Lake County, Michigan

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]

Lake County
County
Lake County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N 85°49′W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	1840, organized 1871.[1]
Seat	Baldwin
Largest village	Baldwin
Area
• Total	574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	567 sq mi (1,470 km2)
• Water	6.9 sq mi (18 km2)  1.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,096
• Estimate  (2024)	13,005
• Density	21/sq mi (8.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.lakecounty-michigan.com//

History

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

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

• US 10 enters from Mason County; goes through Baldwin; continues east into Osceola County
• M-37 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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	548		—
1880	3,233		490.0%
1890	6,505		101.2%
1900	4,957		−23.8%
1910	4,939		−0.4%
1920	4,437		−10.2%
1930	4,066		−8.4%
1940	4,798		18.0%
1950	5,257		9.6%
1960	5,338		1.5%
1970	5,661		6.1%
1980	7,711		36.2%
1990	8,583		11.3%
2000	11,333		32.0%
2010	11,539		1.8%
2020	12,096		4.8%
2024 (est.)	13,005	[7]	7.5%
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

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

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

(information as of December 2016)

Communities

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

• 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.^[15]

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

See also

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