Manistee County was the only county in which James M. Cox and Charles Evans Hughes both won, as the chart above shows. 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: Jason Haag
Sheriff: John O'Hagan
County Clerk: Jill Nowak
County Treasurer: Russell Pomeroy
Register of Deeds: Penny Pepera
Drain Commissioner: Ken Hilliard
County Surveyor: Patrick Bentley
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Manistee County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
is approximately three miles northeast of Manistee.
Major highways
starts two miles north of Manistee, and proceeds 155 miles across the Lower Peninsula to Tawas.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,527 people, 9,860 households, and 6,714 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile. There were 14,272 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 94.16% White, 1.63% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.5% were of German, 16.9% Polish, 8.8% English, 8.8% American and 7.1% Irish ancestry. 96.2% spoke English and 2.3% Spanish as their first language. There were 9,860 households out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couplesliving together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86. In the county, the population was spread out with 22.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 103.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $34,208, and the median income for a family was $41,664. Males had a median income of $33,211 versus $20,851 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,204. About 6.90% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.
