Benzie County, Michigan
Benzie County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,525. The county seat is Beulah. The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869.
The name Benzie is derived from the French la rivière aux Bec-scies, "the river of sawbills", bec-scie 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". At 321 square miles, Benzie County is the smallest of the 83 counties in Michigan in terms of land area.
Benzie County is part of the Traverse City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. 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 route along the Betsie River and a 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. 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
- 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.
- traverses the western edge of the county, providing a scenic drive along the shore of Lake Michigan.
- 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.
- was one of the shortest state highways in Michigan, extending 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
Demographics
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
- It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord.
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.
Elected officials
- Prosecuting Attorney: Sara Swanson
- Sheriff: Ted Schendel
- County Clerk: Dawn Olney
- County Treasurer: Michelle L. Thompson
- Register of Deeds: Amy Bissell
- Drain Commissioner: Edward Hoogterp
- County Surveyor: John Smendzuik
Historic locations
- Benzonia College
- Benzonia Congregational Church
- Bruce Catton
- Car Ferries on Lake Michigan
- Joyfield Cemetery
- Marquette's Death
- Mills Community House
- Pacific Salmon
Communities
City
- Frankfort
Villages
- Benzonia
- Beulah
- Elberta
- Honor
- Lake Ann
- Thompsonville
Census-designated places
- Bendon
- Crystal Downs Country Club
- Crystal Mountain
- Hardwood Acres
- Maple Grove
- Nessen City
- Pilgrim
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
Indian reservations
- The Grand Traverse Indian Reservation, which has territory in five counties, occupies a small area in southern Joyfield Township in Benzie County.
Ghost towns
- Allyn Station
- Almira
- Aral
- Cedar Run
- Edgewater
- Gilmore
- Grant House
- Homestead
- Inland
- Joyfield
- Kentville
- Melva
- Osborn
- Oviat
- Platte
- Playtte River
- Pratts
- Stormer
- Success
- Wallin
- Weldon