Mason County, Michigan#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Mason County

| state = Michigan

| seal =

| founded = 1840 (founded as Notipekago)
1855 (organized)

| seat wl = Ludington

| largest city = Ludington

| area_total_sq_mi = 1242

| area_land_sq_mi = 495

| area_water_sq_mi = 747

| area percentage = 60%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 29,052

| density_sq_mi = 58

| web = www.masoncounty.net

| named for = Stevens T. Mason

| ex image = Mason County Courthouse (Michigan) 2023.jpg

| ex image cap = Mason County Courthouse in Ludington

| district = 2nd

| time zone = Eastern

}}

Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 29,052.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/masoncountymichigan/POP010220|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 15, 2021}} The county seat is Ludington.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}

Mason County comprises the Ludington, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Image:1842 Manistee Kawtawwabet Missaukee Mickenauk Ogemaw Kanotin Notipeskago Aishcum Unwattin Kaykakee Gladwin Arenac counties Michigan.jpg (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Mason County as "Notipeskago" (a misspelling of Notipekago, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.]]

The county is named for Stevens T. Mason, Governor of Michigan from 1835 to 1840.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z8NRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0lUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6666%2C2546788|title=Focus on our history: How county was named|work=Ludington Daily News|date=October 3, 1987|access-date=April 30, 2015|page=2}} It was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Notipekago County,{{cite book |author=George Dawson |date=1840 |title=Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDg4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA196 |location=Detroit |pages=196–200}} then renamed Mason County in 1843. The county was administered by Ottawa County prior to the organization of county government in 1855.{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/MI_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Michigan: Individual County Chronologies|author=Newberry Library|website=Atlas of County Historical Boundaries|access-date=November 4, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/resource_tab/bibliographies_of_clarke_library_material/michigan_local_history/county_material/mason.html|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Mason County|access-date=January 20, 2013}}

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1242|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|495|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|747|sqmi}} (60%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

=Major highways=

{{jct|state=MI|US|10}} – runs east–west through central part of county. Runs from Ludington through Amber, Scottville, Custer, and Branch.
{{jct|state=MI|US|31}} – enters Mason County at {{convert|2|mi|km}} east of SW corner; runs north to intersect US-10 near Ludington. Runs concurrent with US-10 east for {{convert|5|mi|km}}, then runs north. Exits county at {{convert|4|mi|km}} east of NW corner of county.
{{jct|state=MI|M|116}} – runs NW from Ludington along shoreline of Lake Michigan to Ludington State Park.
{{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|31|dab1=Ludington}} is a business spur running east of Ludington.

[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mason+County,+MI/@44.0383335,-86.3356752,11.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x881c142389fd1163:0xa00533aabf8b6d15!8m2!3d43.9664537!4d-86.4996546 Mason County MI Google Maps (accessed 25 September 2018)]

=U.S. Bicycle Routes=

{{jct|state=MI|USBR|35}} enters Mason County from Pentwater; has a concurrency with USBR 20; proceeds north into Manistee County
{{jct|state=MI|USBR|20}} begins (until near future) at SS Badger with US 10; has a concurrency with USBR 35; goes through Freesoil; proceeds east into Lake County; proceeds east for about 310 miles to Marine City

=Adjacent counties=

By land

Manistee County – north
Lake County – east
Newaygo County – southeast
Oceana County – south

By water

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin – southwest
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin – west

=National protected area=

Manistee National Forest (part)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1850= 93

|1860= 831

|1870= 3263

|1880= 10065

|1890= 16385

|1900= 18885

|1910= 21832

|1920= 19831

|1930= 18756

|1940= 19378

|1950= 20474

|1960= 21929

|1970= 22612

|1980= 26365

|1990= 25537

|2000= 28274

|2010= 28705

|2020= 29052

|estyear=2023

|estimate=29159

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=US Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 27, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 27, 2014}} 2010–2018

}}

As of the 2000 United States Census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 28,274 people, 11,406 households, and 7,881 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|57|/sqmi|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|abbr=out}}. There were 16,063 housing units at an average density of {{convert|32|/sqmi|/km2|abbr=out}}. 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. 96.0% spoke only English, while 2.2% spoke Spanish at home.

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.

The county population contained 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

Mason County has usually voted Republican in national elections. Since 1884, the county's voters have selected the Republican Party nominee in 83% (30 of 36) of the national elections through 2024.

{{PresHead|place=Mason County, Michigan|source=[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]}}

Mason County operates the county jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has 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=

Prosecuting Attorney: Beth Hand
Sheriff: Kim C. Cole
County Clerk: Cheryl Kelly
County Treasurer: Andrew Kmetz IV
Register of Deeds: Diane L. Englebrecht
Drain Commissioner: Larry Protasiewicz
County Surveyor: Jim Nordlund
County Board of Commissioners by district:
District 1: Nick Kreiger
District 2: Les Johnson
District 3: Jody Hartley
District 4: Lewis G. Squires
District 5: Steven K. Hull
District 6: Janet S. Anderson (chair)
District 7: Ron Bacon

(information as of Jan 2021)

Communities

File:Mason County, MI census map.png data map showing local municipal boundaries within Mason County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]

=Cities=

Ludington (county seat)
Scottville

=Villages=

=Charter township=

Pere Marquette Charter Township

=Civil townships=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Indian reservation=

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, a federally recognized Odawa Native American tribe, occupies a small reservation of approximately {{convert|740|acres|km2|2}} within Custer Township.{{cite web|last=Braciszewski|first=Kevin|url=https://www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/archives/indian-tribe-emerges-as-major-landowner/article_72b1495f-bd48-5a3e-a63a-8fa1c9432f32.html|title=Indian tribe emerges as major landowner|date=July 30, 2002|access-date=April 12, 2020}} The tribe also occupy another reservation within Brown Township just north in Manistee County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019111423/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=live|format=PDF |title=Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing | date = September 2012|publisher = United States Census Bureau| work = 2010 United States Census| access-date = April 12, 2020|page=E-14 Michigan}}

Education

The West Shore Educational Service District, based in Ludington, services the districts in the county along with those of Lake and Oceana. The intermediate school district offers regional special education and general education services, as well as technical career programs for its students.{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.wsesd.org/page/about-us |access-date=July 12, 2023 |publisher=West Shore Educational Service District}}

Mason County is served by the following regular public school districts:{{Cite web |title=Search for Public School Data - Mason County, MI |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_list.asp?Search=1&details=1&State=26&County=Mason+County |archive-date= |access-date=July 12, 2023 |author=National Center for Education Statistics |publisher=Institute of Education Sciences }}

The county also has one charter school, the Gateway to Success Academy.

Mason County has the following private schools:{{Cite web |title=Search for Private Schools - Mason County, MI |url=https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&State=26&County=Mason |access-date=July 12, 2023 |author=National Center for Education Statistics |publisher=Institute of Education Sciences }}

Covenant Christian School (Non-denominational)
Ludington Area Catholic School (Catholic)

References

External links

[http://www.masoncountypress.com/ Mason County Press]
[http://www.masoncounty.net Mason County Website]
[http://www.ludingtonmichigan.net/ Mason County History Companion]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20111114165345/http://masoncountymi.com/ Mason County Michigan History and Directory]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140517145056/http://masoncountymemories.com/ Mason County Memories]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Mason County, Michigan

|North = Manistee County

|East = Lake County

|Southeast = Newaygo County

|South = Oceana County

|Southwest = Sheboygan County, Wisconsin

|West = Manitowoc County, Wisconsin

}}

{{Coord|44.02|-86.50|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Michigan counties

Category:1855 establishments in Michigan