A.   Community Description

1.

Social Characteristics

1.1

Population

The 2000 census revealed Antrim County’s population to comprise 23,110 residents, distributed among 15 townships and 5 incorporated villages.  This represents a 27% increase over the 1990 census population of 18,185 residents.

Table 1.1 shows the growth in population in the county and in each of the fifteen townships and five villages within the county.  Note that the village of Bellaire lies partly in Kearney Township and partly in Forest Home Township.

Table 1.1 – Population of Antrim County, Michigan
Antrim County 2003 population estimate:   24,094
County/	1970	1980	1970-1980	1990	1980-1990	2000	1990-2000	2003
Minor Civil Division	Census	Census	Percent Change	Census	Percent Change	Census	Percent Change	Estimate
ANTRIM COUNTY	12,612	16,194	28.40%	18,185	12.29%	23,110	27.08%	24,094
Banks	1,231	1,515	23.07%	1,513	-0.13%	1,813	19.83%	1,835
---Ellsworth	362	436	20.44%	418	-4.13%	483	15.55%	471
Central Lake	1,482	1,766	19.16%	1,919	8.66%	2,254	17.46%	2,290
---Central Lake	741	895	20.78%	954	6.59%	990	3.77%	998
Chestonia	368	433	17.66%	401	-7.39%	546	36.16%	586
Custer	381	490	28.61%	630	28.57%	988	56.83%	1,055
Echo	542	723	33.39%	766	5.95%	928	21.15%	961
Elk Rapids	1,631	2,086	27.90%	2,374	13.81%	2,741	15.46%	2,784
---Elk Rapids	1,249	1,504	20.42%	1,626	8.11%	1,700	4.55%	1,728
Forest Home	1,080	1,333	23.43%	1,410	5.78%	1,858	31.77%	1,883
---Bellaire (part)	392	499	27.30%	483	-3.21%	492	1.86%	490
Helena	515	781	51.65%	837	7.17%	878	4.90%	899
Jordan	303	410	35.31%	583	42.20%	875	50.09%	937
Kearney	997	1,241	24.47%	1,487	19.82%	1,764	18.63%	1,849
---Bellaire (part)	505	564	11.68%	621	10.11%	672	8.21%	667
Mancelona	2,258	2,720	20.46%	3,173	16.65%	4,100	29.22%	4,414
---Mancelona	1,255	1,432	14.10%	1,370	-4.33%	1,408	2.77%	1,401
Milton	853	1,271	49.00%	1,468	15.50%	2,072	41.14%	2,138
Star	331	453	36.86%	575	26.93%	745	29.57%	851
Torch Lake	391	711	81.84%	762	7.17%	1,159	52.10%	1,187
Warner	249	261	4.82%	287	9.96%	389	35.54%	435
Source:United States Bureau of the Census				Prepared for Antrim Co. by NWMCOG
Note: Village counts are included in the township total.

Since 1960 Antrim County has experienced a demographic transition from a declining population to a population undergoing rapid, sustained growth. This phenomenon, started in the 1960's, accelerated during the 1970's and 1980's, has continued through the 1990's, and is projected to continue into the next century. This development represents a reversal of established migration patterns for both the United States and Michigan of rural population moving to urban centers.

This return migration process has greatly altered the socioeconomic patterns of Antrim County over the last 25 years.  The socioeconomic structure of the County has depended upon recreation/tourism activities for the majority of this century, and this dependence continues to grow.  This reverse migration process of individuals seeking a rural setting to escape the pressures and strains of urban life, along with the large seasonal population within the county, have increased the demands for local public services, especially recreational services, and strained existing facilities within the County. This process will continue to present a number of challenging planning and service provision obstacles for the County well into the next century.

Based on current trends, Antrim County’s population may reach 26,000 by 2010.

1.2

Population Distribution within the County

Table 1.1 tabulates the distribution of the 23,110 residents by township.  Figure 1.1 below gives a graphical representation of the actual location of the residents as recorded by the census database.

Figure 1.1

1.3

Households in Antrim County

The 2000 census counted 9,222 households in Antrim County, a 32% increase over 1990.  63% of those households were one- or two-person households.  During this period the majority of residential growth within the County has been in those townships that contain, or border, Lake Michigan and/or major inland lakes.  Another growth area has been in and around Mancelona Township in the eastern part of the county.  Census data also shows that there was an average of 2.47 persons per household in 2000, and an average family size of 2.89 persons. 64% of the respondents claimed to be, or have been, married.  Tables 1.2 and 1.3 present additional household statistics for Antrim County.

Table 1.2 – Antrim County Households
			‘70-‘80		‘80-‘90		‘90-‘00
			Percent		Percent		Percent
	1970	1980	Change	1990	Change	2000	Change
Number of households	3,928	5,723	45.70%	6,980	21.96%	9,222	32.12%
Persons per household	3.2	2.8	-12.50%	2.58	-7.86%	2.47	-4.07%
Married couple families	2,920	4,045	38.53%	4,419	9.25%	5,627	27.34%
--as a percent of total households	74.3%	70.7%	-4.92%	63.3%	-10.4%	61.0%	-3.62%
Source:   United States Bureau of the Census, 100% Data

Table 1.3 - Persons In Antrim County Household
	1980	1990	1980-1990	2000	1990-2000
	Percent of Total	Percent of Total	Absolute	Percent of Total	Absolute
	Households	Households	Change	Households	Change
One person	18.30%	21.30%	3.00%	23.48%	2.18%
Two persons	35.90%	38.80%	2.90%	41.06%	2.26%
Three persons	15.80%	15.30%	-0.50%	13.81%	-1.49%
Four persons	15.30%	14.20%	-1.10%	12.88%	-1.32%
Five persons	8.70%	6.90%	-1.80%	5.64%	-1.26%
Six or more persons	5.90%	3.60%	-2.30%	3.12%	-0.48%
Source:    United States Bureau of the Census        Prepared for Antrim County by NW Michigan Council of Governments

1.4

Age Distribution of Residents in Antrim County

According to 2000 Census data the population of Antrim County aged by 4.3 years between 1990 and 2000. In 1990 the median age for the county was 36.8 years and was 41.1 years in 2000. Census data also shows that all age groups, except those between the ages of 25-34, experienced population increases between 1990 and 2000.

Table 1.4 shows the relative changes in the various age groups over the past four decennial censuses. Increases in middle age individuals, coupled with strong increases in retirement age people, presents interesting planning problems for recreational use.

Table 1.4 – Antrim County Population By Age Group
			1970-1980		1980-1990		1990-2000
Age Group	1970	1980	% Change	1990	% Change	2000	% Change
Under 5 years	1,085	1,185