 km²) (or 98.79%) is land and 7.02 square miles (18.2 km²) (or 1.21%) is water.^[2]

[edit] Adjacent counties

Gratiot County (northeast)
Montcalm County (north)
Clinton County (east)
Kent County (west)
Eaton County (southeast)
Barry County (southwest)

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile (41/km²). There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.96% White, 4.56% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.0% were of German, 14.7% American, 11.6% English, 8.9% Irish and 5.3% Dutch ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.3% spoke English and 2.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 20,606 households out of which 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 115.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,074, and the median income for a family was $49,797. Males had a median income of $36,995 versus $25,443 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,451. About 6.80% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Ionia County was formed in 1831 from portions of Mackinac County and open territory. It was named after Ionia, the ancient Greek region in Asia Minor nowaday Turkey.

[edit] 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.