Geography



According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,488 km? (575 mi?). 1,480 km? (571 mi?) of it is land and 8 km? (3 mi?) of it is water. The total area is 0.54% water.

Adjacent counties

Gratiot County (north)

Shiawassee County (east)

Ionia County (west)

Ingham County (southeast)

Eaton County (southwest)

Saginaw County (northeast)

Montcalm County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 44/km? (113/mi?). There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 17/km? (43/mi?). The racial makeup of the county was 96.40% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. 2.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,653 households out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.30% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 19.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.10% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,806, and the median income for a family was $60,491. Males had a median income of $42,379 versus $31,065 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,913. 4.60% of the population and 3.30% of families were below the poverty line. 5.30% of those under the age of 18 and 6.00% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

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.