Mason County, Michigan

Not to be confused with Mason, Michigan.
Mason County, Michigan

Mason County Courthouse
Map of Michigan highlighting Mason County
Location in the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded 1840, organized 1855[1]
Named for Stevens T. Mason
Seat Ludington
Largest city Ludington
Area
 • Total 1,242 sq mi (3,217 km2)
 • Land 495 sq mi (1,282 km2)
 • Water 747 sq mi (1,935 km2), 60%
Population
 • (2010) 28,705
 • Density 58/sq mi (22/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.masoncounty.net

Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,705.[2] The county seat is Ludington.[3]

Mason County comprises the Ludington, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Mason County as "Notipeskago" (a misspelling of Notipekago, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[4]) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

The county is named for Stevens T. Mason, Governor of Michigan.[5] It was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Notipekago County, then renamed Mason County in 1843. The county was administered by Ottawa County prior to the organization of county government in 1855.[4][1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,242 square miles (3,220 km2), of which 495 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 747 square miles (1,930 km2) (60%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
185093—
1860831793.5%
18703,263292.7%
188010,065208.5%
189016,38562.8%
190018,88515.3%
191021,83215.6%
192019,831−9.2%
193018,756−5.4%
194019,3783.3%
195020,4745.7%
196021,9297.1%
197022,6123.1%
198026,36516.6%
199025,537−3.1%
200028,27410.7%
201028,7051.5%
Est. 201528,783[7]0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[2]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 28,274 people, 11,406 households, and 7,881 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 16,063 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.84% White, 0.73% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 3.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.5% were of German, 10.4% Polish, 8.8% English, 8.5% Irish, 7.7% American and 5.0% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English and 2.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 11,406 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,704, and the median income for a family was $41,654. Males had a median income of $33,873 versus $22,616 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,713. About 8.20% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 7.00% 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.

Elected officials

(information as of Jan 2013)

Communities

Cities

Villages

Townships

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mason County, Michigan.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bibliography on Mason County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. 1 2 Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  5. ↑ "Focus on our history: How county was named". Ludington Daily News. October 3, 1987. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
 Manistee County
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Lake County
   Mason County, Michigan  
Sheboygan County, Wisconsin Oceana County Newaygo County

Coordinates: 44°01′N 86°30′W / 44.02°N 86.50°W / 44.02; -86.50

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