Benzie County, Michigan
Founding: 1869 (declared in 1863) Parent county: Unorganized territory Namesake: The Betsie River Seat: Frankfort (1869–1872, 1895–1908); Benzonia (1872–1895); Honor (1908–1916); Beulah (1916–) Land area: 320 square miles Population (2020): 17,970 Population (historic): 2,184 (1870); 5,237 (1890); 10,638 (1910); 6,587 (1930) Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1910; 1930–1950; 1960–2020 Subdivisions: One city; six villages; seven CDPs; 12 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,581 (12.7%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 62.9% Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 18.7% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 7% Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,128 Average outbuilding value (1930): $776 Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.7 rooms Number of farms (1920): 972 Average farm size (1920): 50.5 acres Sources of settlement: Michigan, New York, Canada, Ohio, Indiana, and No...