Livingston County, Michigan

Livingston County
	Livingston County, Michigan
	; Seal
	; Seal
	; Location in the state of Michigan
	; Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1836
Seat	Howell
Area; - Total; - Land; - Water	; 585.43 sq mi (1,516 km²); 568.40 sq mi (1,472 km²); 17.03 sq mi (44 km²), 2.91%
Population; - (2000); - Density	; 156,951; 277/sq mi (107/km²)
Website	www.co.livingston.mi.us

Livingston County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is part of the Detroit-Warren-Livonia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 156,951, with the 2010 Census placing the population at 180,967. The county seat and most populous incorporated city is Howell^[1]. As one of Michigan's "Cabinet counties", a group of counties whose names honor members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet, it is named after former U.S. Secretary of State Edward Livingston. Brighton Recreation Area is located in the area.Charles Howell Scout Reservation was located on the western edge of Brighton Lake and served the Detroit Area Council for many years.

[edit] Location

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 585.43 square miles (1,516.3 km²), of which 568.40 square miles (1,472.1 km²) (or 97.09%) is land and 17.03 square miles (44.1 km²) (or 2.91%) is water.^[2]

Livingston County's location in south-central Michigan offers its residents relatively convenient access to the major metropolitan centers of Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Flint. People from Livingston County commute to all four of these cities, using the three major expressways which pass through the county: I-96, US 23, and M-59. Although, continuing to largely comprise of bedroom communities, the county is experiencing and maintaining significant growth in both the service and industrial economic sectors with major employers including Pepsico, Citizens Insurance and Ogihara Industries.

[edit] Adjacent counties

Shiawassee County (northwest)
Ingham County (west)
Jackson County (southwest)
Genesee County (northeast)
Oakland County (east)
Washtenaw County (south)

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	19,664	—
1910	17,736	−9.8%
1920	17,522	−1.2%
1930	19,274	10.0%
1940	20,863	8.2%
1950	26,725	28.1%
1960	38,233	43.1%
1970	58,967	54.2%
1980	100,289	70.1%
1990	115,645	15.3%
2000	156,951	35.7%
Est. 2009	183,118

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 156,951 people, 55,384 households, and 43,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 276 people per square mile (107/km²). There were 58,919 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile (40/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.0% were of German, 11.5% Irish, 11.2% English, 10.4% Polish, 7.9% American and 6.0% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.8% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 55,384 households out of which 39.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.50% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.40% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.80% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

With a median household income of $67,400 (2008 estimate - $72,700), and a median family income of $75,284, Livingston county is one of the Highest-income counties in the United States. Males had a median income of $54,358 versus $32,073 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,069. About 2.40% of families and 3.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.60% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.

Due to the convenience of the major expressways previously mentioned, Livingston County has been the fastest growing county in the state for the past decade and also through the 1970s. More than 50% of all the population of Livingston County is located in the southeastern communities of Brighton Township, Genoa Township, Hamburg Township, Green Oak Township, the Village of Pinckney, Putnam Township and the City of Brighton.

The US Census Bureau in 2000 identified Brighton, Howell and the nearby city of South Lyon to be a contiguously-urbanized area, one of the newest such areas in the United States.

By 2006 the county population had grown 17.6% to 184,511. Livingston County is the fastest-growing county in Michigan.

In 2006, non-Hispanic whites made up 95.7% of the county population; African-Americans made up 0.7%; Asians 0.8%; and Native Americans 0.4%. Hispanics were 1.6% of the population.^[4]

[edit] Media

There are currently two local newspapers, the "Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, owned by Gannett Corp. and "The Community Journal", which is independently owned. Published Sunday through Friday, the Daily Press & Argus was launched in 2000 through the combination of two weekly newspapers -- The Livingston County Press and The Brighton Argus -- which served the communities for many decades. "The Community Journal" was launched in February 2010 by Steve Horton and Buddy Moorehouse, two veteran newspaper professionals. It publishes every Tuesday, covering Pinckney, Fowlerville and the Howell areas. It is edited by veteran county journalist Stephenie Koehn. The Journal is published along with the Fowlerville News and Views, which has been published for 25 years by Horton and his wife Dawn. A weekly all-local paper,The Livingston Community News, was launched in May 2003 with offices in downtown Brighton and was closed in July 2009 when "The Ann Arbor News, the newspaper's parent company, ceased publication. Koehn was a former reporter with The Community News. Other media in the county includes WHMI-FM, a Classic Hits radio station that has local news on the hour, and www.LivingstonTalk.com, a web-based product launched in the fall of 2009 by Moorehouse and fellow veteran journalist Maria Stuart. Moorehouse and Stuart previously worked as editors for a combined 45 years at the Daily Press and Argus. "The Marketeer" is a free monthly magazine that is mailed to more than 42,000 in Livingston County. Its content is primarily advertising from local businesses plus articles and information about people and community events. The Marketeer has been published by George Moses Company since 1974.

[edit] Government

Livingston County Courthouse, Howell

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.

[edit] Livingston County elected officials

Prosecuting Attorney: David L. Morse
Sheriff: Robert J. Bezotte
County Clerk: Margaret M. Dunleavy
County Treasurer: Dianne H. Hardy
Register of Deeds: Sally Reynolds
Drain Commissioner: Brian Jonckheere

(information as of July 2011)

[edit] Politics

**Presidential Election Results 1960-2008**
Year	Republican	Democrat
2008	55.6% 55,592	42.4% 42,349
2004	62.8% 58,860	36.2% 33,991
2000	59.1% 44,637	38.1% 28,780
1996	50.8% 30,598	37.4% 22,517
1992	44.6% 27,539	28.9% 17,851
1988	68.8% 31,331	30.2% 13,749
1984	74.4% 31,846	25.0% 10,720
1980	60.2% 25,012	30.4% 12,626
1976	59.8% 19,437	38.2% 12,415
1972	66.8% 16,856	30.3% 7,634
1968	51.0% 10,034	35.9% 7,052
1964	40.9% 6,723	59.0% 9,698
1960	64.7% 10,340	35.1% 5,608

Livingston County is a stronghold of the Republican Party. In 2008, Republican John McCain received 55,592 votes (55.6% of the county's vote) to 42,349 (42.4%) for Democrat Barack Obama, even as Obama carried the state by a double-digit margin.^[5] Democrats last carried the county in 1964.

Four years earlier, Republican George W. Bush easily won the county, receiving 58,860 votes (62.8%) to 33,991 (36.2%) for Democrat John Kerry. ^[6]

In 2000, George W. Bush received 44,637 votes (59.1%) to 28,780 (38.1%) for Democrat Al Gore.^[7]

In 1996, Republican Bob Dole received 30,598 votes (50.8%) to 22,517 (37.4%) to Democrat Bill Clinton, who carried the state by a double-digit margin.^[8]

In 1992, Republican George H.W. Bush received 27,539 votes (44.6%) to Clinton's 17,851 (28.9%), while independent Ross Perot received 15,971 (25.9%).^[9]

In 1988, George H.W. Bush received 31,331 votes (68.8%) to 13,749 (30.2%) for Democrat Michael Dukakis.^[10]

In 1984, Republican Ronald Reagan received 31,846 votes (74.4%) to 10,720 (25.0%) for Democrat Walter Mondale ^[11]