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Benzie County is a county located in the state of Michigan. As of 2000, the population is 15,998. Its county seat is Beulah6.
Geography
Benzie County is located in the northwest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, in the "little finger" position of the mitten-shaped peninsula. 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 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 offers several trails including a 10 mile route along the Betsie River and a 5.8 mile 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. 50 miles 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.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,226 km² (860 mi²). 832 km² (321 mi²) of it is land and 1,394 km² (538 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 62.62% water.
Transportation
- U.S. Highway 31 enter the county from the south, passes through Benzonia and Beulah on the south end of Crystal Lake before turning to exit the county on the east side.
- Michigan State Highway 22 traverses the western edge of the county, providing a scenic drive along the shore of Lake Michigan.
- Michigan State Highway 115 enters the county from the south, angling northwest, and merges with U.S. 31 for a couple of mile until Benzonia where MI-115 continues west to end in Frankfort.
- Michigan State Highway 168 is one of the shortest state highways in Michigan, extending 0.95 miles from a junction with MI-22 in downtown Elberta northwest to the former Ann Arbor Railroad ferry docks.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density is 19/km² (50/mi²). There are 10,312 housing units at an average density of 12/km² (32/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 96.39% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,500 households out of which 28.80% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% are married couples living together, 7.70% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% are non-families. 24.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.80% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 2.86.
In the county the population is spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $37,350, and the median income for a family is $42,716. Males have a median income of $30,218 versus $21,730 for females. The per capita income for the county is $18,524. 7.00% of the population and 4.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.20% of those under the age of 18 and 5.20% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities, villages, and townships
Cities
Villages
Townships
Unincorporated communities
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