Antrim

Formed April 1, 1840 (41^st county)

Antrim County (23,428), Bellaire (1,003), Elk Rapids (1,531)

A Modern red brick building built in 1977 augments the classic 1904 courthouse.  The facility is on Cayuga at Court streets.  Michigan State Highway 88 is Cayuga Street in this part of Bellaire.  Kingscott & Associates provided the new Administration Building designs.  The courthouse was designed by Jens C. Peterson.  The courthouse features a tower with a working clock.  Antrim County was created on April 1, 1840 from Mackinac County as the 41^st county.  Elk Rapids was the county seat until 1879 when Bellaire assumed the role.  The county is named for Antrim County, Ireland.  The county seat name describes its clean air. 

Antrim County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two Circuit Court Judges and Three District Court Judges serve Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties and One Probate Court Judge and court clerk serve Antrim County (judicial.) Antrim County is in the northwest part of the southern peninsula.  Lake Michigan forms its western coast.  The county center is 3.6 miles Northeast of Bellaire.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Charlevoix, Otsego, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties. 

The area of the county is 602 square miles.  It is 53 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 61 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 38.9 persons per square mile making it 46 out of 83 in the state.  Antrim County has 22.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 31 crosses north to south in the county from Charlevoix County to Grand Traverse County.  United States Highway 131 travels north to south from Charlevoix County to Kalkaska County.  The county is shaped like a stapler.  Bellaire is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Elk Rapids is in the southwest corner of the county.  Bellaire is the county seat and Elk Rapids is the largest city.  Bellaire is 4.3% of the county population while Elk Rapids is 6.5% of the county population.