The 2010 United States Census indicates Dickinson County had a population of 26,168. This is a decrease of 1,304 people from the 2000 United States Census. This is a -4.7% change in population. In 2010 there were 11,359 households and 7,320 families in the county. The population densitywas 34.4 per square mile. There were 13,990 housing units at an average density of 18.4 per square mile. 97.2% of the population were White, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino. 17.4% were of German, 13.1% Italian, 11.2% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 11.1% Swedish, 7.4% Polish, 6.9% Irish, 6.9% English and 5.5% Finnish ancestry. There were 11,359 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were husband and wife families, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 30.6% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80. In the county, the population was spread out with 21.4% under age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. 49.2% of the population was male, and 50.8% was female. The 2010 American Community Survey 3-year estimate indicates the median income for a household in the county was $42,331 and the median income for a family was $52,222. Males had a median income of $31,402 versus $14,957 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,583. About 3.4% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under the age 18 and 11.3% 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. In the 2006 elections, it was also the most supportive county of proposal 2, a state constitutional amendment banning affirmative action programs. It received 74.2% support in the county.
