Ingham County, Michigan

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Ingham County, Michigan
Seal Logo of Ingham County, Michigan Logo
Location in the state of Michigan
Michigan's location in the U.S.
Founded	October 29, 1829
Named for	Samuel D. Ingham
Seat	Mason
Largest city	Lansing
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	560.94 sq mi (1,453 km²) 559.19 sq mi (1,448 km²) 1.75 sq mi (5 km²), 0.31%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	284,900 500/sq mi (193/km²)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.ingham.org

Ingham County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census recorded its population at 284,900. The county seat is Mason. Lansing, the state capital of Michigan, is located within the county, and is the only state capital in the nation that is not also a county seat. The county is home to Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and the Class A minor league baseball team, the Lansing Lugnuts.

Ingham County was established by an act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature on October 29, 1829, from portions of Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County and unorganized territory. It was attached for administrative purposes to Washtenaw County until 1838 when county government was established for Ingham.

The county is named for Samuel D. Ingham, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson, making Ingham one of the so-called Cabinet counties.

Transportation

Air service

• Ingham County is served by Lansing Capital Region International Airport and Mason Jewett Field.

Rail Service

• Amtrak
• Canadian National Railway
• CSX Transportation
• Norfolk Southern Railway

Bus Service

• Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA)
• Greyhound Lines

Highways

• I-96
• I-496
• I-69 Business Loop serves the cities of Lansing and East Lansing.
• I-96 Business Loop serves the city of Lansing.
• US-127
• Capitol Loop
• M-36
• M-43
• M-52
• M-99
• M-106
• M-143
• M-188

Recreational

• Lansing River Trail

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 560.94 square miles (1,452.8 km²), of which 559.19 square miles (1,448.3 km²) (or 99.69%) is land and 1.75 square miles (4.5 km²) (or 0.31%) is water.

The county consists of gently rolling hills with an elevation ranging between 800 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The highest point in the county is the top of Teaspoon Hill rising to a height of 1,056 feet above sea level 1.5 miles north of the city Leslie.

The Grand River winds northward along the western boundary of the county and the Red Cedar River flows west across the northern section into the Grand River in Lansing. Most of the midsection of the county drains to the north into the Red Cedar River and the northern tier of townships drain to the south into the Cedar. The Sycamore Creek, flowing northwest into the Red Cedar in Lansing, drains much of the midsection of the county. Most of the southern portion of the county drains south or west into the Grand River. The southeastern corner drains to the southeast into the Huron River via the Portage Creek and Portage River and a series of small lakes.

Adjacent counties

• Shiawassee County (northeast)
• Livingston County (east)
• Washtenaw County (southeast)
• Jackson County (south)
• Eaton County (west)
• Clinton County (north)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	39,818		—
1910	53,310		33.9%
1920	81,554		53.0%
1930	116,587		43.0%
1940	130,616		12.0%
1950	172,941		32.4%
1960	211,296		22.2%
1970	261,039		23.5%
1980	275,520		5.5%
1990	281,912		2.3%
2000	279,320		−0.9%
2010	280,895		0.6%

As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile (193/km²). There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile (79/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.46% White, 10.86% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 3.68% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.42% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. 5.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.7% were of German, 10.1% English, 8.4% Irish and 6.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.0% spoke English and 3.8% Spanish as their first language.

There were 108,593 households out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.00% were married couples living together, 12.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.30% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 18.50% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,774, and the median income for a family was $53,063. Males had a median income of $40,335 versus $30,178 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,079. About 8.30% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

United States presidential election results for Ingham County, Michigan

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	47,639	32.96%	94,212	65.18%	2,699	1.87%
2016	43,868	33.20%	79,110	59.87%	9,157	6.93%
2012	45,306	35.31%	80,847	63.01%	2,157	1.68%
2008	46,483	32.50%	93,994	65.72%	2,549	1.78%
2004	54,734	41.14%	76,877	57.78%	1,442	1.08%
2000	47,314	39.23%	69,231	57.41%	4,050	3.36%
1996	43,096	36.89%	63,584	54.43%	10,135	8.68%
1992	43,926	32.83%	61,596	46.04%	28,270	21.13%
1988	58,363	50.56%	55,984	48.50%	1,088	0.94%
1984	68,753	59.23%	46,411	39.98%	919	0.79%
1980	56,777	45.19%	48,278	38.43%	20,576	16.38%
1976	66,729	55.92%	47,890	40.13%	4,708	3.95%
1972	63,376	53.60%	53,458	45.21%	1,409	1.19%
1968	46,805	51.46%	37,362	41.08%	6,786	7.46%
1964	32,965	37.97%	53,685	61.83%	179	0.21%
1960	54,655	62.89%	32,043	36.87%	209	0.24%
1956	55,211	66.80%	27,323	33.06%	120	0.15%
1952	51,503	67.62%	24,125	31.68%	533	0.70%
1948	31,868	60.61%	19,366	36.83%	1,341	2.55%
1944	34,255	58.74%	23,655	40.57%	403	0.69%
1940	32,565	56.75%	24,375	42.48%	442	0.77%
1936	19,434	40.23%	27,086	56.06%	1,793	3.71%
1932	21,044	47.24%	22,370	50.22%	1,131	2.54%
1928	29,383	78.90%	7,654	20.55%	206	0.55%
1924	28,005	81.16%	4,814	13.95%	1,686	4.89%
1920	18,437	69.63%	7,061	26.67%	982	3.71%
1916	7,846	47.76%	7,664	46.65%	917	5.58%
1912	3,515	26.71%	3,915	29.75%	5,729	43.54%
1908	6,723	53.69%	5,016	40.06%	782	6.25%
1904	6,817	60.55%	3,871	34.38%	571	5.07%
1900	5,350	49.60%	5,104	47.32%	333	3.09%
1896	4,958	45.43%	5,691	52.14%	265	2.43%
1892	4,341	44.08%	4,061	41.23%	1,447	14.69%
1888	4,547	45.71%	4,782	48.07%	619	6.22%
1884	3,709	42.36%	4,562	52.11%	484	5.53%

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 14-member county board of commissioners controls the budget, but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances due to Michigan's large devolution of local power to cities, villages, and townships. The county board of commissioners also hires a county administrator/controller who serves as the chief fiscal and administrative officer of the county.

Elected officials

• Prosecuting Attorney: Carol Siemon (D)
• Sheriff: Scott Wriggelsworth (D)
• County Clerk: Barb Byrum (D)
• Register of Deeds: Derrick Quinney (D)
• County Treasurer: Eric Schertzing (D)
• Drain Commissioner: Patrick Lindemann (D)

County Board of Commissioners

14 members, elected from districts (11 Democrats, 3 Republicans)

District	Commissioner	Party
1	Victor Celentino	Dem
2	Ryan Sebolt	Dem
3	Derrell Slaughter, Vice Chair	Dem
4	Bryan Crenshaw, Chair	Dem
5	Todd Tennis	Dem
6	Randy Maiville, Vice Chair Pro Tem	Rep
7	Chris Trubac	Dem
8	Mark Grebner	Dem
9	Erin Graham	Dem
10	Robert Peña	Dem
11	Emily Stivers	Dem
12	Mark Polsdorfer	Dem
13	Randy Schafer	Rep
14	Robin Naeyaert	Rep

30th Judicial Circuit Court

9 judges (non-partisan)

• • Judge Richard Garcia, Chief Circuit & Probate Court Judge
  • Judge Shauna Dunnings, Chief Circuit & Probate Judge Pro Tempore
  • Judge Lisa McCormick
  • Judge Carol Koenig
  • Judge Joyce Draganchuk, Presiding Judge - General Trial Division
  • Judge Rosemarie Aquilina
  • Judge Clinton Canady III
  • Judge James Jamo
  • Judge Wanda Stokes

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities East Lansing (part) Lansing (part) Leslie Mason, county seat Williamston

Villages Dansville Stockbridge Webberville

Unincorporated Edgemont Park Fitchburg Haslett Holt Okemos

Townships

Alaiedon Township Aurelius Township Bunker Hill Township Delhi Charter Township

Ingham Township Lansing Charter Township Leroy Township Leslie Township

Locke Township Meridian Charter Township Onondaga Township Stockbridge Township

Vevay Township Wheatfield Township White Oak Township Williamstown Township

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ingham County, Michigan

External links

• Ingham County
• Capital Area District Library (serving all of Ingham County except East Lansing)