Charlevoix

Formed January 1, 1869 (77^th county)

Charlevoix County (26,051), Charlevoix (2,347), Boyne City (3,813)

The Modern tan brick structure was built in 1956.  It sits on State Street between Antrim and Mason streets.  United States Highway 31 is one block to the east of the courthouse.  Ralph S. Gerganoff is the building architect.  The courthouse features columns.  There was an 1897 brick courthouse also in Charlevoix.  The county was formed on January 1, 1869 from parts of Antrim, Emmett, and Otsego counties as the 77^th county.  Charlevoix (1867), East Jordan (1884), Boyne City (1885), and Charlevoix (1895) have all served as county seat.  The county and county seat are named for French Missionary P. F. X. de Charlevoix. 

Charlevoix County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 6 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge and court clerk serve Charlevoix County and One District Court Judge and One Probate Court Judge serve Charlevoix and Emmet counties (judicial.) The county is on the northwest part of the southern peninsula.  Lake Michigan is its western coast.  The county center is 14.9 miles Southeast of Charlevoix nearer Boyne City.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Emmet, Cheboygan, Otsego, Antrim, Leelanau, Delta, Schoolcraft, and Mackinac counties. 

The area of the county is 1391 square miles.  It is 23 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 52 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 18.7 persons per square mile making it 63 out of 83 in the state.  Charlevoix County has 33.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 31 goes north to south in the county from Emmet County to Antrim County.  United States Highway 131 crosses north to south from Emmet County to Antrim County.  The county looks like an inflatable beach tube plus an additional drop offshore.  The county and county seat are pronounced SHAR-LE-VOE.  Charlevoix is on the western border.  Boyne City is near the county center.  The largest city is pronounced BOEN SITEE.  Charlevoix is the county seat and Boyne City is the largest city.  Charlevoix is 9.0% of the county population while Boyne City is 14.6% of the county population.

East Jordan