Livingston County, Michigan

Infobox U.S. County
county = Livingston County
state = Michigan




map size = 225
founded = 1836
seat = Howell | area_total_sq_mi =585
area_land_sq_mi =568
area_water_sq_mi =17
area percentage = 2.91%
census yr = 2000
pop = 156951
density_km2 =107
web = www.co.livingston.mi.us
|

Livingston County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is part of the Detroit-Warren-Livonia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 156,951, with the 2007 census estimate placing the population at 183,194 making it the fastest growing county in Michigan. The county seat and most populous incorporated city is HowellGR|6. As one of Michigan's "Cabinet counties", a group of counties whose names honor members of President Andrew Jackson's Cabinet, it is named after former U.S. Secretary of State Edward Livingston.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,516 km²), of which 568 square miles (1,472 km²) is land and 17 square miles (44 km²), or 2.91%, is water.

Adjacent counties

*Genesee County (northeast)
*Shiawassee County (northwest)
*Washtenaw County (south)
*Oakland County (east)
*Ingham County (west)
*Jackson County (southwest)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900 = 19664
1910 = 17736
1920 = 17522
1930 = 19274
1940 = 20863
1950 = 26725
1960 = 38233
1970 = 58967
1980 = 100289
1990 = 115645
2000 = 156951
estyear=2007
estimate= 183194As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 156,951 people, 55,384 households, and 43,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 276 people per square mile (107/km²). There were 58,919 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile (40/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.0% were of German, 11.5% Irish, 11.2% English, 10.4% Polish, 7.9% American and 6.0% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.8% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 55,384 households out of which 39.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.50% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.40% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.80% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

With a median household income of $67,400, and a median family income of $75,284, Livingston county is one of the Highest-income counties in the United States. Males had a median income of $54,358 versus $32,073 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,069. About 2.40% of families and 3.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.60% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.

Livingston County has been the fastest growing county in the state for the past decade and also through the 1970s. More than 50% of all the population of Livingston County is located in the southeastern communities of Brighton Township, Genoa Township, Hamburg Township, Green Oak Township, the Village of Pinckney, Putnam Township and the City of Brighton.

The US Census Bureau in 2000 identified Brighton, Howell, and the nearby city of South Lyon to be a contiguous, urbanized area, one of the newest such areas in the United States.

By 2006 the county population had grown 17.6% to 184,511. Livingston County is the fastest-growing county in Michigan.

In 2006, non-Hispanic whites made up 95.7% of the county population; African-Americans made up 0.7%; Asians 0.8%; and Native Americans 0.4%. Hispanics were 1.6% of the population. [ [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26/26093.html Livingston County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau ] ]

= Location =Livingston County's location in south-central Michigan offers it relatively convenient access to the metropolitan areas of Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Flint. People from Livingston County commute to all four of these cities, using the three major highways that pass through the county:I-96, US 23, and M-59.Although it continues to largely consist of bedroom communities, the county has experienced significant recent growth in both the service and industrial economic sectors. Major current employers include Pepsico, Citizens Insurance, and Ogihara Industries.= Media  =There are two local newspapers, "The Livingston Community News", a relatively new free weekly that is part of the Booth newspaper chain (which also owns "The Ann Arbor News"), and the "Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.  Published Sunday through Friday, the "Daily Press & Argus" was launched in 2000 through the combination of two weekly newspapers -- "The Livingston County Press" and "The Brighton Argus" -- which served the communities for many decades.  The Web site for the "Daily Press & Argus" was launched in 2005 and is located at www.livingstondaily.com.Other media in the county includes WHMI-FM, a Classic Hits radio station that has local news on the hour. Local news and other station information is located at www.whmi.comLivingston Parent Journal (www.LivingstonParentJournal.com)has been serving families in the area since 2002. It is a free publication with a family calendar of events and feature articles with parenting tips.HUB TV (Hubtv.tv) provides local television.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor 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 andother social services. The county board of commissioners controls thebudget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most localgovernment functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, streetmaintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Livingston County elected officials

* Prosecuting Attorney: David L. Morse
* Sheriff: Robert J. Bezotte
* County Clerk: Margaret M. Dunleavy
* County Treasurer: Dianne H. Hardy
* Register of Deeds: Sally Reynolds
* Drain Commissioner: Brian Jonckheere

(information as of September 2005)

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

*Brighton
*Howell

Villages

*Pinckney
*Fowlerville

Townships

*Brighton Township
*Cohoctah Township
*Conway Township
*Deerfield Township
*Genoa Township
*Green Oak Township
*Hamburg Township
*Handy Township
*Hartland Township
*Howell Township
*Iosco Township
*Marion Township
*Oceola Township
*Putnam Township
*Tyrone Township
*Unadilla Township

Census Designated Places (CDP)

*Whitmore Lake, CDP

Unincorporated Communities

*Hell, unincorporated community
*Parshallville
*Hartland

Major highways

Interstates

*
* travels through downtown Howell.

US highways

*

Michigan State Trunklines

*
*
*

Livingston County Intercounty Highways

*
*

References

External links

* [http://www.co.livingston.mi.us/ Livingston County official website]
* [http://www.clarke.cmich.edu/localhistory/Livingston.htm Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Livingston County]