Benzie County ( ) is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
. As of the
2020 Census, the population was 17,970.
The
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
is
Beulah.
The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869.
[County place names](_blank)
At 321 square miles (831 km
2), Benzie County is the smallest of the
83 counties in Michigan in terms of land area.
Benzie County is part of the
Traverse City
Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was ...
micropolitan area. Part of the
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau and Benzie counties near Empire, Michigan. The park covers a stretch of Lake Michig ...
is located within the county.
![Frankfort Lighthouse IMG 2776 (4674091249)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Frankfort_Lighthouse_IMG_2776_%284674091249%29.jpg)
History
Benzie County was set off from
Leelanau County
Leelanau may refer to a number of articles relating to the region of the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan:
Geography
Settlements
* Leelanau County, Michigan
* Leelanau Township, Michigan
* Lake Leelanau, Michigan
Landforms
* Lak ...
in 1863, and for legal purposes, attached to
Grand Traverse County. The county was organized in 1869.
Etymology
The name "Benzie" is derived from the French ', "the river of
sawbill
''Mergus'' is the genus of the typical mergansers , fish-eating ducks in the subfamily Anatinae. The genus name is a Latin word used by Pliny the Elder and other Roman authors to refer to an unspecified waterbird.
The common merganser (''Merg ...
s", ''bec-scie'' ("bill-saw") being a type of ducks. Americans altered the pronunciation of the river's name, which became known as the "
Betsie River
The Betsie River ( ') is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed November 21, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is mostly within Benzie County (which takes i ...
". A similar alteration in pronunciation produced "Benzie".
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (63%) is water.
It is the smallest county in Michigan by land area.
Benzie County is located in the northwest of the
Lower Peninsula
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan – also known as Lower Michigan – is the larger, southern and less elevated of the two major landmasses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan; the other being the Upper Peninsula, which is separated by the S ...
, in the "little finger" position of the mitten-shaped peninsula and is considered to be part of the
Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan (known colloquially to residents of more southerly parts of the state and summer residents from cities such as Detroit as " Up North"), is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan. A popul ...
region.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...
is to the west,
Leelanau County
Leelanau may refer to a number of articles relating to the region of the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan:
Geography
Settlements
* Leelanau County, Michigan
* Leelanau Township, Michigan
* Lake Leelanau, Michigan
Landforms
* Lak ...
and the
Leelanau Peninsula
The Leelanau Peninsula ( ) is a peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan that extends about from the western side of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan into Lake Michigan. Leelanau County encompasses the entire peninsula. It is often referred to as ...
are to the north.
Grand Traverse County and
Traverse City
Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was ...
are to the east.
Wexford County is to the southeast and
Manistee County
Manistee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 25,032. The county seat is Manistee. The name "Manistee" is from an Ojibwe word first applied to the principal river of the county. Th ...
to the south. The
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau and Benzie counties near Empire, Michigan. The park covers a stretch of Lake Michig ...
extends into the northwest portion of the county.
Crystal Lake Crystal Lake or Crystal Lakes may refer to:
Lakes
Canada
* Crystal Lake (Saskatchewan)
* Crystal Lake (Ontario), drain into the Lynn River, which drains into Lake Erie
United States
* Crystal Lake, California, a mountain lake in Nevada Co ...
is a prominent physical feature of the area. The
Platte River
The Platte River () is a major river in the State of Nebraska. It is about long; measured to its farthest source via its tributary, the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which itself ...
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
Platte Lake (sometimes referred to as Big Platte Lake) is one of the many lakes located in the northwestern part of Michigan's lower peninsula. There are two lakes in Benzie County, Michigan based on the name Platte, the other being Little Platt ...
before emptying into Lake Michigan at Platte River Point. The
Betsie River
The Betsie River ( ') is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed November 21, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is mostly within Benzie County (which takes i ...
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
The Pere Marquette State Forest encompasses lands in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula, on the western side of the state. Counties within the Pere Marquette are: Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, ...
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 {{COI, date=August 2011
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Traverse City, Michigan. It is an independent organization with its own by-laws, policies, board, staff, and budget. The or ...
, 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
By land
*
Leelanau County
Leelanau may refer to a number of articles relating to the region of the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan:
Geography
Settlements
* Leelanau County, Michigan
* Leelanau Township, Michigan
* Lake Leelanau, Michigan
Landforms
* Lak ...
- north
*
Grand Traverse County - east
*
Manistee County
Manistee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 25,032. The county seat is Manistee. The name "Manistee" is from an Ojibwe word first applied to the principal river of the county. Th ...
- south
*
Wexford County - adjacent at the southeast corner
By water
*
Door County, Wisconsin
Door County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,066. Its county seat is Sturgeon Bay. It is named after the strait between the Door Peninsula and Washington Island. The dangero ...
- northwest across Lake Michigan
*
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
Kewaunee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,563. Its county seat is Kewaunee. The county was created in 1852 and organized in 1859. Its Menominee name is ''Kewāneh'', an arc ...
- southwest across Lake Michigan
Demographics
As of the
2000 census, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 10,312 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km
2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.39%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.28%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 1.59%
Native American, 0.16%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 0.39% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race. 24.0% were of
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
, 13.5%
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent
* Polish chicken
*Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
, 9.2%
Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
, 7.6%
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
, 6.0%
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
and 5.0%
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
ancestry. 96.8% spoke
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
and 1.9%
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
as a first language.
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
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
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
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $18,524. About 4.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
* Benzie County is part of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
The Diocese of Gaylord ( la, Diœcesis Gaylordensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the Northern Michigan region of the United States. It comprises the twenty-one most northern counties of the lo ...
.
Government
For most of its history, Benzie County has primarily supported Republican presidential candidates, with the only times they failed to carry to the county prior to 1992 being in 1912 & 1964. Starting with the 1992 election, the county has become more of a swing county, with 2012 and 2020 being the only two presidential elections it did not vote for the national winner from 1980 on as of 2020.
The county government operates the
jail
A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correc ...
, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts,
keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains
vital records
Vital records are records of life events kept under governmental authority, including birth certificates, marriage licenses (or marriage certificates), separation agreements, divorce certificates or divorce party and death certificates. In some ...
, administers
public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
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
A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in states with either the common law adversarial system or the civil law inquisitorial system. The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the case in a criminal tria ...
: Sara Swanson
*
Sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
: Kyle Rosa
*
County Clerk
A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...
: Dawn Olney
*
County Treasurer: Michelle L. Thompson
*
Register of Deeds
Recorder of deeds or deeds registry is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over ...
: Amy Bissell
*
Drain Commissioner A drain commissioner is an elected official in county government of the U.S. state of Michigan who is responsible for planning, developing and maintaining surface water drainage systems under Public Act 40 of 1956. In counties with a population unde ...
: Edward Hoogterp
*
County Surveyor
A county surveyor is a public official in the United Kingdom and the United States.
United Kingdom
Webb & Webb describe the increasing chaos that began to prevail within this same period in field of county surveying in England and Wales, with c ...
: John Smendzuik
(information as of September 2005)
Historic locations
There are eight historical markers in the County:
* 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 (county seat)
*
Elberta
*
Honor
Honour (British English) or honor (American English; see spelling differences) is the idea of a bond between an individual and a society as a quality of a person that is both of social teaching and of personal ethos, that manifests itself as a ...
*
Lake Ann
*
Thompsonville
Census-designated places
*
Bendon
*
Crystal Downs Country Club
*
Crystal Mountain
*
Hardwood Acres
*
Maple Grove
*
Nessen City
*
Pilgrim
A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on Pilgrimage, a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the a ...
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 (Pratts)
* Almira
* Aral
* Cedar Run
* Edgewater
* Gilmore
* Grant House (Homestead)
* Homestead
* Inland
* Joyfield
* Kentville
* Melva
* Osborn
* Oviat
* Platte
* Playtte River (Melva)
* Pratts
* Stormer
* Success (Ransom Creek)
* Wallin
* Weldon
Source:
[Dodge, Roy L., ''Michigan Ghost Towns of the Lower Peninsula'' ]
See also
*
List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Benzie County, Michigan
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Benzie County, Michigan
*
USS ''Benzie County'' (LST-266)
*
Benzie Central Schools
Benzie Central Schools, also known as Benzie County Central School District, is a public school district in Benzie and Manistee Counties in the U.S. state of Michigan.
History
In the fall of 1962, the school systems of Benzonia– Beulah, Ho ...
*
Benzie Central High School
Benzie Central High School is a public high school in Benzonia, Michigan, located at 9300 Homestead Rd. The principal is Kyle Taylor, who started at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. The school offers classes for students in grade 9&ndash ...
References
Further reading
*
A history of Herring Lake: with an introductory legend, The bride of mystery
External links
Benzie Area Visitors BureauBenzie County Chamber of CommerceBenzie County official website
{{authority control
Michigan counties
Traverse City micropolitan area
1869 establishments in Michigan
Populated places established in 1869