Benzie County

Benzie County's western border consists of 60 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and unspoiled bluffs begin in Benzie County contributing to the natural beauty of the area. The county's 57 lakes and miles of scenic rivers provide the county with access to canoeing, boating, and charter fishing. The population and labor force of Benzie County continues to grow. In 1995, the county population increased 11.97% from 1990. In 1997, the Grand Traverse LMA consisting of Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse counties employed 19.1% of the labor force in the Goods Producing industry, 68% in the Service Producing industry, and 21.2% in Retail Trade.

Local Area - Click to Enlarge

General Data

DISTANCE MILES KM

Chicago 300 482

Cleveland 390 627

Detroit 240 386

Indianapolis 380 611

Lansing 180 289

YEARS
POPULATION
2002 16,766
2003 17,178
2004 17,376
2005 17,644
Source:Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau, March 16, 2006

WORKFORCE
LABOR 2006
Total Workforce 9,352
Number Employed 8,664
Number Unemployed 688
Unemployment Rate 7.4
Source:Michigan Employment Service Agency, 2006

CHARACTERISTICS OF LABOR FORCE
LABOR 2000
Workers 16 years and over 7,120
Percentage who work outside of county 48.2%
Percentage who work at home 4.3%
Source:U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing, 2000

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS
CLASSIFICATION 2000
Persons 25 years of age or older 11,283
Percentage with high school diploma 85.4%
Percentage with bachelor's degree 20.01%
Source:U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing, 2000

TRANSPORTATION
ACCESS TO MARKETS
Main Highways US-31, M-22, M-115
Bus Lines None
Truck Lines 6
Rail Lines Tuscola & Saginaw Bay
Ports Frankfort (Lake Michigan)
Airports City - County Airport
Airlines American Eagle, Northwest Airlink, Northwest, United Express, Midwest Express
Source: MI State Transportation Commission, 1995

Economy

PERSONAL INCOME (In Thousands of Dollars)

Components by Type

2002

2003

2004

2005

Personal income

414,473

414,418

450,365

468,796

Population (persons)

16,762

17,163

17,344

17,574

Per capita personal income (dollars)

24,727

24,146

25,967

26,676

Farm proprietors' income

-1,082

1,848

1,278

1,717

Nonfarm proprietors' income

26,779

27,520

33,610

36,123

Components by Industry

2002

2003

2004

2005

Farm earnings

505

3,090

2,751

2,985

Nonfarm earnings

167,464

159,885

176,832

180,145

Private earnings

136,555

128,839

144,101

147,768

Forestry, fishing, related activities, and other

672

772

Mining

1,249

1,442

Utilities

Construction

21,998

24,127

28,822

29,124

Manufacturing

16,251

17,065

20,238

21,557

Durable goods manufacturing

7,042

7,115

9,324

10,275

Wholesale trade

1,643

1,796

2,104

2,203

Retail Trade

15,103

15,637

16,866

17,049

Transportation and warehousing

Information

1,177

656

717

854

Finance and insurance

8,071

9,696

10,641

9,200

Real estate and rental and leasing

5,855

5,492

7,030

7,601

Professional and technical services

9,266

5,653

6,892

6,901

Government and government enterprises

30,909

31,046

32,731

32,377

Federal, civilian

2,052

2,061

2,349

2,422

Military

1,147

1,605

1,951

2,227

State and local

27,710

27,380

28,431

27,728

Source:Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Department of Commerce, Issued May 2007

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY (Number of Jobs)

Components by Type

2002

2003

2004

2005

Total employment

8,094

8,134

8,477

8,611

Wage and salary employment

4,800

4,660

4,855

4,798

Proprietors employment

3,294

3,474

3,622

3,813

Farm employment

200

198

199

196

Nonfarm employment

7,894

7,936

8,278

8,415

Components by Industry

2002

2003

2004

2005

Private employment

7,058

7,150

7,502

7,656

Forestry, fishing, related activities, and other

Mining

Utilities

Construction

1,059

1,127

1,173

1,189

Manufacturing

530

506

602

662

Wholesale trade

Retail Trade

989

1,024

1,075

1,072

Transportation and warehousing

Finance and insurance

283

299

308

302

Real estate and rental and leasing

419

427

475

507

Professional and technical services

395

363

399

407

Government and government enterprises

836

786

776

759

Federal, civilian

Military

State and local

755

704

690

671

Source:Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Department of Commerce, Issued May 2007

PRINCIPAL EMPLOYERS

NAICS COMPANY NAME LOCATION EMPLOYEES PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

721110 Crystal Enterprises Inc Thompsonville 450 Hotel/Motel Operation

311411 Smeltzer Orchard Co Frankfort 200 Manufactures quick frozen & cold pack fruits; manufactures dried & dehydrated fruits & vegetables & soup mixes

622110 Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Frankfort 150 Hospital

921190 County of Benzie Beulah 132 General Government

623311 County of Benzie Frankfort 100 Skilled Nursing Care Facility

623220 Manistee Benzie Community Benzonia 90 Community Mental Health Center

311423 Graceland Fruit Inc Frankfort 70 Manufactures dried or dehydrated fruits; manufactures quick frozen & cold pack fruits

621111 Crystal Lake Health Center Inc Benzonia 60 Medical Doctor's Office

921110 County of Benzie Beulah 60 Executive Office

452990 Riverside Canoes Inc Honor 60 Ret Misc General Merchandise Amusement/Recreation Services

813920 Benzie County Central Schools Benzonia 50 Professional Organization

922190 Benzie, County Of Beulah 50 Public Order And Safety

444130 Jst Inc Benzonia 50 Hardware Stores

621111 George B Ryckman Do Benzonia 50 Medical Doctor's Office

721214 Crystalaire Camp Inc Frankfort 45 Sport/Recreation Camp

611110 Benzie County Central Schools Benzonia 45 Elementary/Secondary School

813110 Honor Congregation of Benzonia 44 Religious Organization

611512 Northwest Soaring Club of Frankfort 40 School/Educational Services

722110 Cherry Hut Products LLC Beulah 40 Restaurant

721191 Inn At Watervale Inc Arcadia 40 Hotel/Motel Operation

236210 Luedtke Engineering Co Frankfort 40 Heavy Construction

611110 Elberta Frankfort Area Schools Frankfort 40 Elementary/Secondary School

445110 Spartan Stores Inc Frankfort 40 Ret Groceries Whol Meats/Products

611110 Benzie County Central Schools Honor 39 Elementary/Secondary School

333514 Frankfort Manufacturing Inc Frankfort 38 Manufactures tools, dies, jigs & fixtures

444110 Honor Hardware & Building Sply Honor 35 Ret Lumber/Building Materials

334416 H W Jencks Inc Frankfort 35 Manufactures electronic coils & transformers; manufactures current carrying wiring devices; manufactures motors or generators

722110 Roadhouse Inc Benzonia 35 Eating Place

522110 Honor State Bank Honor 33 State Commercial Bank

813410 Kiwanis International Inc Beulah 31 Civic/Social Association

611110 Benzie County Central Schools Benzonia 30 Elementary/Secondary School

323110 Presscraft Papers Inc Benzonia 30 Card printing; commercial printing; manufactures stationery products

238210 Waugs Electrical Service Inc Benzonia 27 Electrical Contractor

923120 County of Benzie Benzonia 26 Administrative Public Health Programs

441110 Bay Automotive Inc Benzonia 26 Automobiles

722110 R J N Enterprises Inc Frankfort 25 Eating Place Drinking Place

722110 Manitou Frankfort 25 Eating Place

722110 Hungry Tummy Beulah 25 Eating Place

238220 Rodney K Moore Inc Honor 21 Plumbing & Heating Contractor

493190 Benzie Mini Storage Beulah 20 Special Warehouse/Storage

541940 Platte Lake Veterinary Clinic Honor 20 Veterinary Services

522110 Central State Bank Beulah 20 State Commercial Bank

624230 Mental Health Crisis Center Benzonia 20 Individual/Family Services

611110 Benzie County Central Schools Benzonia 20 Elementary/Secondary School

237990 Jim Gray Construction Inc Benzonia 20 Heavy Construction

541990 Last Step Building Service Inc Beulah 20 Services-Misc

444130 Honor Hardware & Building Sply Frankfort 18 Ret Hardware Ret Lumber/Building Materials

522110 Honor State Bank Benzonia 18 State Commercial Bank

337127 Dean Contracting Inc Honor 17 Mfg Furniture/Fixtures

337127 Eyewood Design Inc Interlochen 17 Mfg Furniture/Fixtures

522120 State Savings Bank, Frankfort Frankfort 15 Savings Institution

522291 Freedom Financial Mortgage Beulah 15 Personal Credit Institution Mortgage Banker/Correspondent

453998 Gillison's Variety Fabrctn Inc Benzonia 15 Ret Misc Merchandise Mfg Farm Machinery/Equipment Mfg Industrial Machinery

424490 Hungry Tummy Deli Inc Benzonia 15 Whol Deli Sandwiches

Source: Harris Publishing Company, 2008 InfoSource

OTHER MAJOR EMPLOYERS

SIC FIRM LOCATION EMPLOYEES PRODUCT

3569 Continental Industries 200

9121 County of Benzie Beulah 112 Legislative bodies

8051 Benzie Nursing Facility Frankfort 75 Health care

5812 Hotel Frankfort Frankfort 75 Eating places

5411 JST Corporation Benzonia 50 Grocery stores

5411 Prevos Family Market Inc. Frankfort 40 Grocery stores

9221 County of Benzie Police Dept. Beulah 40 Police protection

Source: Local County Economic Development Contact, 2004

NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS

Type of Service 2004
Total 512
��Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agriculture support 3
��Mining 2
��Utilities 1
��Construction 120
��Manufacturing 22
��Food mfg 3
��Beverage & tobacco product mfg 1
��Leather & allied product mfg 1
��Wood product mfg 1
��Paper mfg 1
��Printing & related support activities 1
��Petroleum & coal products mfg 1
��Chemical mfg 2
��Primary metal mfg 1
��Fabricated metal product mfg 2
��Machinery mfg 4
��Electrical equip, appliance & component mfg 1
��Transportation equipment mfg 2
��Furniture & related product mfg 1
��Wholesale trade 5
��Retail trade 87
��Transportation & warehousing 6
��Information 7
��Publishing industries 1
��Motion picture & sound recording industries 1
��Finance & insurance 21
��Real estate & rental & leasing 22
��Professional, scientific & technical services 35
��Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services 32
��Health care and social assistance 34
��Arts, entertainment & recreation 17
��Accommodation & food services 52
��Other services (except public administration) 45
��Unclassified establishments 1
Source:Source:U.S. Department of Commerce and Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns, Issued July 2006

Quality of Life

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT INFORMATION

COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS INSTRUCTORS HIGH SCHOOLS

Benzonia Benzie County Central Schools 1,862 76 1

Frankfort-Elberta Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools 599 33 1

Source: MI Department of Education, 1997

TWO YEAR COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

NAME LOCATION ENROLLMENT

None in County

FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

NAME LOCATION ENROLLMENT

Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City (Gr. Traverse) 4,140

Source: MI Department of Education, 1996

MEDICAL FACILITIES

TYPE OF FACILITY # IN COUNTY # OF BEDS

Hospitals 2 48

Source: MI Department of Consumer and Industry Services, 1998

HOUSING (2000)
OWNER OCCUPIED MEDIAN VALUE RENTER OCCUPIED MEDIAN RENT
3,639 $107,400 856 $486
Source:U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing, 2000

CLIMATE

MONTH AVG. MIN TEMP AVG. MAX TEMP.

January 16F/-9C 29F/-2C

July 59F/15C 80F/27C

PRECIPITATION RAINFALL SNOWFALL

Average Annual 32in./81cm 122in./310cm.

GROWING SEASON DAYS ABOVE 90F/32C DAYS BELOW 0F/-18C

159 6 5

Source: NOAA Climate Summary, 1995

RECREATION
COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
Recreational harbor facilities at Frankfort on Lake Michigan; Crystal Mountain Resort (skiing); 80 miles of snowmobile trails (2); Gwen Frostic Prints, Benzonia; Point Betsie Light Station; Crystal Cruise Bike Tour, Frankfort (June); Art Fair, Beulah (July); Crystal Lake Team Marathon (August); Art Fair and Antique Car Show, Frankfort (Aug); National Coho Salmon Festival, Honor (Sept); Ciderfest, Beulah/Benzonia (Oct.); Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; Platte & Betsie Rivers.
Source: Local County Economic Development Contact

Municipal Services

UTILITIES
COMMUNITY ELECTRIC GAS
Homestead, Weldon, Joyfield, Inland, Colfax, Almira Cherryland MichCon
Almira, Benzonia, Blaine, Colfax, Gilmore, Weldon, Homestead, Consumers Power MichCon
Lake
Source: Local County Economic Development Contact

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Local Phone Companies Ameritech
Long Distance Companies AT&T, MCI, Sprint, and others
Source: Local County Economic Development Contact

LICENSED LANDFILLS

COMMUNITY OWNER/MANAGER

None in county

Source: MDEQ Waste Management Division, 1998

PROPERTY TAX (2004)
Agriculture Commercial Industrial Residential Other
1.20% 10.20% 1.30% 85.60% 1.70%
Source:MI Department of Treasury State Tax Commission, 2006

GOVERNMENT
COMMUNITY PHONE NUMBER COMMUNITY PHONE NUMBER
Almira Twp (231) 275-6346 Homestead Twp (231) 325-6772
Benzonia Twp (231) 882-4411 Inland Twp (231) 275-7954
Blaine Twp (231) 352-9880 Joyfield Twp (231) 882-4067
Colfax Twp (231) 378-2144 Lake Twp (231) 325-5202
Crystal Lake Twp (231) 352-9791 Platte Twp (231) 325-2459
Frankfort (City of) (231) 352-7117 Weldon Twp (231) 378-2477
Gilmore Twp (231) 352-4901
Source: Local County Economic Development Contact

COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTACT

Mr. Tino Breithaupt
Senior Vice President of Economic Development
Traverse Bay EDC
Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce
202 E. Grandview Parkway
Traverse City, MI 49684

Phone: 231.995.7105
Fax: 231.946.2565

Email: tbedc@tcchamber.org
Web: www.tcchamber.org/tbedc

Source: Local County Economic Development Contact, 2008

Links

Benzie County

General Data

Economy

Quality of Life

Municipal Services