Benzonia, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Benzonia is a village in Benzie County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 519 at the 2000 census
. The village is located within Benzonia Township
at the southeast end of Crystal Lake on U.S. Highway 31 at the junction with M-115
west.
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
. Its founding was under the leadership of Charles E. Bailey. The village, which was once the county seat, was incorporated in 1891.
In 1863 Grand Traverse College
was chartered and began here. It was renamed Benzonia College in 1891. In 1900 the college was changed to a preparatory school
named Benzonia Academy. The academy continued to function until 1918 when it was closed.
of 2000, there were 519 people, 211 households, and 128 families residing in the village. The population density
was 488.2 per square mile (189.0/km²). There were 254 housing units at an average density of 238.9 per square mile (92.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.45% White, 0.39% African American, 3.08% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 0.96% from other races
, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.89% of the population.
There were 211 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the village the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,650, and the median income for a family was $35,104. Males had a median income of $25,469 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,515. About 5.0% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
historian Bruce Catton
. Later in his life he spent his summers in the Frankfort area. A Michigan state historical marker commemorates his residence there.
Benzie County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 10,312 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 519 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The village is located within Benzonia Township
Benzonia Township, Michigan
Benzonia Township is a civil township of Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,839...
at the southeast end of Crystal Lake on U.S. Highway 31 at the junction with M-115
M-115 (Michigan highway)
M-115 is a state trunkline highway in the northwestern part of the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway takes a generally southeast-to-northwest direction between Clare and Frankfort on Lake Michigan...
west.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.
History
Benzonia began in 1858 as an educational Christian colony on the model of Oberlin, OhioOberlin, Ohio
Oberlin is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, to the south and west of Cleveland. Oberlin is perhaps best known for being the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students...
. Its founding was under the leadership of Charles E. Bailey. The village, which was once the county seat, was incorporated in 1891.
In 1863 Grand Traverse College
Grand Traverse College
Grand Traverse College, latter known as Benzonia College, was a college in the North-west lower peninsula of Michigan during the 19th Century at Benzonia, Michigan....
was chartered and began here. It was renamed Benzonia College in 1891. In 1900 the college was changed to a preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
named Benzonia Academy. The academy continued to function until 1918 when it was closed.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 519 people, 211 households, and 128 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 488.2 per square mile (189.0/km²). There were 254 housing units at an average density of 238.9 per square mile (92.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.45% White, 0.39% African American, 3.08% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 0.96% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.89% of the population.
There were 211 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the village the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,650, and the median income for a family was $35,104. Males had a median income of $25,469 versus $20,313 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $15,515. About 5.0% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
Famous resident
Benzonia was the boyhood home of American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
historian Bruce Catton
Bruce Catton
Charles Bruce Catton was an American historian and journalist, best known for his books on the American Civil War. Known as a narrative historian, Catton specialized in popular histories that emphasized colorful characters and historical vignettes, in addition to the basic facts, dates, and analyses...
. Later in his life he spent his summers in the Frankfort area. A Michigan state historical marker commemorates his residence there.