Mason County, Michigan

Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 29,052.[2] The county seat is Ludington.[3]

Not to be confused with Mason, Michigan.

Mason County
County
Mason County Courthouse in Ludington
Mason County Courthouse in Ludington
Map of Michigan highlighting Mason County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°01′N 86°30′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1840 (founded as Notipekago)
1855 (organized)[1]
Named forStevens T. Mason
SeatLudington
Largest cityLudington
Area
 • Total1,242 sq mi (3,220 km2)
 • Land495 sq mi (1,280 km2)
 • Water747 sq mi (1,930 km2)  60%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total29,052
 • Density58/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.masoncounty.net

Mason County comprises the Ludington, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Mason County as "Notipeskago" (a misspelling of Notipekago, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.[4]) 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.[5] It was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Notipekago County,[6] then renamed Mason County in 1843. The county was administered by Ottawa County prior to the organization of county government in 1855.[4][1]

Mason County does not have an official flag.[7]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,242 square miles (3,220 km2), of which 495 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 747 square miles (1,930 km2) (60%) is water.[8]

Major highways
  • US 10 – runs east–west through central part of county. Runs from Ludington through Amber, Scottville, Custer, and Branch.
  • US 31 – enters Mason County at 2 miles (3.2 km) east of SW corner; runs north to intersect US-10 near Ludington. Runs concurrent with US-10 east for 5 miles (8.0 km), then runs north. Exits county at 4 miles (6.4 km) east of NW corner of county.
  • M-116 – runs NW from Ludington along shoreline of Lake Michigan to Ludington State Park.

  •  Bus. US 31 is a business spur running east of Ludington.

[9]

U.S. Bicycle Routes

Adjacent counties

By land

By water

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
185093—
1860831793.5%
18703,263292.7%
188010,065208.5%
189016,38562.8%
190018,88515.3%
191021,83215.6%
192019,831−9.2%
193018,756−5.4%
194019,3783.3%
195020,4745.7%
196021,9297.1%
197022,6123.1%
198026,36516.6%
199025,537−3.1%
200028,27410.7%
201028,7051.5%
202029,0521.2%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2018[2]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[14] of 2000, there were 28,274 people, 11,406 households, and 7,881 families in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 16,063 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km2). 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 English and 2.2% Spanish as their first language.

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 82% (28 of 35) of the national elections through 2020.

United States presidential election results for Mason County, Michigan[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,207 59.06% 6,802 39.36% 274 1.59%
2016 8,505 57.50% 5,281 35.70% 1,006 6.80%
2012 7,580 51.69% 6,856 46.75% 229 1.56%
2008 7,147 46.89% 7,817 51.29% 277 1.82%
2004 8,124 55.60% 6,333 43.34% 154 1.05%
2000 7,066 54.29% 5,579 42.86% 371 2.85%
1996 5,066 41.35% 5,597 45.69% 1,588 12.96%
1992 5,102 39.00% 4,829 36.91% 3,151 24.09%
1988 6,800 59.58% 4,531 39.70% 82 0.72%
1984 8,202 67.83% 3,803 31.45% 87 0.72%
1980 7,137 58.14% 4,134 33.68% 1,005 8.19%
1976 6,812 59.15% 4,541 39.43% 163 1.42%
1972 6,811 63.57% 3,697 34.50% 207 1.93%
1968 5,311 54.02% 3,660 37.23% 860 8.75%
1964 3,842 39.02% 5,993 60.87% 11 0.11%
1960 6,011 58.21% 4,305 41.69% 10 0.10%
1956 6,142 65.15% 3,274 34.73% 12 0.13%
1952 6,179 64.65% 3,298 34.51% 81 0.85%
1948 4,147 55.99% 2,988 40.34% 272 3.67%
1944 4,446 58.27% 3,137 41.11% 47 0.62%
1940 4,874 55.62% 3,836 43.77% 53 0.60%
1936 3,224 39.37% 4,598 56.14% 368 4.49%
1932 3,098 42.48% 3,854 52.85% 340 4.66%
1928 4,318 72.74% 1,567 26.40% 51 0.86%
1924 3,567 67.18% 815 15.35% 928 17.48%
1920 3,652 69.39% 1,338 25.42% 273 5.19%
1916 2,198 53.17% 1,689 40.86% 247 5.97%
1912 844 21.51% 1,073 27.34% 2,007 51.15%
1908 2,577 65.71% 1,132 28.86% 213 5.43%
1904 2,394 72.13% 764 23.02% 161 4.85%
1900 2,185 61.31% 1,251 35.10% 128 3.59%
1896 2,177 56.27% 1,580 40.84% 112 2.89%
1892 1,426 45.85% 1,383 44.47% 301 9.68%
1888 1,697 50.79% 1,573 47.08% 71 2.13%
1884 1,299 50.49% 1,217 47.30% 57 2.22%

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

(information as of Jan 2021)

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

Cities

Villages

Charter township

Civil townships

Unincorporated communities

Indian reservation

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.[18]

Mason County is served by the following regular public school districts:[19]

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

Mason County has the following private schools:[20]

See also

References
  1. "Bibliography on Mason County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Newberry Library. "Michigan: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of County Historical Boundaries. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  5. "Focus on our history: How county was named". Ludington Daily News. October 3, 1987. p. 2. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  6. George Dawson (1840). Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Annual Session of 1840. Detroit. pp. 196–200.
  7. Mason County, Michigan crwflags.com
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  9. Mason County MI Google Maps (accessed 25 September 2018)
  10. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. US Election Atlas
  16. Braciszewski, Kevin (July 30, 2002). "Indian tribe emerges as major landowner". Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  17. "Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing" (PDF). 2010 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. p. E-14 Michigan. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  18. "About us". West Shore Educational Service District. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  19. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Public School Data - Mason County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  20. National Center for Education Statistics. "Search for Private Schools - Mason County, MI". Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
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