The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 28 local governments in Benzie County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.
Kind of government
Census count (2022)
Listed on this page
County government
1
1
Cities, towns, villages and townships (7 municipal, 12 township)
19
0
School districts (school boards)
2
0
Special districts (elected boards)
6
1
Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).
About these counts
The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.
Who lives in Benzie County
18,310people
50.8median ageU.S.: 38.9
$74,834 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
9.7%below the U.S.: 12.5%
36.9%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$285,700median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.1%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
1.4%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
9.7%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
5.6%U.S.: 8.4%
51.1%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
24.3%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%
Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 2.5% · White 91.4% · Black 0.6% · Asian 0.5% · Other or more than one race 5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)
Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).
About these figures
The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.
Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.
Jobs in Benzie County
3.9%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.2%. Michigan: 4.8%.
330people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
8,176people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
8,506in the September 2026, preliminary.
Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.
Every month, last two years
Month
Rate
Unemployed
Employed
Labor force
September 2026 (preliminary)
3.9%
330
8,176
8,506
August 2026
4.2%
370
8,475
8,845
July 2026
4.1%
371
8,583
8,954
June 2026
4.3%
376
8,325
8,701
May 2026
4.9%
425
8,224
8,649
April 2026
5.4%
465
8,096
8,561
March 2026
6.3%
556
8,200
8,756
February 2026
6.4%
561
8,214
8,775
January 2026
6.6%
580
8,257
8,837
December 2025
5.7%
504
8,346
8,850
November 2025
4.7%
423
8,530
8,953
October 2025
not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 2025
4.2%
383
8,757
9,140
August 2025
4.4%
419
9,032
9,451
July 2025
4.9%
472
9,224
9,696
June 2025
5.0%
478
9,006
9,484
May 2025
5.3%
491
8,751
9,242
April 2025
6.4%
575
8,370
8,945
March 2025
7.2%
641
8,220
8,861
February 2025
7.8%
695
8,180
8,875
January 2025
7.1%
629
8,292
8,921
December 2024
6.2%
550
8,299
8,849
November 2024
4.7%
418
8,497
8,915
October 2024
4.3%
384
8,590
8,974
Yearly averages
Year
Rate
Unemployed
Employed
Labor force
2025 (11 months)
5.7%
519
8,610
9,129
2024
5.3%
477
8,577
9,054
2023
5.1%
457
8,433
8,890
2022
5.4%
462
8,156
8,618
2021
5.9%
493
7,798
8,291
2020
10.1%
848
7,588
8,436
2019
5.3%
455
8,073
8,528
2018
5.7%
485
8,072
8,557
2017
6.6%
565
7,986
8,551
2016
6.8%
576
7,885
8,461
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Michigan's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 5.0% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.
Crime reported in Benzie County
138.0 per 100,0002025. Michigan: 416.2.
173.8 per 100,0002025. Michigan: 1,258.5.
0murders2025, 27 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
Year
Violent
Rate
Property
Rate
2025
27
138.0
34
173.8
2024
47
237.7
60
303.5
2023
31
159.4
75
385.8
2022
16
82.3
109
560.9
2021
23
120.6
63
330.3
2020
34
181.0
82
436.6
2019
23
122.4
50
266.2
2018
21
112.6
75
402.0
2017
22
117.9
123
659.2
2016
20
108.3
147
795.8
By police agency (2)
Agency
Year
Violent
Property
People served
Benzie County Sheriff's Office
2025
24
29
17,316
Frankfort Police Department
2025
3
5
1,283
Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Michigan · the U.S.
Police staffing
1.24 per 1,000 residents2025, 2 agencies serving 18,599 people.
23sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
20civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (2), 2025
Agency
Officers
Civilians
People served
Benzie County Sheriff's Office
20
20
17,316
Frankfort Police Department
3
0
1,283
Earlier years
Year
Officers
Per 1,000
Civilians
Agencies
2025
23
1.24
20
2
2024
21
1.12
23
2
2023
20
1.08
21
2
2022
22
1.19
19
2
2021
21
1.17
19
2
2020
20
1.13
19
2
2019
19
1.07
18
2
2018
19
1.08
18
2
2017
18
1.02
18
2
2016
18
1.03
18
2
Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.
Quick answers
Who is the Benzie County County Clerk?
Tammy Bowers (Republican) is the County Clerk of Benzie County, Michigan.
Who is the Benzie County Drain Commissioner?
Mike Fiebing (Republican) is the Drain Commissioner of Benzie County, Michigan.
Who is the Benzie County Prosecuting Attorney?
Sara Swanson (Republican) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Benzie County, Michigan.
Who is the Benzie County Register of Deeds?
Paula M. Eberhart (Republican) is the Register of Deeds of Benzie County, Michigan.
Who is the Benzie County Sheriff?
Kyle Rosa (Republican) is the Sheriff of Benzie County, Michigan.
Who is the Benzie County County Surveyor?
John B. Smendzuik (Republican) is the County Surveyor of Benzie County, Michigan.
Who is the Benzie County County Treasurer?
Kelly J. Long (Republican) is the County Treasurer of Benzie County, Michigan.
Who are the Benzie County commissioners?
Bob Roelofs (District 1); Art Jeannot (District 2); Christina Trigg (District 3); Rhonda Nye (District 4); Tim Markey (District 5); Evan J. Warsecke (District 6); Tammy Clous (District 7).
What is the population of Benzie County?
About 18,310 people, with a median age of 50.8; the median household income is $74,834 and 9.7% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Benzie County?
3.9% in September 2026 (preliminary): 330 people unemployed in a labor force of 8,506, against 4.2% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Benzie County?
28 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 7 municipal, 12 township, 2 school district and 6 special district governments.
Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from each county clerk's official results of the November 5, 2024 general election (certified by the county board of canvassers); officials appointed since then may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.
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