Lake County, Michigan

History

The county was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Aischum County (possibly from eshkam meaning "diminishing" in Ojibwe), before being 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 sqmi, of which 567 sqmi is land and 6.9 sqmi (1.2%) is water.

State trunkline highways

• enters from Mason County; goes through Baldwin; continues east into Osceola County
• enters Lake County from Newaygo County; passes through Baldwin; continues north to Wexford County

National Protected Area

• Manistee National Forest (part)

Adjacent counties

• Osceola County (east)
• Oceana County (southwest)
• Wexford County (northeast)
• Mason County (west)
• Manistee County (northwest)
• Newaygo County (south)
• Mecosta County (southeast)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,096. The median age was 51.5 years, 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 26.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 127.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 131.2 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 85.1% White, 7.4% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.9% of the population.

There were 5,079 households in the county, of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.3% were married-couple households, 25.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,315 housing units, of which 61.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.1% were owner-occupied and 17.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 11,333 people, 4,704 households, and 3,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 /mi2. There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 24 /mi2.

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.

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.

Board of Commissioners

• District 1 commissioner: Robert Sanders, vice chair
• District 2 commissioner: Howard Lodholtz, chairman
• District 3 commissioner: Kristine Raymond, vice chair pro tem
• District 4 commissioner: Dawn Fuller
• District 5 commissioner: Mike Seroczynski
• District 6 commissioner: Jamie Russell
• District 7 commissioner: Clyde Welford

Elected officials

• Chief Trial Court Judge: David M. Glancy
• Prosecuting Attorney: Tom Evans
• Sheriff: Richard L. Martin
• County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Patti Pacola
• County Treasurer: Kellie Allen
• County Surveyor: Patrick Johnson

County departments

• County Administrator: Tobi Lake
• Code Official: David Wright
• Equalization Director: Anthony Meyaard
• 911 Director: Brian Virden
• Emergency Management Director: Jake Carter
• Veterans Affairs Rep: Norm Zelony
• Information Technology (IT): Mike Flees

(information as of December 2025)

Communities

Villages

• Baldwin (county seat)
• Luther

Civil townships

• Chase Township
• Cherry Valley Township
• Dover Township
• Eden Township
• Elk Township
• Ellsworth Township
• Lake Township
• Newkirk Township
• Peacock Township
• Pinora Township
• Pleasant Plains Township
• Sauble Township
• Sweetwater Township
• Webber Township
• Yates Township

Other unincorporated communities

• Branch (partially)
• Chase
• Idlewild
• Irons
• Peacock
• Sauble
• Wolf Lake

Education

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.

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

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. George Dawson. (1840). "Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840".
4. "Bibliography on Lake County". [[Clarke Historical Library]], [[Central Michigan University]].
5. Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies".
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. (January 27, 2016). "The Poorest County in Every State". [[24/7 Wall St.]].
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
18. "About us". [[West Shore Educational Service District]].
19. [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. "Search for Public School Data - Lake County, MI". [[Institute of Education Sciences]].