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. The county seat is Baldwin.

History The county was created by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Aischum County (possibly from eshkam meaning "diminishing" in Ojibwe), before being 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.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.2%) is water.

State trunkline highways enters from Mason County; goes through Baldwin; continues east into Osceola County 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

Racial and Ethnic composition +Lake County, Michigan – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)6,3007,2979,5119,8979,36081.70%85.02%83.92%85.77%77.38%Black or African American alone (NH)1,2811,1421,2521,03479516.61%13.31%11.05%8.96%6.57%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)507411278650.65%0.86%0.99%0.68%0.54%Asian alone (NH)791716450.09%0.10%0.15%0.14%0.37%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census418xx0.04%0.01%0.07%Other race alone (NH)231152240.30%0.01%0.13%0.02%0.20%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census231268604xx2.04%2.32%4.99%Hispanic or Latino (any race)50601912431,1950.65%0.70%1.69%2.11%9.88%Total7,7118,58311,33311,53912,096 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%E

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,096. The median age was 51.5 years, 15.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 26.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 127.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 131.2 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 85.1% White, 7.4% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.9% of the population.

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,079 households in the county, of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.3% were married-couple households, 25.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,315 housing units, of which 61.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.1% were owner-occupied and 17.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%.

2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 11,333 people, 4,704 households, and 3,052 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of .

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.

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.

Board of Commissioners District 1 commissioner: Robert Sanders, vice chair District 2 commissioner: Howard Lodholtz, chairman District 3 commissioner: Kristine Raymond, vice chair pro tem District 4 commissioner: Dawn Fuller District 5 commissioner: Mike Seroczynski District 6 commissioner: Jamie Russell District 7 commissioner: Clyde Welford

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

County departments County Administrator: Tobi Lake Code Official: David Wright Equalization Director: Anthony Meyaard 911 Director: Brian Virden Emergency Management Director: Jake Carter Veterans Affairs Rep: Nicole Barton Information Technology (IT): Mike Flees

(information as of March 2026)

Communities

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.

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

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

References

External links Lake County Road Commission Website

Lake County Website Lake County Chamber of Commerce