Hillsdale County, Michigan

Hillsdale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 45,746.^[3] The county seat is Hillsdale.^[4] Hillsdale County is the only county in Michigan to border both Indiana and Ohio. Due to an angle in the state's border with Ohio, Hillsdale County has the southernmost point in Michigan. Hillsdale County is conterminous with the Hillsdale, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is the home of Hillsdale College, a private liberal-arts college. The Hillsdale County Courthouse was designed by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect.

Hillsdale County
County
Hillsdale County Courthouse in Hillsdale
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°53′N 84°35′W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	1835[1]
Seat	Hillsdale
Largest city	Hillsdale
Area
• Total	607 sq mi (1,570 km2)
• Land	598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
• Water	8.9 sq mi (23 km2)  1.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	45,746
• Estimate  (2024)[2]	45,590
• Density	76/sq mi (29/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	https://www.co.hillsdale.mi.us/

History

The county is named for its rolling terrain.^[5] It was described by action of the Michigan Territorial legislature in 1829, and was organized six years later.^[1] See List of Michigan county name etymologies.

Hillsdale County was a New England settlement; its early settlers came from the northern coastal colonies – "Yankees", descended from the English Puritans who emigrated from the Old World in the 1600s. There was a wave of such settlers into the Northwest Territory during the early 1800s, many traveling on the newly completed Erie Canal, and made safe by the conclusion of the Black Hawk War. They brought with them a passion for education, establishing many schools. Many were abolitionists.^[6]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 607 square miles (1,570 km²), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km²) is land and 8.9 square miles (23 km²) (1.5%) is water.^[7] Hillsdale is the only county in Michigan to have a land border with two other states – Ohio and Indiana. The headwaters of two St. Joseph Rivers rise in Hillsdale County: the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan) and the St. Joseph River (Maumee River).

Parks

• McCourtie Park
• Slayton Arboretum

Adjacent counties

• Jackson County (northeast)
• Calhoun County (northwest)
• Lenawee County (east)
• Branch County (west)
• Fulton County, Ohio (southeast)
• Williams County, Ohio (south)
• Steuben County, Indiana (southwest)

Climate

Hillsdale County experiences four distinct seasons. July is the hottest month with an average high of 82 °F or 27.8 °C and January the coldest with an average high of 29 °F or −1.7 °C. June is the wettest month with 4.29 inches or 109.0 millimetres of rain on average.

Climate data for Hillsdale, Michigan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	29 (−2)	33 (1)	43 (6)	56 (13)	68 (20)	78 (26)	82 (28)	80 (27)	72 (22)	60 (16)	46 (8)	34 (1)	57 (14)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	13 (−11)	14 (−10)	24 (−4)	35 (2)	45 (7)	55 (13)	59 (15)	57 (14)	49 (9)	38 (3)	29 (−2)	19 (−7)	36 (2)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	2.10 (53)	1.82 (46)	2.77 (70)	3.39 (86)	3.82 (97)	4.29 (109)	3.54 (90)	3.70 (94)	3.71 (94)	2.82 (72)	3.07 (78)	2.66 (68)	37.69 (957)
Source: weather.com

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	7,240		—
1850	16,159		123.2%
1860	25,675		58.9%
1870	31,684		23.4%
1880	32,723		3.3%
1890	30,660		−6.3%
1900	29,865		−2.6%
1910	29,673		−0.6%
1920	28,161		−5.1%
1930	27,417		−2.6%
1940	29,092		6.1%
1950	31,916		9.7%
1960	34,742		8.9%
1970	37,171		7.0%
1980	42,071		13.2%
1990	43,431		3.2%
2000	46,527		7.1%
2010	46,688		0.3%
2020	45,746		−2.0%
2024 (est.)	45,590		−0.3%
US Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[3][12]

As of the 2000 United States Census,^[13] there were 46,527 people, 17,335 households, and 12,550 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30 people/km²). There were 20,189 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.56% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.4% were of German, 28.2% English and 9.3% Irish ancestry, 97.0% spoke English, 1.2% Spanish and 1.2% German as their first language.

There were 17,335 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.

The county's population contained 26.30% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,396, and the median income for a family was $45,895. Males had a median income of $35,349 versus $23,718 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,255. About 5.20% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Hillsdale County has been a reliably Republican county since the 19th century. Since 1884, the Republican nominee has carried the county in 34 of 36 presidential elections, the lone exceptions being when it was carried by Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson amidst a national landslide in 1964 (albeit by only 144 votes), and when it was carried by Progressive nominee Theodore Roosevelt when the Republican electorate had a schism in 1912. In 2024, Donald Trump carried the county by one of the highest margins of any candidate since the county was formed.

United States presidential election results for Hillsdale County, Michigan^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	18,631	75.04%	5,875	23.66%	322	1.30%
2020	17,037	73.11%	5,883	25.25%	382	1.64%
2016	14,095	70.69%	4,799	24.07%	1,046	5.25%
2012	11,727	61.40%	7,106	37.20%	267	1.40%
2008	11,221	54.87%	8,765	42.86%	463	2.26%
2004	12,804	63.34%	7,123	35.23%	289	1.43%
2000	10,483	60.00%	6,495	37.17%	495	2.83%
1996	7,947	48.56%	5,955	36.39%	2,464	15.06%
1992	7,579	42.36%	5,244	29.31%	5,068	28.33%
1988	10,571	68.29%	4,763	30.77%	145	0.94%
1984	12,063	76.50%	3,616	22.93%	89	0.56%
1980	10,951	66.37%	4,375	26.52%	1,173	7.11%
1976	9,307	62.23%	5,427	36.29%	221	1.48%
1972	9,261	68.64%	3,942	29.22%	289	2.14%
1968	8,506	63.27%	3,803	28.29%	1,135	8.44%
1964	6,420	49.05%	6,564	50.15%	106	0.81%
1960	10,208	71.19%	4,069	28.38%	63	0.44%
1956	10,311	74.68%	3,428	24.83%	67	0.49%
1952	10,680	75.51%	3,340	23.62%	123	0.87%
1948	7,232	67.21%	3,095	28.76%	433	4.02%
1944	9,364	74.33%	3,153	25.03%	81	0.64%
1940	9,398	72.25%	3,538	27.20%	71	0.55%
1936	6,723	55.03%	5,023	41.11%	471	3.86%
1932	5,879	49.54%	5,696	48.00%	292	2.46%
1928	8,282	80.99%	1,893	18.51%	51	0.50%
1924	6,556	68.45%	1,980	20.67%	1,042	10.88%
1920	6,690	71.12%	2,467	26.23%	249	2.65%
1916	3,463	48.69%	3,424	48.14%	226	3.18%
1912	1,437	20.68%	2,229	32.08%	3,283	47.24%
1908	4,463	60.98%	2,516	34.38%	340	4.65%
1904	4,951	70.45%	1,659	23.61%	418	5.95%
1900	4,780	56.93%	3,324	39.59%	293	3.49%
1896	4,564	52.12%	3,986	45.52%	206	2.35%
1892	4,119	53.65%	2,613	34.03%	946	12.32%
1888	4,959	57.00%	3,035	34.89%	706	8.11%
1884	4,315	52.80%	3,222	39.43%	635	7.77%

The county government 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

• Circuit Court Judge: Honorable Sara S. Lisznyai
• District Court Judge: Honorable Megan Stiverson
• Probate Judge: Honorable Michelle A. Bianchi
• Prosecuting Attorney: Jamie Wisniewski
• Sheriff: Scott B. Hodshire
• County Clerk: Abe Dane
• County Treasurer: Stephenie Kyser
• Register of Deeds: Nick Wheeler
• Drain Commissioner: Matt Word
• Board of Commissioners:
  • District One: Doug Ingles
  • District Two: Kevin Collins
  • District Three: Mark E. Wiley, Chairperson
  • District Four: Brad Benzing, Vice Chair
  • District Five: Brent A. Leininger

Republican Party Split

On August 12, 2022, the Hillsdale County Republican Party refused to let duly elected precinct delegates enter the County Convention. This was under the claim that Hillsdale County Clerk, Marney Kast, had deliberately spoiled certain candidates' ballots past the filing deadline. They held the convention with those who were not disavowed inside the Sozo Church. The duly elected precinct delegates held their own convention outside in the parking lot. The party split, and multiple lawsuits followed after.

Currently, the Michigan Republican Party recognizes Brent Leininger as the Chair of the Hillsdale County Republican Party, who was one of the precinct delegates previously disavowed.

Transportation

Major highways

• US 12 crosses the county in a generally east–west direction for a distance of about 23 miles. US 12 is the southernmost US Highway in Michigan to go east and west.
• US 127 is the north–south highway running along a portion of the eastern boundary of the county and is also called Meridian Road as it runs along the Michigan meridian.
• M-34 is a highway from the eastern border of the county westward until it joins M-99. It is also known as Hudson Road.
• M-49 is a north–south highway running north from the Ohio border and intersects M-99 in the northwest corner of the county.
• M-99 crosses the county in a generally north–south direction for a distance of about 30 miles. It is also known as Carleton Road (named after the poet Will Carleton who attended Hillsdale College and lived in Hillsdale for a time.)

Airports

Hillsdale Municipal Airport (KJYM) established in 1963, has a 5000' paved and lighted runway with instrument approaches, hangars, tie-downs, and fuel services available. It allows general aviation access to Hillsdale County and nearby areas.

Trails

The 4000 mile National Scenic North Country Trail passes through the county in a north–south direction.

Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Hillsdale County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities

• Hillsdale (county seat)
• Jonesville
• Litchfield
• Reading

Villages

• Allen
• Camden
• Montgomery
• North Adams
• Waldron

Civil townships

• Adams Township
• Allen Township
• Amboy Township
• Cambria Township
• Camden Township
• Fayette Township
• Hillsdale Township
• Jefferson Township
• Litchfield Township
• Moscow Township
• Pittsford Township
• Ransom Township
• Reading Township
• Scipio Township
• Somerset Township
• Wheatland Township
• Woodbridge Township
• Wright Township

Census designated-places

• Cambria
• Lake LeAnn
• Pittsford

Unincorporated communities

• Amboy Center
• Austin
• Bankers
• Betzer
• Church's Corners
• Frontier
• Jerome
• Locust Corners
• Moscow
• Mosherville
• Osseo
• Prattville
• Ransom
• Somerset
• Somerset Center

Notable people

• Moses Allen, first settler and veteran of the War of 1812.
• Frederick Wilhelm Stock (fl. 19th cen.), founder of F. W. Stock & Sons, a flour milling business (with mill, office building, machine shop, and group of grain and product silos), located a (!ong) half-block from the county-offices block. (The operations were consolidated into a northeast-coast-headquartered firm in the early 1960s. Until that purchase, it was the largest family-controlled flour milling firm to the west of the Atlantic coast states.) <-- Yeah, at least 2/3 of that text should be split out as start-quality bio & company articles—but not by this early WP-adopter and tired, retired admin}} -->
• Oscar F. Avery (1841–1924), lawyer and Illinois state senator, was born in Allen Township.
• Don A. Jones (1912–2000), admiral and civil engineer, seventh Director of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and second Director of the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps, born in Waldron.
• Penny Neer, Olympic athlete.

See also

• Bawbeese
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hillsdale County, Michigan
• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Hillsdale County