Benzonia, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benzonia, Michigan
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Village
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The Mills Community House in Benzonia
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Location within Benzie County
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 Benzonia, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County | Benzie |
| Township | Benzonia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.13 sq mi (2.93 km2) |
| • Land | 1.13 sq mi (2.93 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 817 ft (249 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 551 |
| • Density | 487.18/sq mi (188.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49616
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| Area code(s) | 231 |
| FIPS code | 26-07580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2398099 |
| Website | https://www.villagebenzonia.com/ |
Benzonia is a small village located in Benzie County, in the state of Michigan in the United States. In 2020, about 551 people lived there. This was a bit more than the 497 people counted in 2010. The village is found within Benzonia Township. It sits at the southeast end of Crystal Lake. You can find it along U.S. Highway 31, where it meets M-115.
Contents
Geography of Benzonia
Benzonia is a small place in terms of land area. The United States Census Bureau says the village covers about 1.13 square miles (2.93 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water within the village limits.
History of Benzonia
Benzonia started in 1858. It was founded as a special Christian community focused on education. This idea was similar to a town called Oberlin, Ohio. Charles E. Bailey led the group that founded Benzonia. The village became officially recognized in 1891. It was even the county seat for a while, which means it was the main town for the county's government.
In 1863, a school called Grand Traverse College was started here. Later, in 1891, its name changed to Benzonia College. By 1900, the college became a preparatory school called Benzonia Academy. This academy helped students get ready for college. It stayed open until 1918.
A famous historian named Bruce Catton grew up in Benzonia. His father was a teacher at Benzonia Academy. Bruce Catton wrote about his childhood in the village in his book Waiting for the Morning Train. This book shares his memories and gives a look into the local history.
Population of Benzonia
The number of people living in Benzonia has changed over the years. Here is a quick look at the population counts from different years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 484 | — | |
| 1910 | 563 | 16.3% | |
| 1920 | 543 | −3.6% | |
| 1930 | 623 | 14.7% | |
| 1940 | 340 | −45.4% | |
| 1950 | 407 | 19.7% | |
| 1960 | 407 | 0.0% | |
| 1970 | 412 | 1.2% | |
| 1980 | 466 | 13.1% | |
| 1990 | 449 | −3.6% | |
| 2000 | 519 | 15.6% | |
| 2010 | 497 | −4.2% | |
| 2020 | 551 | 10.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Benzonia in 2010
In 2010, the census counted 497 people living in Benzonia. There were 209 homes, and 125 of these were families. The village had about 440 people per square mile. The average age of people in the village was about 40 years old. About 26% of the people were under 18. Also, about 18.5% were 65 years old or older. Slightly more females lived in the village than males.
Notable People from Benzonia
Many interesting people have connections to Benzonia:
- Bruce Catton – A famous historian who wrote a lot about the American Civil War.
- Jennie W. Erickson – She worked as a probation officer and was also a school superintendent.
- Gwen Frostic – An artist and author. She is even in the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
- Douglass North – An economic historian who won a Nobel Prize for his work.
See also
In Spanish: Benzonia (Míchigan) para niños
