Mason County, Michigan | |
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 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
| Coordinates:44°01′N86°30′W / 44.02°N 86.5°W /44.02; -86.5 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | 1840 (founded as Notipekago) 1855 (organized)[1] |
| Named after | Stevens T. Mason |
| Seat | Ludington |
| Largest city | Ludington |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,242 sq mi (3,220 km2) |
| • Land | 495 sq mi (1,280 km2) |
| • Water | 747 sq mi (1,930 km2) 60% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 29,052 |
• Estimate (2024) | 29,093 |
| • Density | 58/sq mi (22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Mason County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 Census, the population was 29,052.[2] Thecounty seat isLudington.[3]
Mason County comprises the Ludington, MIMicropolitan Statistical Area.
The county is named forStevens T. Mason, Governor of Michigan from 1835 to 1840.[5] It was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 asNotipekago County,[6] then renamed Mason County in 1843. The county was administered byOttawa County prior to the organization of county government in 1855.[4][1]
According to theUS 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.[7]
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.
USBR 35 enters Mason County fromPentwater; has a concurrency with USBR 20; proceeds north intoManistee County
USBR 20 begins (until near future) atSSBadger with US 10; has a concurrency with USBR 35; goes throughFreesoil; proceeds east intoLake County; proceeds east for about 310 miles toMarine CityBy land
By water
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 93 | — | |
| 1860 | 831 | 793.5% | |
| 1870 | 3,263 | 292.7% | |
| 1880 | 10,065 | 208.5% | |
| 1890 | 16,385 | 62.8% | |
| 1900 | 18,885 | 15.3% | |
| 1910 | 21,832 | 15.6% | |
| 1920 | 19,831 | −9.2% | |
| 1930 | 18,756 | −5.4% | |
| 1940 | 19,378 | 3.3% | |
| 1950 | 20,474 | 5.7% | |
| 1960 | 21,929 | 7.1% | |
| 1970 | 22,612 | 3.1% | |
| 1980 | 26,365 | 16.6% | |
| 1990 | 25,537 | −3.1% | |
| 2000 | 28,274 | 10.7% | |
| 2010 | 28,705 | 1.5% | |
| 2020 | 29,052 | 1.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 29,093 | [9] | 0.1% |
| US Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2018[2] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 29,052 and a median age of 47.6 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males age 18 and over.[14]
The racial makeup of the county was 91.1%White, 0.6%Black or African American, 0.8%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 5.5% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.4% of the population.[15]
40.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 59.1% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 12,319 households in the county, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.2% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 17,392 housing units, of which 29.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.1% were owner-occupied and 21.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.8%.[14]
As of the2000 United States census, there were 28,274 people, 11,406 households, and 7,881 families in the county. Thepopulation 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 orAfrican American, 0.78%Native American, 0.28%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.82% fromother races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 3.01% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 24.5% were ofGerman, 10.4%Polish, 8.8%English, 8.5%Irish, 7.7%American and 5.0%Swedish ancestry. 96.0% spoke onlyEnglish, while 2.2% spokeSpanish at home.[17]
There were 11,406 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $17,713. About 8.20% of families and 11.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
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.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1884 | 1,299 | 50.49% | 1,217 | 47.30% | 57 | 2.22% |
| 1888 | 1,697 | 50.79% | 1,573 | 47.08% | 71 | 2.13% |
| 1892 | 1,426 | 45.85% | 1,383 | 44.47% | 301 | 9.68% |
| 1896 | 2,177 | 56.27% | 1,580 | 40.84% | 112 | 2.89% |
| 1900 | 2,185 | 61.31% | 1,251 | 35.10% | 128 | 3.59% |
| 1904 | 2,394 | 72.13% | 764 | 23.02% | 161 | 4.85% |
| 1908 | 2,577 | 65.71% | 1,132 | 28.86% | 213 | 5.43% |
| 1912 | 844 | 21.51% | 1,073 | 27.34% | 2,007 | 51.15% |
| 1916 | 2,198 | 53.17% | 1,689 | 40.86% | 247 | 5.97% |
| 1920 | 3,652 | 69.39% | 1,338 | 25.42% | 273 | 5.19% |
| 1924 | 3,567 | 67.18% | 815 | 15.35% | 928 | 17.48% |
| 1928 | 4,318 | 72.74% | 1,567 | 26.40% | 51 | 0.86% |
| 1932 | 3,098 | 42.48% | 3,854 | 52.85% | 340 | 4.66% |
| 1936 | 3,224 | 39.37% | 4,598 | 56.14% | 368 | 4.49% |
| 1940 | 4,874 | 55.62% | 3,836 | 43.77% | 53 | 0.60% |
| 1944 | 4,446 | 58.27% | 3,137 | 41.11% | 47 | 0.62% |
| 1948 | 4,147 | 55.99% | 2,988 | 40.34% | 272 | 3.67% |
| 1952 | 6,179 | 64.65% | 3,298 | 34.51% | 81 | 0.85% |
| 1956 | 6,142 | 65.15% | 3,274 | 34.73% | 12 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 6,011 | 58.21% | 4,305 | 41.69% | 10 | 0.10% |
| 1964 | 3,842 | 39.02% | 5,993 | 60.87% | 11 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 5,311 | 54.02% | 3,660 | 37.23% | 860 | 8.75% |
| 1972 | 6,811 | 63.57% | 3,697 | 34.50% | 207 | 1.93% |
| 1976 | 6,812 | 59.15% | 4,541 | 39.43% | 163 | 1.42% |
| 1980 | 7,137 | 58.14% | 4,134 | 33.68% | 1,005 | 8.19% |
| 1984 | 8,202 | 67.83% | 3,803 | 31.45% | 87 | 0.72% |
| 1988 | 6,800 | 59.58% | 4,531 | 39.70% | 82 | 0.72% |
| 1992 | 5,102 | 39.00% | 4,829 | 36.91% | 3,151 | 24.09% |
| 1996 | 5,066 | 41.35% | 5,597 | 45.69% | 1,588 | 12.96% |
| 2000 | 7,066 | 54.29% | 5,579 | 42.86% | 371 | 2.85% |
| 2004 | 8,124 | 55.60% | 6,333 | 43.34% | 154 | 1.05% |
| 2008 | 7,147 | 46.89% | 7,817 | 51.29% | 277 | 1.82% |
| 2012 | 7,580 | 51.69% | 6,856 | 46.75% | 229 | 1.56% |
| 2016 | 8,505 | 57.50% | 5,281 | 35.70% | 1,006 | 6.80% |
| 2020 | 10,207 | 59.06% | 6,802 | 39.36% | 274 | 1.59% |
| 2024 | 10,830 | 59.86% | 6,973 | 38.54% | 288 | 1.59% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 10,613 | 59.43% | 6,739 | 37.74% | 505 | 2.83% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 8,018 | 54.32% | 6,419 | 43.49% | 324 | 2.19% |
Mason County operates the county jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, andvital records, administerspublic 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.
(information as of Jan 2021)
TheWest Shore Educational Service District, based inLudington, services the districts in the county along with those ofLake andOceana. Theintermediate school district offers regionalspecial education and general education services, as well astechnical career programs for its students.[22]
Mason County is served by the following regularpublicschool districts:[23]
The county also has onecharter school, theGateway to Success Academy.
Mason County has the followingprivate schools:[24]
Places adjacent to Mason County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofMason County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Civil townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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