Named for Ionia Congressional district 3rd Website www.ioniacounty.org Area 1,502 km² County seat Ionia | Largest city Ionia Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4 Founded 2 March 1831 Population 64,073 (2013) | |
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Cities Ionia, Belding, Portland, Saranac, Lake Odessa Rivers Grand River, Flat River, Looking Glass River Points of interest Bertha Brock Park, Two Rivers Park, Ionia Grand Trunk Rai, Belding PM Railroad Depot, Pere Marquette Railroad | ||
Ionia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,905. The county seat is Ionia. The Ionia County Courthouse was built by Claire Allen, a prominent southern Michigan architect.
Contents
- Map of Ionia County MI USA
- History
- Geography
- Adjacent counties
- Major highways
- Demographics
- Government
- Elected officials
- Cities
- Villages
- References
Map of Ionia County, MI, USA
Ionia County comprises the Ionia, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Muskegon, MI Combined Statistical Area.
History
The county is named for Ionia, a Grecian province. It was set off in 1831 and organized in 1837.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km2) (1.5%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Major highways
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile (41/km²). There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.96% White, 4.56% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.0% were of German, 14.7% American, 11.6% English, 8.9% Irish and 5.3% Dutch ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.3% spoke English and 2.6% Spanish as their first language.
There were 20,606 households out of which 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 115.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,074, and the median income for a family was $49,797. Males had a median income of $36,995 versus $25,443 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,451. About 6.80% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
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.
Elected officials
(information as of Jan. 2011)