County population in 2012: 17,465 (all rural); it was 15,998 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 4,048 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,175 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 5,574 Renter-occupied apartments: 1,075 (it was 926 in 2000)
% of renters here:
14%
State:
28%
Land area: 321 sq. mi. Water area: 538.3 sq. mi.
Population density: 54 people per square mile
(average).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Benzie County: 83.5 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
We are giving away a $200 prize - enter simply by sending us your own pictures of this county!
Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (23.7%), Arts,entertainment,recreation,accommodation and food services (13.5%), Retail trade (10.4%), Construction (10.1%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $1,267 (0.8%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $1,180 (0.7%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 11.0%
(9.4% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 33.3% for Black residents, 47.6% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 37.7% for American Indian residents, 47.8% for other race residents, 38.0% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 46 years old
(Males: 45 years old, Females: 46 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 46 years old, Black residents: 22 years old, American Indian residents: 42 years old, Asian residents: 37 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 26 years old, Other race residents: 24 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
7.0%
Whole state:
10.5%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
2.9%
Whole state:
4.8%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Benzie County is $545 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $660 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $824 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Benzie County: Crystal Lake Country Club (A), Grass Lake Campground (B), White Pine Campground (C), Lake Ann Campground (D), Mistwood Golf Course (E), Turtle Lake Campground (F), Betsie River Campsite (G), Sunnywoods Resort and Campground (H), Champion Hill Golf Course (I), Pinecroft Golf Course (J), Timberline Campground (K), Vacation Trailer Park Campground (L), Inland Corners (M), Howard School (N), Homestead (O), Crystal Lake Golf Club (P), Pinecroft Golf Plantation (Q), Crystal Lake Yacht Club (R), Putney Corners (S), Carter Corners (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Benzie County include: Eden Church (A), Elm Grove Church (B), Gilmore Church (C), Inland Church (D), Almira Church (E), Carter Church (F), Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church (G), Reorganized Church (H), Homestead Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Benzonia Township Cemetery (1), Brundage Cemetery (2), Green Briar Cemetery (3), Old Inland Cemetery (4), New Inland Cemetery (5), Lake Ann Cemetery (6), Weldon Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Marys Lake (A), Turtle Lake (B), Ransom Lake (C), Twin Lake (D), Lower Woodcock Lake (E), Lower Herring Lake (F), Lake Louise (G), Lost Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Pickerel Creek (A), Grass Lake Creek (B), Crystal Lake Outlet (C), Herring Creek (D), Stanley Creek (E), Kinney Creek (F), Otter Creek (G), Brundage Creek (H), Little Betsie River (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Benzie County include: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (1), Bellows Park (2), Betsie River State Game Refuge (3), Railroad Point Natural Area (4), Pearl Lake Natural Area (5), Trapp Farm Nature Preserve (6), Veterans Park (7), Memorial Park (8), Pacific Salmon Historical Marker (9). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 435 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 85.4% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 20.0%
Number of foreign born residents: 269 (63% naturalized citizens)
Benzie County:
1.7%
Whole state:
5.3%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 54
1990 to 1994: 43
1985 to 1989: 9
1980 to 1984: 8
1975 to 1979: 18
1970 to 1974: 18
1970 to 1974: 31
1965 to 1969: 88
Mean travel time to work (commute): 25.4 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 51.8%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 8,566
One, attached: 134
Two: 130
3 or 4: 141
5 to 9: 87
10 to 19: 42
20 or more: 117
Mobile homes: 1,038
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 57
Housing units in Benzie County with a mortgage: 2,164 (116 second mortgage, 260 home equity loan, 2 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,475
Here:
59.5% with mortgage
State:
69.7% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 29.55%
Here
29.6%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 4,728 Total congregations: 29
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
United Methodist Church
Catholic Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
United Church of Christ
LDS (Mormon) Church
Adherents
856 (18.1%)
667 (14.1%)
629 (13.3%)
482 (10.2%)
290 (6.1%)
Congregations
5 (17.2%)
2 (6.9%)
1 (3.4%)
1 (3.4%)
1 (3.4%)
Name
Lutheran Church
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Wesleyan Church
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Other
Adherents
228 (4.8%)
201 (4.3%)
200 (4.2%)
190 (4.0%)
985 (20.8%)
Congregations
1 (3.4%)
1 (3.4%)
3 (10.3%)
2 (6.9%)
12 (41.4%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 127 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $23,324 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $427.37 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 10.52% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 20.82% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $24,288 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 33.92% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 5.89% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $73,625 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 93.37% Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 5.56 Corn for grain: 819 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 24 harvested acres Vegetables: 177 harvested acres Land in orchards: 2,941 acres
Tornado activity:
Benzie County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Michigan state average. It is 4.6 times below overall U.S. average.
Most recent natural disasters:
Michigan Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3225): September 7, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3225, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Michigan Blizzards and Snowstorms, Incident Period: January 27, 1978, Emergency Declared (EM-3057): January 27, 1978, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3057, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Blizzard
Michigan Drought, Incident Period: March 2, 1977, Emergency Declared (EM-3035): March 2, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3035, Natural disaster type: Drought
The number of natural disasters in Benzie County (3) is a lot smaller than the US average (12). Emergencies Declared: 3
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
Carpenters (5%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (5%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (5%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (4%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (4%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (5%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (5%)
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (5%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (4%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
Retail sales workers except cashiers (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (24%)
Canada (22%)
Germany (9%)
United Kingdom (7%)
Greece (6%)
Poland (4%)
Colombia (4%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Benzie County (%):
German (24%)
English (14%)
Irish (9%)
United States or American (8%)
Polish (6%)
French (except Basque) (5%)
Norwegian (4%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 5,709 (80%)
Carpooled: 791 (11%)
Bus or trolley bus: 37 (1%)
Taxi: 2 (0%)
Motorcycle: 6 (0%)
Bicycle: 15 (0%)
Walked: 207 (3%)
Other means: 47 (1%)
Worked at home: 306 (4%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Benzie County, Michigan in 2000:
99 people in nursing homes
39 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
39 people in homes for the mentally retarded
38 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
26 people in unknown juvenile institutions
15 people in other group homes
7 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
People in group quarters in Benzie County, Michigan in 2010:
91 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
69 people in group homes intended for adults
50 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
25 people in workers’ group living quarters and job corps centers
8 people in military barracks and dormitories (nondisciplinary)
5 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
4 people in other noninstitutional facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $43,229.
8.53% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($47,718 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
8.53%
Michigan average:
5.24%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
6.80% relocated from other counties in Michigan ($36,032 average AGI)
1.73% relocated from other states ($11,687 average AGI)
Benzie County:
1.73%
Michigan average:
1.38%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
7.52% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($29,473 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
7.52%
Michigan average:
5.98%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
5.63% relocated to other counties in Michigan ($21,530 average AGI)
1.89% relocated to other states ($7,943 average AGI)
Benzie County:
1.89%
Michigan average:
2.21%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.4 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.7
Births per 1000 population in Benzie County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.7 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.0
Deaths per 1000 population in Benzie County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.0 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 6.1
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Benzie County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 3,347 (2,934 aged, 413 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 5.73 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 979.050 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 274.820 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 30442
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 963.5 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 895.490 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 5.67
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 27.25 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 90.68
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 28.34 Beer, wine & liquor stores per 100,000 population in 2005: 1
Household type by relationship:
Households: 17,273
In family households: 14,416 (3,745 male householders, 1,225 female householders)
4,055 spouses, 4,282 children (3,906 natural, 116 adopted, 260 stepchildren), 327 grandchildren, 82 brothers or sisters, 93 parents, 125 other relatives, 393 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,857 (1,175 male householders (918 living alone)), 1,153 female householders (993 living alone)), 529 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 252 (146 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,702 2-persons, 942 3-persons, 764 4-persons, 365 5-persons, 129 6-persons, 68 7-or-more-persons.
96.1% of residents of Benzie County speak English at home.
1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home (60% speak English very well, 16% speak English well, 18% speak English not well, 6% don't speak English at all).
1.6% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (73% speak English very well, 16% speak English well, 8% speak English not well, 3% don't speak English at all).
0.4% of residents speak other language at home (75% speak English very well, 3% speak English well, 22% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $87,947,000 ($5035 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $1,807,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $49,906,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $15,877,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $69,000 Federal grants: $15,909,000 Federal procurement contracts: $2,799,000 ($100,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $3,387,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $670,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $7,203,000 Federal Government insurance: $681,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,053
Here:
60 per 1000 residents
State:
68 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 912
Here:
52 per 1000 residents
State:
45 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +31
Here:
+2 per 1000 residents
State:
+12 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +1,505
Here:
+85 per 1000 residents
State:
-16 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Benzie County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.72 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.7
State:
6.1
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.3
State:
4.1
Year house built
2005 or later: 286
2000 to 2004: 1,203
1990 to 1999: 2,595
1980 to 1989: 1,516
1970 to 1979: 2,067
1960 to 1969: 920
1950 to 1959: 859
1940 to 1949: 598
1939 or earlier: 1,815
Rooms in houses/apartments in Benzie County, Michigan
58% of Benzie County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 35% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 82% lived in Michigan.
Benzie County:
58.0%
State average:
58.3%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 12916
Northeast: 350
Midwest: 1366
South: 666
West: 361
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $88,400
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 2%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Benzie County
46.0 years
38.0 years
(45.2%)
(54.8%)
, Leelanau County 
, Manistee County 
, Wexford County 
.
