Benzie County

Also known as Benzie County, Michigan, Benzie County, MI

county in Michigan, United States

Key facts

Country: United States
State: Michigan
Founded: 1863 (created), 1869 (organized)
Named after: Betsie River
Seat: Beulah
Largest city: Frankfort
Total: 860 sq mi (2,200 km )
Land: 320 sq mi (830 km )
Water: 540 sq mi (1,400 km ) 63%
Estimate 2025: 18,568
Density: 55/sq mi (21/km )
Time zone: UTC−5 ( Eastern )
Summer dst: UTC−4 ( EDT )

Article

Benzie County (/ˈbɛnziː/ BEN-zee) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,970. The county seat is Beulah. The county was initially set off in 1863 and organized in 1869. At 321 square miles (830 km), Benzie County is the smallest of the 83 counties in Michigan in terms of land area. Benzie County is home to the City of Frankfort which sits on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located within Benzie county. It is also home to Crystal Mountain, one of Michigan's top-rated ski resorts.