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Lake County, Michigan

Coordinates: 43°59′N 85°49′W / 43.99°N 85.81°W / 43.99; -85.81
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lake County
County
Lake County Courthouse
Lake County Courthouse
Map of Michigan highlighting Lake County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N 85°49′W / 43.99°N 85.81°W / 43.99; -85.81
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1840, organized 1871.[1]
SeatBaldwin
Largest villageBaldwin
Area
 • Total
574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land567 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water6.9 sq mi (18 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
12,096
 • Density20/sq mi (8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.lakecounty-michigan.com//

Lake County (formerly known as Aischum County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 12,096.[2] The county seat is Baldwin.[3]

History

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The county was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Aischum County,[4] then renamed Lake County in 1843, for its many lakes. It was administered by a succession of other Michigan counties prior to the organization of county government in 1871.[1][5]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 567 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 6.9 square miles (18 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6]

State trunkline highways

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National Protected Area

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870548—
18803,233490.0%
18906,505101.2%
19004,957−23.8%
19104,939−0.4%
19204,437−10.2%
19304,066−8.4%
19404,79818.0%
19505,2579.6%
19605,3381.5%
19705,6616.1%
19807,71136.2%
19908,58311.3%
200011,33332.0%
201011,5391.8%
202012,0964.8%
2023 (est.)12,734[7]5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[2]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 11,333 people, 4,704 households, and 3,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.66% White, 11.17% Black or African American, 1.01% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 1.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.2% were of English ancestry, 20.0% were of German ancestry, 8.4% Irish, and 6.1% Dutch ancestry. 97.5% spoke only English, while 1.3% spoke Spanish at home.

There were 4,704 households, out of which 23.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county, 21.90% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.00% was from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 27.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 109.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,622, and the median income for a family was $32,086. Males had a median income of $30,124 versus $21,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,457. About 14.70% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.30% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over. 24/7 Wall St. reported that Lake County is the poorest county in Michigan.[13]

Government

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United States presidential election results for Lake County, Michigan[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 4,523 65.27% 2,298 33.16% 109 1.57%
2020 3,946 62.32% 2,288 36.13% 98 1.55%
2016 3,159 58.96% 1,939 36.19% 260 4.85%
2012 2,487 46.84% 2,752 51.83% 71 1.34%
2008 2,269 42.88% 2,919 55.16% 104 1.97%
2004 2,503 47.71% 2,675 50.99% 68 1.30%
2000 1,961 41.79% 2,584 55.06% 148 3.15%
1996 1,213 27.61% 2,606 59.31% 575 13.09%
1992 1,194 26.26% 2,351 51.72% 1,001 22.02%
1988 1,713 46.32% 1,958 52.95% 27 0.73%
1984 2,125 53.09% 1,845 46.09% 33 0.82%
1980 1,730 43.22% 2,041 50.99% 232 5.80%
1976 1,598 41.96% 2,179 57.22% 31 0.81%
1972 1,532 48.93% 1,548 49.44% 51 1.63%
1968 1,094 39.10% 1,482 52.97% 222 7.93%
1964 791 28.56% 1,978 71.41% 1 0.04%
1960 1,441 52.27% 1,313 47.62% 3 0.11%
1956 1,614 59.80% 1,083 40.13% 2 0.07%
1952 1,549 57.46% 1,127 41.80% 20 0.74%
1948 1,348 54.14% 1,077 43.25% 65 2.61%
1944 1,145 58.84% 794 40.80% 7 0.36%
1940 1,413 56.63% 1,070 42.89% 12 0.48%
1936 1,091 43.76% 1,337 53.63% 65 2.61%
1932 991 42.86% 1,241 53.68% 80 3.46%
1928 1,147 73.06% 409 26.05% 14 0.89%
1924 1,069 68.79% 313 20.14% 172 11.07%
1920 926 74.80% 261 21.08% 51 4.12%
1916 588 60.68% 347 35.81% 34 3.51%
1912 227 24.02% 186 19.68% 532 56.30%
1908 673 68.88% 253 25.90% 51 5.22%
1904 907 79.42% 211 18.48% 24 2.10%
1900 841 68.88% 350 28.67% 30 2.46%
1896 888 60.61% 547 37.34% 30 2.05%
1892 648 47.79% 610 44.99% 98 7.23%
1888 1,061 54.24% 807 41.26% 88 4.50%
1884 951 55.42% 656 38.23% 109 6.35%

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

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(information as of December 2016)

Communities

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U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Lake County
A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Lake County as Aishcum, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[5] Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

Villages

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Civil townships

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Other unincorporated communities

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Education

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The West Shore Educational Service District, based in Ludington, services the districts in the county along with those of Mason and Oceana counties. The intermediate school district offers regional special education and general education services, as well as technical career programs for its students.[15]

Lake County is served by the one regular public school district, Baldwin Community Schools.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bibliography on Lake County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  5. ^ a b Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Frohlich, Thomas C.; Kent, Alexander; Sauter, Michael B.; Stebbins, Sam (January 27, 2016). "The Poorest County in Every State". 24/7 Wall St. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  15. ^ "About us". West Shore Educational Service District. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  16. ^ National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Lake County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
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43°59′N 85°49′W / 43.99°N 85.81°W / 43.99; -85.81

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