Charlevoix County, Michigan

Charlevoix County, Michigan
Logo
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	1869
Seat	Charlevoix
Largest city	Boyne City
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,390.76 sq mi (3,602 km²) 416.84 sq mi (1,080 km²) 973.92 sq mi (2,522 km²), 70.03%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	26,090 62/sq mi (24/km²)
Website	www.charlevoixcounty.org

Charlevoix County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 26,090. The county seat is Charlevoix.^[1]

Geography

• Lake Charlevoix, with 17,200 acres (7,000 ha) surface area and 56 miles (90 km) of shoreline, is a very prominent feature of the county. According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,390.76 square miles (3,602.1 km²), of which 416.84 square miles (1,079.6 km²) (or 29.97%) is land and 973.92 square miles (2,522.4 km²) (or 70.03%) is water.^[2]
• The county is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
• Gull, Hat, Pismire, and Shoe Islands, which are part of the Beaver Island archipelago, form the Lake Michigan division of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and two of them are part of the Michigan Islands Wilderness Area.

Adjacent counties

• Mackinac County (north)
• Cheboygan County & Emmet County (northeast)
• Otsego County (southeast)
• Antrim County (south)
• Leelanau County (southwest)
• Schoolcraft County (northwest)

National protected area

• Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Transportation

State highways

• US 31
• US 131
• M-32
• M-66
• M-75

County-designated highways

• C-48
• C-56
• C-65
• C-71
• C-73
• C-81

Airports

• Beaver Island is served by two airlines:^[3][4]
  • Welke Airport
  • Beaver Island Airport

Ferry service

• Beaver Island Boat Company maintains a regular auto ferry from Charlevoix:^[5]
• The Ironton Ferry at Ironton, Michigan crosses the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. It is a designated Michigan Historical Site in operation since 1876.

Demographics

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 26,090 people, 10,400 households, and 7,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 15,370 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.31% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.8% were of German, 12.0% English, 11.0% American, 10.6% Irish and 8.4% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.3% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 10,400 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,788, and the median income for a family was $46,260. Males had a median income of $32,457 versus $22,447 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,130. About 5.40% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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.

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities Boyne City Charlevoix East Jordan

Villages Boyne Falls, village

Unincorporated communities Bay Shore Norwood

Townships

Bay Township Boyne Valley Township Chandler Township Charlevoix Township

Evangeline Township Eveline Township Hayes Township Hudson Township

Marion Township Melrose Township Norwood Township Peaine Township

South Arm Township St. James Township Wilson Township

History and historical markers

• Beaver Island has a unique history, particularly because of the temporary influence of James J. Strang, who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite). Strang moved his followers to Beaver Island in 1848, and they are known as Strangites.
• There are ten recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:^[7]
  • Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant
  • Boyne City United Methodist Church
  • Charlevoix Depot
  • Greensky Hill Mission
  • Horace S. Harsha House
  • Horton Bay
  • John Porter and Eva Porter Estate
  • Mormon Kingdom
  • Mormon Print Shop
  • Norwood Township Hall

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Charlevoix County, Michigan

Notes

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
3. ^ Fresh Air Aviation
4. ^ Island Airways
5. ^ Beaver Island Auto ferry
6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
7. ^ Michigan Historical Markers

External links

• Charlevoix County web site
• Charlevoix Area Chamber of commerce, with links, calendar of events
• Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Charlevoix County

Coordinates: 45°28′N 85°28′W / 45.47°N 85.46°W / 45.47; -85.46